Not another travel Blog

Nikko's a little place north of Tokyo, it was once a place were Japanese high rollers pumped loads of money into lavish shrines and memorial temples etc, it's now a national park and world heritage site. I'd just done 4 busy days in Tokyo and I'm thinking Kyoto is going to be equally busy so nikko was me having a two day rest, travellings hard u know, lol! The little lodge I was staying in is super sweet, there's a big fire in the main section, a yoga room for morning exercises and cosy rooms. I had no-one on the bed above me and a friendly Canadian couple who had moved to japan a few months back in the bed opposite.

The day I got here, after an almost vertical uphill climb with my bag, my body didn't want to do anything but grab a can of asashi (asashi seems to be japans carling) and sit out enjoying the clean air, something Tokyo may be somewhat lacking. The temperature just that little bit more northern was far cooler and I can't believe I'm saying it but it nice to be a little bit cold. I'd been sweating since the beginning of august and now I was considering putting a jacket on. I got to bed at 9.15 about the earliest I have done since maybe turning 16. I didn't even need an alarm to be up for 7.



Shrine time; I picked a fairly non-strenuous walk for my day, probably about 10-12k so that it encompassed the main shrines and also the disappearing monks.
The first thing i hit was the sacred bridge 'shin-kyo' which leads you towards the first of the temples. It goes on for quite a bit, exquisite temple after another. I got there one of the first and had the place to myself, for quite a while. It made a world of difference being able to walk around with no queues or crowds of people taking photos.
The disappearing monks are these fellas below, called jizo statues, protectors of travellers. Their thing is if you were to count them one way, then the number would be different on the return route, hence the disappearing thing. I lost count mid way the first walk so I can't say either way.



Seeing as nikko was my treat away from the cities, I also had my first proper sit down meal. A place called 'hippari dako' recommended from lonely planet, it was amazing, I had pork balls and chicken tareyaki with noodles and rice. My body had gotten used to my own cooking and microwaved meals so I think it came as a shock to the system. I'd also gone over on my ankle by this point, nothing bad but thought it best to go back and rest. It was so nice taking my backpack off and not seeing a sweat outline where I once had it rested. So after another clean shave, which I'm starting to get used to, I settled down to watch some BBC world in possibly the most relaxed state since setting off. Another early night and I was back to my best again.

I've just seen a bullet train go flying past, shit they go quick. I'll be on my way to Kyoto shortly.