Kyoto

We are spending our last weekend in Japan in Kyoto with Yu, Yuna and Manami. So fun 😍

We chose to stay at an Airbnb and it turned out to be the best idea as we could eat, drink and visit just like at home!

The street to our Airbnb...no vehicles here!

We explored several markets like the Nishiki ...it’s like 5 long blocks of food vendors that are outstanding! We sampled a few 😁

Love the staircase

Baby octopus stuffed with a quail egg

Shrimp tempura 

We also explored different areas

This was geisha town. I was afraid to take more pics as there was a sign that said not to. We did spot one geisha dart across the street and Yu mentioned that was very rare as they are not permitted out in the public

Along the river this area is a popular night scene...several bars and restaurants 

Shabu Shabu

I burnt my mouth...these were soooo steaming hot!

They played a medley of When the Saints go Marching in and The Hallelujah chorus from Handels Messiah. They were doing really well until their music blew away in a gust of wind. Brent and another guy managed to save only a couple of pages ☹️

....apparently one can rent a kimono and walk around town in it!

....woot!

Oh look...another market!

....so I found this fantastic fabric store 🤩 made my day! Apparently I was in there for two hours! I had so much fun I went back for seconds the next day...but for only 80 min...I was timed 🤪 I met a lady from Santa Barbara here. Her art is making Temari balls. I had never heard of them until now. I looked at her website and it appears she’s been on HGTV and has written several books on this. Another celebrity on my list!

Our last night together we went to a Japanese bbq....awesome! Ate too much 🤪

Outside the Kyoto train station 

Took the shuttle bus to the airport...another tearful goodbye. Funny thing...the weather was fantastic until we got on the bus and then the skies opened up!

Thank you Japan for an awesome visit 😘😍

Nagoya

We tearfully leave Kumomi and head for Nagoya ...one last walk along the beach

They drove this under the road

...to the other side!

We took a ferry and a train

This was the hotel we stayed at with Minako and Tomie!

Yuna's mom met us at our hotel and graciously drove us to the high school where we were able to catch up to Saki and Ruka! Oh they look good! ...and then there was Yaz..😘

Ominaki! Soooo good! Urara and Yaz joined us for dinner..noisy...smokey...but delicious 

This is part of the hotel...lots of nooks and crannies and the lobby is on the 4th floor! But it's beautiful and apparently it’s a popular venue for weddings

Eggs Benedict on a waffle!

Yuna’s mom picked us up after breakfast and took us on a 2 hr drive to Ise where we walked through the streets of this market on the edge of a temple. So many food vendors! Swear that all these folks do is eat!

Oyster sweet buns 😁

Hot water

Felt like we were back in Shubuya!

So we enter the grounds to the temple

Oh the fashions!

...love the look of this tree

Spectacular display of competition chrysanthemums

Saki

Lots of prayers 😊

Cotton

I'll try and come back to this post with more details about this amazing temple...