Kumamoto so far...

First chance I've had to upload some photos, so here's Kumamoto so far. We've done a lot, went to the Kumamoto castle, visited Mount Aso, an active volcano, stayed at a ryokan and today we were both fit for our kimonos for Sunday. Take a look...

Kyoto to Kumamoto

Heading south today from Kyoto, via bullet train to Takako's home city, Kumamoto. We say goodbye to blooming cherry blossoms and the many temples that dot this city. On our way we'll stop for bento lunch and may even pick up a goodie or two...

News continues to come in daily about the earthquake, the following tsunami and the radiation leak. We've heard several times it's best to avoid Tokyo this time around, not so much for the radiation problem, but the limited resources available there. Stories of limited water, food and even toilet paper continue to reach us. Here in the south though things are largely unchanged. It shows the resilience of the Japanese people and their ability to continue life, despite tragedy and life changing events.

Anyway, not sure about the Internet status of the next few days. Will attempt to at least upload a photo or 100 (we've shot nearly 700 photos so far - gotta love digital cameras!)

Kyoto Day 3

Including visiting Arashiyama, Toroko train ride, hozugawa boat trip, Arashiyama bamboo forest, manga museum, tenuji, shopping in a typical Japanese department store, stopping at a music store, and, of course Sakura

Kyoto Day 2

Kyoto Day Two

We spent the day with a friend of Takako's, Akida (like the comic book.) He was kind enough to spend the day with us while we visited Daigo temple (Daigoji). We had lunch at a famous soba noodle restaurant then went to Kodai temple (Kodaiji) where we saw the tomb of a famous Shogun warrior, Toyotomi Hideoshi. It was amazing. And with it all, the Cherry blossoms (sakura) were opening up, seemingly before our eyes. Was able to get some good video today, too, but I seem to have killed the battery (I think I left it on...) so that's on the way too. We made our way through Gion (central Kyoto) with exclusive restaurants, upscale shopping and LOTS of people. Afterwards Nishikicho market awaited us where we glimpsed the famous Japanese knife maker, Aritsugi. A knife here can set you back hundreds of dollars and they have hundreds upon hundreds of specialty knives...tempting, to be sure. We got to see them engraving a new knife before our eyes.

We finally had diner at a chic restaurant in Shijo where we ate AMAZING food, not typical stuff, but chicken, veggies, pickled contraptions, spicy cabbage and, okay sashimi too. I don't think I've ever had scallops melt in my mouth the way these did. I'll be wanting to go back tomorrow night (and the night after, and the night after...)

Tomorrow is a day trip to Arashiama, a mountainous region where we'll take a train up to the top and take a boat/raft down the white-warer river. Photos to come...

Tonight I'm too tired and jet-lagged to really speak about the tragedy in Japan. We discussed it at length today and I do have some thoughts, but it will have to wait until tomorrow...check out the photos and good night, y'all.

More Kyoto Day One

Kyoto Day One