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Hello long time no see!! Lots to catch up on last time i used this i was in Tokyo me and Brigett did go to the Buddist temple called Senso Ji and there was a huge market right outside it so wandered around there for quite a while we also went to Okachimachi and Ueno to these massive busy markets then we went back to the hotel for a shower and a nap tee hee. Then we had dinner with the rest of the clan at an awesome resturant the name of it translated means City of Happiness, i had some Japanese fried noodles which were yummy! We stopped off at the shop on the way back to the hotel for snacks to have on our travels for the next day and then straight to bed! The next day we made our way to Nikko, we took three trains one of which was our first bullet train, we arrived just after 11.30 so we went straight for lunch as a group, at this point it started raining not heavy but it was that fine wet rain! After lunch we went for our first included excersion to Nikko world heritage site which has six shrines on its grounds, by the time we had finished we were wet through, we had left our luagge at the train station in lockers so went back to collect it then took the bus to hotel, when we got there, there was thick mist everywhere the reason for the weather was that we were now in the mountains! We dumped our stuff and walked to waterfall that was next to the hotel couldnt see it due to the mist, so we went for dinner the resturant was dead we were the only customers there the food was really good but Mill tols us that its rainy season in Japan in July and August so thats why there was hardly anyone around!! We had our brief for the next day and went back to the hotel as it was raining so bad there was nothing else to do! So me and Brigett decided to brave the Onsens!!!! (onsens are Japanese thermal pools but theres one big rule you only allowed to wear your birthday suit!!) we had such a laugh! But Brigett found a huuuge spider so we made a swift exit! The next day we travelled to Hakone still raining! 2 bullet trains, 1 metro train and 2 buses! Again dumped our stuff at the hotel couldnt check in until two anyway so went for lunch and then went for our next included excersion and caught the bus to Lake Ashi to get the famous view on Mount Fuji! Well it was there somewhere! The Mist was so thick we saw nothing we could bearly see the lake! We were also supposed to go across the lake by pirate ship and then up to a high point in cable cars for a really awesome view but all the boats were docked due to the weather, so we went for a walk to an old Shogun checkpoint which was ok, so after a lot of milling about we went to go check in to our hotel which was awesome in was a traditional Inn so beds were on the floor so was all the seating, no shoes allowed in the hotel all! Strange but cool, then we had our ffirst included dinner which was a traditional Japanese dinner which included sashimi!! Which was really nice i was plesently suprised! We also had steamed chicken and veg, pickled veg, fish broth, roast eel, rice and tofu (tofu is horrible!) but everything else was really good, we had our brief for the next day and went back to our rooms and found some unwanted visitiors!! Less said about that the better, me and Brigitt went the the onsens and had them all to ourselves there was also an outdoor one we tried out then we hit the hay! Then were up to yesterday we had our included breakfast and then left Hakone for Takayama 2 bullet trains 2 metro trains and 2 buses we set off at 8.00 and didnt arrive until 2.30 so checked in to our hotel which is another traditional inn (same rules apply) accept the onsens here is your bathroom and it has shared toilets and washroom, we then had our orientation of the town it is stunning one of the most beautiful places i have ever seen! Really old buildings shrines and temples left right and centre and it was blazing hot when we arrived hooray! When we got back we had our second and last included meal which was so nice same traditional meal as the first but slightly different we had beef and veg, rice, noodle soup, roast salmon, sashimi and pickled veg. After me, Brigitt, Ian and Mel (welsh couple) got a bit squiffy on some weird Japanese lager! After i went to the onsen to sweat out the alcohol which worked! Today we had a second day in Takayama which was a free day we went to the Hida Folk village in the morning and have just been milling about around the town soaking it up really! Well teatime soon so im off to get changed plus im sat on the floor at the moment and my arse has gone to sleep! We set off for Kyoto tomorrow so ill fill you in soon byyyyye!
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