Travel experiences across the world
Yesterday was Nara day!We headed to Nara from Kyoto first thing in the morning, where we met with Liza's friend, Yoko, who kindly volunteered to show us around. We began in Nara Park, a pleasant, forested park with lots and lots of deer. The deer are smaller than those you might see in the West,… Continue reading Nara
Well, this is better! Today it was still cold, but it was sunny and the sky was clear -it was a pleasure to walk all over Kyoto today, and I did!I started my day with a healthy Kyoto-style breakfast, which includes three different types of tofu (a Kyoto specialty, Liza explained), fish, an assortment of… Continue reading Kiyomizu, The Philosopher’s Path, Ginkakuji
What happened?! Yesterday was all sunny and warm and wonderful and today was all gray and rainy and cold and windy and marathonian (more on that in a bit). Can we go back?I had a moment of choice paralysis this morning, when I sat down to draft my itinerary for the day and saw all… Continue reading Kinkakuji, Nijo-jo
Early this morning I left Sawanoya and Tokyo altogether -for good, because I'm not departing from there to get back to France. I was certainly a bit sad to leave Sawanoya, because it was such a nice place to stay, but I was also more than ready to move on. I saw so many different… Continue reading Arrival in Kyoto
Yesterday, my last day in Tokyo, was mostly about tying up loose ends. I began the morning peacefully enough, by doing laundry. A little Ueno housekeeping to start the day on the right foot! Sawanoya has a washing machine, a dryer and an iron, and the whole thing adds up to only 300 yen.At around… Continue reading Last day in Tokyo
The other day, here in Ueno, I crossed two old ladies on the street who were walking an enormous brown bunny rabbit O_O For real. With a leash and everything.Walking here feels like driving a police car with the siren on. Girls will literally shove their friends out of my way. I like being able… Continue reading The Pillow Blog: II
After five days that have been pretty much all urban madness, today was a day dedicated to reflection, introspection and contemplation: day trip to Kamakura, city of shrines and temples!There are a lot of shrines and temples to visit in Kamakura, so it takes a lot of walking and a lot of fishing for change… Continue reading Kamakura
This morning I went to the Ghibli Museum, the hometown of all things Totoro in Japan and, consequently, the world. Tickets are sold out months in advance, and although the entire journey there didn't seem very busy at all, once inside the museum it was indeed a full house.I was most charmed by the building… Continue reading Ghibli Museum; Nezu Shrine
For the afternoon, I had tickets to see a Kabuki play at Shinbashi Enbujo, near Ginza. While Kabuki-za is still being renovated (set to reopen later this month or April, I believe), Shinbashi has apparently picked up as the main Kabuki stage in Tokyo these past few years.Once again, I thought I was hopelessly lost… Continue reading Kabuki and Tarantino
Today was shopping day! I headed down to Ginza to check out the shopping heaven of Tokyo. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and it was just a pleasure to be out and about.This is where the flagship stores of Muji and Uniqlo are located. The former is at least moderate in its hugeness, but… Continue reading Ginza
This Is A Lake 