Right, one day in Kyoto so I thought I`d make sure I had the maximum time to cover it, therefore woke at 4.30am. Actually, this wasn`t really my choice, but more the fact that the thin reed curtains of my little hostel weren`t really adequate cover for the sun waking up significantly earlier than even I consider decent. So I groaned, rolled back onto my (apparently rice-stuffed pillow) and slept until 6.30. This time I really did get myself up, made a cup of...

A Deliciously Divine Day. Packed up my wee room in Oshiage, Tokyo, folded up my futon and minimised my luggage for my pending few days off in the countryside. First though, important admin. Cutting short my time in Tokyo/Japan, has meant that a fair number of the (admittedly likely overexcessive - Elspeth you were indeed correct) items of clothing that I have brought in my mammoth monstrosity of a rucksack, are now obsolete. So I whizzed off to the Post Off...