We have finally returned to Tokyo after a 4 hour Bullet train ride from the land of beef

Nellie and I found a good photo opportunity for Mrs Fogg

Little Nellie seems quite pooped from the heat and travelling and decided to retire early in Tokyo, so Mrs Fogg and I took on last wander before our early rise and departure back to the UK

It has been a pleasure having Nellie as a travelling companion, grown up and intelligent conversations with Mrs Fogg, whilst joining in the fun and japes with myself.
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Well a very very short stay in Kobe, just enough time to enjoy Kobe Beef (the best ever taste). Now it’s the 4 hr train ride to Tokyo in preparation for the early rise tomorrow am (we’ll start travelling at 10pm UK time Friday night and arrive back in Hemel 5pm UK time on Saturday night.

Packed and ready for the train

Kobe at Night

Where we were

Tokyo or bust
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What to do?

Have Kobe beef of course. We selected a small local restaurant to try and found lots of locals eating in the tiny restaurant. A good sign, so we ordered A grade Kobe beef as a set menu.

Oh my. Four courses later and what a delicious meal. We had beef stew to start, thin slithers of roast beef with salad, then beef soup, then the main event – Kobe beef sirloin cooked exactly as we like it, then desert of fruit, cheesecake, chocolate cake and mango pudding.

Did we mention washed down with beer and wine?

A fab experience!!

Plus we got to practice our Japanese, and learnt that Nellie knows the word for excellent!

Hee Hee, only kidding

Posted by YourTourGuideChick

We stayed here in miyajima.

A nice breakfast and a short chance to explore the island before heading into Kobe for beef burgers.

Before our 4 hour transfer to Kobe, by car, ferry, JR local train, Shinkansen, JR local train and foot

The Trusty Hotel in Kobe is here.

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A beautiful ryokan awaited us, with spacious rooms, perfect service, excellent food and amazing views.

With a traditional Japanese bathroom where you wash and shower, then get into a wooden bath

Time for food and the obligatory Yakata

With superb food, fully explained (all 8 courses)



And thoroughly enjoyed by all

Before a late night stroll to see the shrine and street lanterns

As my young colleague informed me, it’s hot, hotter than the sun!

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This afternoon we set off for our last but one destination (aww is it really so close to going home?)

Miyajima Island is where the floating Tori gate seems to rise effortlessly out of the water and is a destination I have always wanted to visit. Well what a place it is too!

We caught the local train from Hiroshima at the perfect time (huge downpour while we were travelling) and made our way across on the brief ferry ride to a tiny island full of narrow roads and beautiful mountain scenery.

Our guest house hosts came to pick us up from the ferry terminal and drive us up teeny lanes to near the shrine and an amazing Ryoken. It is beautiful in every way and with a fab twin room all to ourselves.

I wish we had more than a night now! Even Nellie said, can’t we just stay here

And our own corridor, wooden Japanese bath and balcony

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Today we got up and did a brief tour around Hiroshima with our wonderful volunteer guide Masato-San. It is always interesting to visit Hiroshima and come away with something new about the area and we certainly did after spending a very informative time with Masato-san. We can definitely recommend having a volunteer guide especially with Masato’s excellent English and knowledge.

It is a shame we could not spend longer finding out more.

Thank you.

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Breakfast this morning consisted of leftovers from tea last night, so we will show you how enjoyable that was again.

Fish, raw egg, rice and things. Give me coco pops

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We stayed in a Ryokan here.

We arrived to the Ryoken relaxed (well a nice chilled asahi does help). The Ryoken staff were racing around after us like nutters, dinner at 7pm, time to all use the one toilet and one shower, short straw, I went for a walk, Mrs Fogg went to the public bath house on floor 7 and Nellie grabbed a shower first.

All togged up in our Japanese house coats (well Neillie’s could wrap around her twice) we went to our personal dining experience with in excess of 10 dishes each, all looking different in their own way. Nellie filled up on rice, I ate everything apart from the item that resembled regurgitated chewing gum and Mrs Fogg sniffed everything before trying it.

Not a bad experience, complete with Saki, beer and coke.

Now beds all laid out, the interesting experience of everyone suffering Johnny Honk Pants all in the same room (no sprouts, but the fugg will come).

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