Japan Trip

Days 4-5: 24-25 April

On day 4 Yuki had to leave for the UK, so we said goodbye and checked into the hostel-style Hotel New Koyo. We went shopping in Shinjuku, and then managed to catch the last act of Kabuki at the Ginza theatre.

Day 5 was a big trip out of town to Nikko, in the hills North of Tokyo. The Tosho-gu shrine complex, built for Tokugawa, was dead atmospheric. The Chuzenji falls, though, were a slight disappointment, mostly because they were utterly invisible through the mist! To eat, we found 'Hippari Dako', the gaijin-friendly yakitori place mentioned in the guide book.


A mall in Shinjuku.


Sophie tries on some makeup in Tokyu Hands.


Shinjuku at night is a bit like this.


We caught the last act of the Kabuki that night, a version of the English play 'Money'. Incomprehensible but cool.


Going out towards Nikko, paddy fields whizz by. Good thing we got on the right train eventually.


It gets misty and cold in the hills, even in Spring...


At Lake Chuzenji, the only people out and about are monkeys and local politicians. So just monkeys basically.


It was evening and quite quiet by the time we got back to Nikko to see this. The 'three monkeys' carving is near here.


Opulent, though you can't tell in the gloom.


Tokugawa's tomb sits behind a shrine at the top of a long line of steps.


Sophie in front of a torii. By now it's too dark for photography. Time to eat.