Kyoto, Japan - 2nd/3rd February 2023

Our last full day in Kyoto found us on a long bus ride to the north of the city, to visit Kamigamo Shrine, one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, first mentioned in a historical text in the seventh century. The beautiful Hongan hall, an exact reconstruction of the original, was reached by walking across a small bridge crossing the stream which ran before it.

Kamigamo Hongan

Sacred horse and bunny.

Setsuban celebrations were in full swing in the grounds, with plenty of stalls selling antiques, crafts and food. Nearby there was a long line of people waiting to have their wishes, written on paper, burned by priests who threw them onto a huge fire to bring good luck in the coming year.

Burning wishes

We decided against the pilgrimage hike to the top of the mountain, having recently completed one and instead opted for a coffee break at a nearby stall.

As with many things in Japan, the preparation of coffee was performed as a fascinating ritual.

After the bus ride back downtown, we popped into the Kanji Museum. The museum recorded the history of the Kanji characters used in the Japanese language since their first introduction as Chinese characters. Not only could we check out the 'Kanji of the Year' ( 税 zei meaning tax) but there was also an amazing display of towering festival floats in the museum's foyer.

Towering Festival Float - Kanji Museum.

As we were close to the market it would have been rude not to take a detour to our favourite stall which sold prawn skewers. We were regular patrons and the stall-holders were sad to hear we were leaving Japan the next day.

Our route back to our Airbnb took us via our neighbourhood Mibu Dera temple for one last visit to check out the Setsuban festivities.

During our two weeks in Kyoto, had walked between six and eight miles a day on most days. It was an unforgettable holiday.

Mibu Dera dragon

Early next morning we were back at Kyoto station boarding the Hello Kitty train back to Kansai airport in Osaka.

We realised with surprise when our plan took off for Paris that we were to fly the opposite direction around the world than when we flew to Japan, meaning we would have completed a full circumnavigation.

Waiting for Kitty.

Hello Kitty Train

Passing the Nintendo Train.

Flying past Mount Fuji.

After a gruelling fifteen hour flight to Paris, and a race through the Charles De Gaulle airport, towed by stressed Air France personnel desperate for us to make our connection, we were soon back in the Heathrow hotel in time for a pint and chips before bed.