Kyoto

The train ride on the amazing world class setting Shinkansen was superb. The Japanese really know how to make long distance train travel a pleasure. The ceremony of the country has not been lost on me. As a train pulls up to stop, the cleaning crew at at attention spaced evenly along the platform and facing its arrival with military precision.

Our seats are spacious and very comfortable. The 300 kph speeds are breathtaking in its smoothness and ease. Inside the cabin all is silent and serene. Outside mountain ranges pass and snow covered rural villages and fields welcome us to Kyoto.

Arrival at Kyoto brings us into the chill. Its Edinburgh winter cold. Luckily our welcoming Ryokan, traditional inn is warm and the staf super friendly. Its shoes off at the front step and slippers on before being gently ushered through clean rice paper walls to the tatami matted square room. The minimalism and simplicity of the design is calming and bright, it is the world of quiet rest and very homely.

It is dark soon and we head out to make to most of the winter twilight, heading into town. The Temples can wait for us.