Most of our trip so far ha been filled with a smattering of Japanese, Korean (way to go Nellie) and lots of pointing at pictures.

On the way for food this evening, Mrs Fogg desperately needed mosquito repellent, easy if you are able to say what you are after and the other person understands. Cue Mrs Fogg trying to demonstrate to a bemused part time schoolboy working behind the counter of the local “sell you anything” shop, the word Ka (for mosquito) and waving her hands around her arms uttering the noise “psssh” (to simulate a spray can). The poor young lad looked frightened as hell with this crazy English lady saying Ka, Ka, psssh, pssssh at him.

Eventually she got something resembling industrial strength fly killer, where she sprayed it in everyone’s lungs outside the shop (see the passers by gasping for oxygen).

Fun end to another long and enjoyable day.

Tomorrow is a trip to the monkey Park and Bamboo grove and Ryanoji

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Yup wash day, sat in a room no bigger than 2m x 3m, with 3 washing machines and 2 gas powered tumble dryers in it. Outside temp is 34 degrees, inside temp is 44 degrees!

A slight challenge being the fact that all machines are in Japanese, but we successfully managed to do a full wash and dry for 3 of us, total cost, a paltry 800yen, less than a fiver, awesome.

Next stop, grub.

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We’ve been walking round here.

After breakfast we headed into Main Street Kyoto to see the annual float/ parade.

Before heading off to the Imperial Palace tour, we mistakenly went for sushi to a yucky place, with slow service and horrid food, it was all smiles to start and then grimaces by the end of it


Having bolted down the late food it was then a 30 minute fast walk in 34 degree sunshine and 80% humidity to the Palace for the tour. Unfortunately the tour had too many people and a poop guide, nice scenery but rude people



Followed by shaved ice to cool down

This afternoon, it gets no more rock and roll than doing the laundry

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After another long hike and a good rest on the tatami mats, it’s time for an Oil Street Brekky before another hike (again). Today the Imperial Palace and a float parade

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Now this brings back fond memories for me and Mrs Fogg and it will stir a few for Stew and Jen also. Walking down a very famous street in Kyoto called Ponto-cho.

And then stepping into a rather exclusive private dining experience where your traditional Japanese waitress, comes in to cook and serve your sushimi. We took Jen and Stee here 8 years ago and it has lost none of the charm, so we decided to treat Nellie to a slap up meal, cooked beef served in raw egg, in preparation for the 10 mile hike back to the guest house.

And now to bed on out tatami mats

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Welcome to Oil Street guest house in Kyoto

Burrito the dog

The bedrooms complete with tatami mats and DIY bedding

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This is us waiting for the 10.33 from Tokyo to Kyoto on the Shinkansen, unfortunately not the Bullet train, but a little slower at 150mph.

Kyoto is double the amount of walking in Tokyo, sorry Allan and Bel but Hazel will be a little shorter when she gets back.

All aboard, cleaners first

We’re off

Only 2hrs 30 mins to go

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Not a word of a lie, a picture of Keith’s back in Tokyo.

We have no idea either!

Question, how do you embarrass a teenager?

Answer, when she is in a Korean K-Pap shop buying records, both of the Foggs start pulling a madness dance move in front of her and the entire store. Oh yes, we got the power moves!

And a few more shots of this manic city with its themed “love hotels”

awesome 5 way crossings with a sea of human bodies

and Neons to hurt your eyes (you can see where they got the idea for the Blade Runner cities from)

Next stop, far, far away. Kyoto.
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So today was Nellie’s turn to decide where to go and she wanted to briefly return to Korea Town to pick up some souvenirs.

So, we plumbed for a day of less walking (yes really we tried) and opted to visit Akhibara in the morning for a dose of electronics store heaven plus a few dodgy cafes which Mr Fogg already kindly wrote about!

So then back to Shinjuku (entertainment town with neon and LOTS of bars and men’s clubs- if this was the UK this would be stag do central) and a slow walk to Korea town.

We just HAD to try eating Korean food so we settled on a small place up a side street where we could recognise pictures of meat. And oh what a choice we made. It was simply brilliant!

You sit at your table which has a full stove in the centre along with a retractable extractor hood. We asked for recommendations on the food and selected two different pork cuts plus a traditional Korean savoury pancake with a fermented cabbage ingredient (this is traditional Korean food).

The server then cooks at your table. It was delicious and a great experience. It was made better since Nellie knows some Korean and could exchange some words with our waiters.

Once nicely full it was another slow amble back to Shinjuku and a long wander to find a cafe. Plenty of bars, but no cafes apart from a French one.

Then it was a wait for it to get dark so we could look at the neon lights.

This is our last night here before we head to Kyoto and a new set of adventures. Oh, and more walking.

Where Tokyo is loud, bright and caters to all shopping requirements, Kyoto is quiet, refined and historic. It’s great to get the contrasts.

Posted by YourTourGuideChick