Japan

Without a doubt our big holiday of the year was our trip to Japan in October. Andy used to live there and had been going on about how great it was for years, so it was time to find out. Aided by two families of former neighbours from Wimbledon who have since moved back to Japan, we had a fantastic combination of history, scenery and high-tech fun (much of it involving their toilets, which do things I will not describe on this site but which fascinated the boys!).

First look at a Japanese 'washlet'

Asakusa Kannon, Tokyo

Walking round the Imperial Palace

Meal with Noguchis in Shinjuku

Relaxing in our yukatas

Anyone for tea?

Famous Kinkakuji (the Golden Temple), Kyoto

Kinkakuji (the Golden Temple), Kyoto

Kiyomizu temple

Ryokan in Kyoto

More temples

Tim's fan club

Free temple entry for kimono clad people

After a long day's walk in Kyoto, meal in izakaya

Best meal of the holiday

Nijo castle, home of the first shogun

Nijo Castle

Garden at Nijo

Eurey with Tim & Harry at Nijo

Our hotel, overlooking the Castle

A cute garden in our hotel

A mini shrine and even a torii in hotel garden

Nara at sunset

Nara

Feeding the deer - they like Oreos!

Nara park

Ho hum, temples again

and again

100-year-old house we stayed in Oji

Breakfast Japanese style

Mikan (tangerines) ripening in the garden

Sushi - each piece individually wrapped

Japanese style room in Oji

Hilton Odawara - modern Japanese rooms..

...that turn into bedrooms

Japanese bath - luckily empty

The famous pirate ships of Hakone

Lake Ashi with torii in the background and Mt Fuji in the clouds

Noodle restaurant

Kamakura - start of the trail

Kamakura

The Great Buddha at Kamakura

More temples...

Photo of the year?...

Another red torii

Hiking trails in Kamakura

Vending machines fascinated the boys

Tim and his former schoolmate Arthur

Shibuya at night

Shibuya's Center-gai

Traditional shops in Kawagoe

Aren't they pretty?

Traditional architecture in Kawagoe

One of the wonders of Japan...