Hello all!

We had a comfy nights sleep, so comfy in fact that we didn't wake up until 9.30 and were supposed to check out at 10! We left our bags at the hotel and caught the train up to Harajuku, stopping at the bakery on the way. Before going into the super-trendy boutique area we walked to the Meiji Shrine which commemorates the Emperor who brought Japan into modern world culture at the start of the last Century. It was wonderfully cool walking up to it through the forest bit, so we sat on a bench and ate our croissants and chocolate bread from the bakery! The shrine itself was really beautiful and peaceful, with some odd details such as wooden prayer plaques that you could buy and write on and then they were hung up for everyone to see before being prayed by the Shinto priests the next morning. One we saw was a prayer that he would go out with a girl (forgotten her name!!) but it made us laugh.

After another ice cream at the cafe by the station, we entered the Harajuku shopping area made famous by Gwen Stefani and the Harajuku Girls! (Sorry if you don't understand this, don't worry, just carry on!) So we shopped for a while and I even bought a top from one of the places. Most of the shops were mad and filled with plastic and cartoon items - most of which were either neon or pink - teenagers don't like to blend in in Harajuku! It's also the place where all the teenage goths etc like to go - so it's normal to walk past people with huge chains on their outfits or a short 'wedding type' dress and big boots - that's just what it's like here!

We had to leave soon after, so caught the train back to Shibuya to collect our bags from the hotel. We then caught another train to Tokyo, then the airport. This is where we are now! We're actually boarding to Auckland in 15 minutes so had better go, but we have had a fab time in Japan. As i'm sure most of you will guess i am just slightly excited, but we'll try and sleep on the plane at least a little bit!

Speak soon,

Naomi (and Stuart!)