Japunzel

Second to last post was so huge because I hadn't written in a few days. You can't expect a lenghty one now as well, but here's a sliver. I'll get back when I have time, most likely tomorrow and not later tonight.

 

I forgot to tell you about Ueno Park! The last whole day in Tokyo, I went to Ueno Park. It was the height of the cherry blossoms and it has beautiful scenery with a little temple and shrines and ponds and koi fish and everything. It was just me and another friend so maneuvering through crowds and deciding where to go was alot easier than with the whole group.

We strolled around and took like a billion cherry blossom picturea and went for a ride in a swan-shaped boat in the pond.

 

 

We left Tokyo two days ago, and took the bullet train to Kyoto. The trip would normally take between 6 and 9 hours but was completed in less than 2,5 hours. Everyone was very excited. We lost a friend in the chaos while boarding, and she had to get on the next one. But that left just 10 minutes later so all was well.

 

Kyoto is much warmer and more humid. There are mountains on 3 sides of the city (at least!), which I didn't expect. The buildings are all much lower and more beautiful, it feels like a city that has grown with logic and dignity instead of "how do we fit more people into this very small space", like in Tokyo. I instantly loved it.

 

Great birds soared in the sky and a wide but shallow river goes through it, like in Rome. The first night we just had dinner and then headed up the closest mountain, where a temple that was supposed to be partically beautiful in the night light. And I will tell you more about it later...