Kyoto

Another bullet train ride tomorrow, 514km to Kyoto - we'll probably get there before we started off if it goes at full speed (I believe it only has one speed).
Despite the massive aerial on the roof, it looks like the hotel we're going to be staying in may not have internet access.
So it may be Thursday before the next entry, unless we get lucky or there's an Internet cafe nearby.

More trains, boats, boxes and toys

After the bullet we got a local train to Hakone-Yumoto, mountain train to Gora, a funicular to Sounzan, a cablecar to Togendai and then a pirate ship to Hakonemachi (no, we're not making this up).
Then a mere two minutes on foot bought us to the home of Japanese puzzle boxes, many glorious boxes bought.
Walked a bit through some cedar trees and along an old cobbled road to Moto-Hakone. Then we got the bus back to Hakone-Yumoto, we chose the shorter queue for the bus which turned out to be the bus that went the really long way round
Off the bus and on to the Hakone Toy Museum and straight into more shopping opportunities.
Caught the next bullet train from Odawara back to Tokyo.

That sounds a lot to fit into a day but the Japanese have got this tourism thing down to a fine art, everything is signposted and there's a guard or guide at every single exit, sometimes two or three.

Woosh

Took an excellent day trip to Hakone. Started off with our first journey on a bullet train to Odawara. Really fast, clean, loads of space and almost silent.

Turtle Power

Nakana was the next stop for more plastic toy joy.

Finished off the shopping spree with a train back to Tokyo Central and a leisurely walk to Ginza, which is full of the more upmarket type stores but we couldn't find anything in our size in Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vetton, Tiffany's or any of the others.

But we did find some bread in the shape of a turtle and how many people can say that?

Went over to the Imperial Palace but they failed to recognise our inherent royal bearing and didn't let us go in.

I can't see my house from here

Yesterday we ended up going back to Akihabara for a traditional japanese meal of burger and chips from Mos Burger and paid another visit to the gashapon shop.

Today started with a trek to Shinjuku, navigated our way through the busiest train station in Japan and up to the 45th floor of Tokyo Government Building Number 1 to see a spectacular view of Tokyo, people looking like ants etc. Probably the one thing we've done that hasn't cost anything.

Competition Number 2

Is it real or is it plastic?
Who can tell?
The first post to guess correctly will win a snack selection of things that we've tried and tested from the plethora of convenience stores here in Tokyo.

Giant Headed Chef Attacks Tokyo

You can have too much culture, so we finished the afternoon in Kappabashi, where all manner of kitchen hardware is on sale for Tokyoites to purchase.