So today we parted as I wanted more temples and Loz wanted more record shopping... I went to Nikko with Hannah and Christian who I met at the hostel. Strangely both of them had a social science background too so it was nice to talk about academia for a bit. We sat chatting on the Shinkansen and actually forgot to get off at our stop so ended up going about 150 miles too far... but nice conductor saw funny side and it was no hassle or money to get back. Nikko was ...

We have been in Tokyo for 4 nights now, and its been hectic. After Takayama with its quite one-lane roads, it was definitely a culture shock! It is so huge, and all the buildings are massive too, lots of flashing lights, people, cars etc - but people are still really friendly. If you are looking slightly lost (this has been quite often) people go out of their way to help　you. So, a recap... First night we just wandered round trying to acclimatise. We ended u...

(Em writing now). Today we are staying at Sumiyoshi Ryokan, which is very expensive at Y27,000 for both of us, dinner and breakfast included. Its full of antiques, and our hosts are so kind and smiling, literally walking halfway up the street to give directions! Theres lots of bowing, am getting the hang of it now. Anyway Loz's blog is so good and seeing as I am typing it anyway I feel like theres not much to add. The onsen complex was brilliant - this part of ...

Screen walls look great but you can hear everything that is happening in the rest of the building - every yawn, sneeze and fart! We had a nice day today (again). In the morning we took th ebus to Kur-Alp, an (indoor) hot-spring complex. At first glance it looked like any indoor swimming pool complex in the UK somewhere between Noel Street baths and Centre Parks but on top of a mountain. In a big open room with glass walls and overlooking the town of Takayama and...

Two days have passed and I'm already losing track of the details - lots has happened. Our trip to Nagaoya did not go according to plan -when we arrived we found out that Robot Museum had closed down ages ago. School boy error really as the guide book did say it was temporary. This meant we had to make do with another day of sightseeing with no real focus. We decided to buy a day ticket on a sightseeing bus which took in the other reason to go to Nagoya - the Toku...