Torii Gates

 Since Diem and Binh will be a few hours behind us, we looked at a map to see where we could go hang out. Some place nice and fun, but not too nice and fun because we’d want Binh and Diem to enjoy that with us. We picked The Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, a Fox shrine, at the south east end of Kyoto, a bit more out of the way from the rest of the tourist spots.

When we arrived by train at around 4, most of the shops were winding down for the day. We thought we’d take a quick look around and then stop to shop afterwards. The shrine ground is quite vast. After a few initial shrine buildings we soon came upon a trail graced by big orange torii gates, there must be hundreds, or maybe even thousands, each sitting behind each other. The rows of torii gates seemed to go on and on. Click to continue »

Got up bright and early for the bullet train trip to Kyoto this morning. Since Diem and Binh were on their own today, they opted to stay longer in Tokyo to take in Asakusa. It’s really too bad we couldn’t stay because Asakusa looked like it would be a lot of fun once all the shops opened.

The rest of us went back to our old hotel where a tour guide packed us into a coach to take us to the Tokyo train station. Touring by coach is quite different from exploring on your own. You’re less likely to know where you are, what the streets are called, why you’re going somewhere, where you’re going or how you’re going to get back. Instead, you sit back, relax and wait for the driver to take you to the next destination. Definitely not my travel style right now. Click to continue »