we stayed several days in kyoto, travelling around by bus to see city temples and sights [View Full Entry]

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again by shinkansen we travelled from kyoto station to Hiroshima, about two hours. we walked to the Peace Memorial Park and visited the impressive museums in silence in the early afternoon we took a local train to the island of Miyajima and saw the famous red floating Tori and the island temples. we were lucky since we saw a shintoist religious cerimony with monks playing traditional instruments and dancing on the platform in front of the tori. [View Full Entry]

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by shinkansen from kyoto station about 1 hour we walked to the castel about 15 minutes the imposing castle is considered the best in Japan and it is really worth [View Full Entry]

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one hour trip from kyoto by train. we visited the city of nara with its huge temple, the tallest buddha statue in japan, and its lovely tame deer which roam freely in town and in its parks. [View Full Entry]

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we took the shinkanzen from tokyo station to kyoto. we had already reserved japan railpass and booked the tickets two days before our departures from a kiosk at tokyo station. smooth ride and we sagain saw the fuji from the window. in kyoto we chose the Palace Side Hotel, really good and perfect location along the imperal palace walls and 100 m from the underground station. lots of things to see in kyoto. last days of the year and the city is busy and crowded with tourists from all over japan. temples are light at night and people celebrate religiuos festivals [View Full Entry]

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we really loved to stay in Jimbocho, which is conveniently close to the imperial palace, 15 minutes walking. we stayed at sakura hotel, which is more like a hostel than a hotel, rooms are clean and common bathrooms and showers are immaculated as you would expect in Japan. staff is friendly and helpful. location perfect. 100 m from underground station and from cheap restaurants, eateries and shops. we moved around by the incredible system of trains and underground, easy to navigate. we visited major sights such as shintoist shrines and buddhist temples in asakusa and of course the modern ci [View Full Entry]

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from asakusa station to nikko by train about 1.30 h. one of the highlight of our trip to japan. the forested landscape and mountains are wonderful amd the gilded shrines spectacular. from nikko station we caught a bus to the shrine area. first we saw the gracious japanese bridge and then walking uphill we visited dozens of fantastically decorated temples and shrines. a thin layer of snow covered the magic japanese lanterns and temples roofs. [View Full Entry]

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a day trip to kamakura from tokyo. we travelled by train, about one hour. then a long pleasant walk from kita kamakura station to see temples and shrines. [View Full Entry]

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a great day in noosa national park [View Full Entry]

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at sunset the sky of the city of sibu swarmed of thousands of swallows. we travelled by boat for about three hours upstream the river Rejang to the village of Kapit surrounded by the forest. we stayed only two nights in the village and then moved to a longhouse about two hours deep in the jungle. we were guest of a nice family who prepared our meals and we walked in the forest and swam in crystal clear streams. [View Full Entry]

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