Smoking in Japan is confusing me ,at home you can't smoke anywhere inside especially restaurants and public places only outside however in Japan it's the opposite it's illegal to smoke outside but you can smoke in all restaurants and cafes .

Hot day in Japan so got out of the city and went to ashiyama bamboo forest amazing site of 17th century zen buddhist garden sat and meditated off then to nijo castle.the only place I have been allowed to walk barefoot on the famous nightingale floors that were fitted by the empower in 12 th century so he could hear if anyone was sneaking around the castle and weirdly they do sound like a nightingale singing,pretty cool tried to make it back for tea ceremony but ...

Slippers Japan are obsessed by them ones for in the house ,ones for in the bathroom , ones for in the garden,and today I had to wear bright red satin ones with white socks to walk around a edu temple which made me feel like Dorothy from the wizard of oz.not a good look.

Why the Japanese live so long it's because they are so fit I have been climbing hills up and down all day visiting cool temples and shrines in 32 degree heat and 85 % humidity .i must have walked a marathon .as I clamber up and down steps I'm always passed by a Japanese lady of 90 smiling at me .and she isn't sweating like me .

Forgot the joys of travelling in foreign cities till today .30 degrees wandering the streets lost as there is a festival on about 1 million people packed around the same roads all the streets are closed carrying a heavy backpack sweating not to mention getting the wrong train and having the s***s from eating something that didn't agree with me .will be better tomorrow .??!!