Konichiwa!

Now arrived at our last stop in Tokyo! Got here three days ago and had to navigate from Narita Airport -convieniently located 1 hour outside the city- to our hostel in the Asakusa region of Tokyo. Luckily thanks to the AWESOME efficiency of the train and subway system it was really easy to work our way across Tokyo. Arrived at our Ryokan -traditional Japanese guest house- which was beautiful with the traditional tantami mats on the floors and lots of nice decoration.

Slowly been discovering the city, first day it was pretty cold and pouring with rain, so we did not get much further than the area around our Ryokan.

Yesterday and today however, have been beautifully crisp and sunny, so we ventured into the Shinjuku business district yesterday - feeling very underdressed among the designer suits and expensive handbags- and had a lovely walk around. We visited an Art gallery which had the famous Van Gogh Sunflowers picture displayed along with a Cezanne and a Gauguin! Also took in some of the most breathtaking views of the city from ridiculously high buildings, we even saw Mount Fuji in the distance.

Today we walked to the Kaminarimon Gate in which hangs a huge red Lantern, marking the entrance to the Senso-ji Temple. Around this area are the Nakamise-dori stalls selling every japanese product imaginable, and the stalls are decorated by hanging lanterns and blossom, with the Senso-ji temple at the furthest end.

The temple itself was also very beautiful and we spent about an hour looking around the various smaller shrines around the area. There is a huge incense burner at the front of the temple and its believed that if you waft the smoke onto yourself it will cure ills and bring you luck. Naturally G and i both gave it a go!

Hopefully tonight we will be going to a Sushi restaurant, we have discovered we both like sushi and cant get enough of the stuff!

Hope you have enjoyed reading our journal, probably add the last pics when we get home in about a week.

Hopefully the next few days will be as awesome as the first few, see you soon!

Lots of love

H and G xx