It was raining as we left Tokyo and it got wetter and wetter as the day went on.
Breakfast (with the washing robot) went well then we met our guide who despatched our suitcases off to Kyoto (they should arrive at our hotel tomorrow). Our first stop of the day was at a place where a man was making amazing things from little slithers of wood.
We then visited a traditional tea house with a thatched roof and inside fire. Then it was off to an art gallery to stall for time while we heard if the cable car and boat trip would go ahead.
Both were cancelled so after the art gallery we went to some old internal border station where the rain was nearly at Biblical proportions so we went for lunch in a little Japanese cafe. I nearly ended up having raw horse meat (true fact!) but instead had fried chicken and rice.
After that we drove up a valley to look at some volcanic/thermal steam, but it was so rainy and windy only the guide and I ventured out. She was so light she got blown down some stairs, but thankfully landed on her feet!
Back down in the town we went to a shrine which had a walkway down to the lake (apparently nice views when it’s not covered in clouds) and a great sculpture park which included a Picasso gallery (one of only four in the world apparently).
We said goodbye to our guide for the last time and checked in to our latest accomodation. It’s authentic Japanese so our shoes are somewhere by the front door, and we have our own thermal hot pool outside in our garden. The only downside is the rain is still going crazy and even though it’s sort of undercover the rain is still coming through wildly which makes for a cold shower while sitting in hot water! We stayed in for a while though.
This evening we went for our traditional Japanese meal which had around 10 courses – all included fish – my unfavourite. But i tried everything and ate about half of it. so go me! Jane of course loved it and ate everything.
Now the rain is hammering outside and i’m fighting technology again trying to create the daily video. We’ll have to see how long i can keep this up for!
