27 May 2009, 11:30 pm local time. After a few days in historical Kyoto, we're back in the comfort of our hotel room in Tokyo writing from our rented PC... still can't believe it only costs $10 USD for 24 hrs?!

Konbanwa! Good Evening from Tokyo!

After a week in Japan it's safe to say that this country is truly unique and unlike anything we've seen, or experienced before. In general, the Japanese people are unimaginably polite (they're constantly bowing at varying angles... 15, 30 and 45 degrees... and thanking you in hotels, shops, and at restaurants); They're ultra detail-orientend, wrapping even the most basic item like a christmas present (we had what looked like gift-wrapped sushi... in addition to the outside wrapping, each individual piece of sushi was carefully wrapped in a green leaf! Almost too beautiful to eat); And, they're perhaps the cleanest people on the planet (their toilets speak for themselves! Like I said in our last update, they've got toilets from the future!!!).

Tokyo is a big and bustling city like any other, so after a few days it was time to move on, and get a truer taste of Japanese culture, and history (sans Western influence, or as little as possible anyway. I'm sad to report that Mc Donald's and Starbucks have found their way to Kyoto!). On the afternoon of the 24th of May we boarded the "bullet train" (or Shinkansen in Japanese) to Kyoto, and arrived safely after 2 hours 45 minutes. We spent the next 3 days wandering through the backstreets (on our own and on 3 walking tours), through markets, and along the Kamo River... highlights were:

- The "Night Tour of Gion" with the lovely, informative, and funny, Mie! Mie guided us through the ancient streets of Gion, pointed out various tea houses, took us to the bridge that featured in the film "Memoires of a Geisha", and gave us the inside scoop on the mysterious and intriguing world of Geishas. We were fortunate enough to even see a real Geiko (preferred over the term Geisha, apparently), and Maiko (an apprentice Geiko) while on the tour! Mie also confirmed that the oldest working Geisha in Gion is 99 years old!!!

- Participating in a traditional tea ceremony, or "Chado." What a well-orchestrated series of events... they really turn tea making into an art form... it's difficult to explain in words,.. you have to see how much care and pride they put into the preparation and making of each cup of tea. Ultimately, the point of this ritual is summed up by the samurai notion of "one lifetime, one meeting". In other words, this is a unique moment to be treasured by both the host and guest(s)... talk about being in the NOW.

- Eating most of our meals at low tables while kneeling on tatami mats (or, in Daniel's case, cross-legged, and proped up against the wall!)! The deliciousness of the fresh, varied sashimi goes without saying... we most definitely O.D., big time! Some of our best dinners were at restaurants located in the charming Pontocho Alley, which backs onto the Kamo River.

- Seeing the many Buddhist Temples (Kiyumizu Temple was fantastic, and offered lovely views of Kyoto from the main veranda), and the many Shinto Shrines. We learned that 99% of Japanese people are both Buddhist and Shinto... 1 person, 2 religions, and there's absolutely no problem. They co-exist harmonionsly (what a concept?!). In fact, our tour guide Mie, was Buddhist, Shinto and Catholic!

- Seeing lots of women dressed up in colourful Kimonos... funny enough, as a way of preserving traditional dress, the women of Kyoto are encouraged to wear them, and are even offered discounts at several stores!

Without a doubt, Kyoto was the absolute highlight of our time in Japan, and well worth a visit (even more so than Tokyo, me thinks...).

Next stop is Beijing... we flight out bright and early tomorrow morning so we'll update you next from there!

Sayonara!

Jennifer and Daniel x