Raining cats and dogs

Yesterday was another day of rain. It rained and rained and rained incessantly ALL day! 

We went to the Meiji-Jingu shrine which was a lovely walk through the woods and into various little shrines. Even in the rain it was beautiful. 

It's funny, when it rains on holiday, you end up looking at things you wouldn't normally notice... like that every single person is carrying an umbrella and that the colours make patterns as they all huddle together. We were stood on an over pass and I noticed how lovely all the brollies looked, moving along together like a colourful sea below.

In the evening we went to the Ninja restaurant which was great fun. You had to do Ninja training before you went in and once you finished your meal, a Ninja came and performed magic tricks at your table!

 Today we had a trip out to Nikko in the mountains. We were wandering around temples and shrines which were exactly what would spring to mind if someone were to ask you what you think Japan would be like. We were just saying how pretty it all was when it started snowing! It couldn't have been more perfect!

We also had the most amazing meal in a tiny little restaurant with only 3 tables and covered (no word of a lie), floor to ceiling in business cards, cartoons, notes and general rubbish from previous customers wallets. Layers upon layers of them! We spotted a Sheffield Wednesday ticket from 2007 and a Yorkshire flag) goodness knows what someone was doing with one of those in their pockets on holiday in Japan! Of course, I added my own bit of artwork!

We are off to Mt Fuji tomorrow for a couple of days. I don't know when I might be back by a computer so here is a bit more eye candy from our trip so far to keep you going! Enjoy!

Yes, that is cold tea in a can. Needless to say, it went down the drain!

A lady in traditional dress... That's in the Metro station, each one has different artwork all around it.

 Night shot of Tokyo.

Plastic models of the menu options outside a restaurant.

A bridge over a waterfall in Nikko. The water was so clear you could see the pebbles below. The water was flowing so fast you could see the spirals which so inspire a lot of Japanese artwork.

Till next time, Sayoonara!!