Kyoto to Tokyo

Started our final day in Kyoto with a trip to Kinkaku-ji (the gold pavilion). The pictures we’d seen didn’t do the real thing justice - a two storey temple covered in gold leaf, sat on a lake so that the effect was doubled with its own reflection. Seeing it as it began to snow added something extra special.. Snaked around the grounds along the pathways and steps that kept bringing you back to face the pavilion at different angles so that every time you saw something you hadn’t noticed before.

Walked to the city centre to do a bit of shopping before leaving for Tokyo. Made time to browse around Nishiki Food Market, with its weird and wonderful sights and smells. Picked up a Kyoto speciality –cinnamon wafer biscuits - for friends and family back home and found a lovely little book shop that Paul couldn’t help going back to twice!

Took the bullet train to Tokyo and headed for a hotel that we weren’t quite sure about and didn’t know what to expect. Were amazed to find on arrival that we’d been upgraded to the honeymoon suite complete with kitchen, seating area with TV sofa and chairs, dining room, bedroom, and bathroom, all with panoramic views across the city. Ordered room service and sat at the dining table smiling from ear to ear.