Made in Japan

The last 4 days will follow as soon as possible..

 

Day 1

Worse as the beginning ... so it could not go ...
To understand the time zone was not in itself a problem and not even the crushing weight of our luggage from Narita to Shinjuku ... and even your stomach empty or hot or annoying trying to find our hotel in the forest of color and noise of the many Pachinko (absurd).
Our much praised credit cards that should not give us problems instead did not want to work anywhere that had a post office or it was Citybank, international bank of which we had already read in Italy ...
Already feared the worst and we imagined already beggars asking for alms ... But fortunately the much unevenly Postepay did good! The fact is that I do not remember the code and the phone ... I had left home of course! So I had to call home and explain to my mother who has no idea of how to turn on a phone ... imagined going to find a number!
MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MANY ....... Now that the holiday begins ... Just take 40,000 yen we go from Lawson (convenience store) and buy 2 tickets for the Pride to be held on 2 April all'Ariake coloseum.Dopodichè us to lose Shinjuku East ...
I have never and never seen or imagined a place like questo.Passeggiavamo game between rooms on 6 floors of men in suits and ties were concentrated on playing with the infernal Pachinko, by the way, we really tried to understand the charm of being seated in front of these machines mangiasoldi, deafening ... but we have not grasped.
At some point, a sleeper is a torii (entrance of a temple). The cross for a moment and breathe a Japan which for us is still unpublished ... Of course it will also be the temple was smaller and insignificant in Japan but placed in Shinjuku of chaos takes on a charm for suo.Sarà with sakura trees in blossom, or will be for people who threw their coins in 10 and the bells were pulling their preghiere.Ma as rightly Caramel: "I still n'ama vistu components ..." (yet we have not seen anything)

After this brief experience spiritual walk continua.Mi would also make an imaginary commentino on Pachinko ... there are indeed many, are colored by rumorosissimi and hurt the eyes and there are several characters, including Lupine and Captain Harlock or Evangelion or the sailor warriors ... but what do we find men in the balls that fall to repeat? Mah!
I am still in the land of balocchi! You know those games where there is a metal forceps that maneuvered to catch a gift ... well, here we have a flood, but unlike our machines here bleak gifts are wonderful! One like me can only be ecstatic in the face of all this! I saw the doll Lamuuuuu ... VOGLIOOOOO LO!
I could go up to exhaustion to talk figures but I fermo.La fatigue as they pass the hours is becoming heavier and we decide to dine, although we did not know even now ... And so after a long walk to stroll to choose what we most delicious we opted for a traditional clubs of sushi and sashimi, very nice and economical, a beautiful birrozza Asahi tired but satisfied and we return to our Lornstar ready for a sleep as if they were 3 of the night instead ... in our soft bed the tired eyes will close at 20th

Day 2

We wake up early, at about 6, for excessive sonno.Facciamo a good breakfast in the room and call Tetsuya Matsumoto Sensei, the master of the Kodokan Judo that today and tomorrow we drive to master Tokyo.Il says that there will be a hotel 12:00, we bring a little fun and then to 18 to Kodokan for training. We have a couple of hours and decide to spend in the area west of Shinjuku, one of the greatest skyscrapers of Giappone.Qui The atmosphere strange, very different from the chaos of the East End where alloggiamo.Qui to sing only the corvi.Un 'air of compassionate sadness takes possession of us to see the thousands of men in suits and tie and briefcase, with faces turned off and wander all equal between the skyscrapers and maybe sit in front of a pachinko.Siamo two aliens, so we hurry to return.
At TIC (tourist information center) of the Shinjuku station exchange the japan rail pass and through a beautiful stationery (buy 2 bags per pack elegant gifts for Matsumoto) go back to the hotel.
We have purchased from the Japan Rail Pass for 14 days and how expensive are very convenient if you plan to move too much from city to city as we have done.
Tetsuya appears Matsumoto.La his understanding and kindness seem to be really spontaneous and speeches flow into the car without sosta.Impressionati onboard computer, talking really all up to find that the real traffic in Tokyo: roba da far invidia our ring road (main and chaotic of Catania)
We will be a day giapponese.Matsumoto will show us the other side of Tokyo, away from light years west Shinjuku, one side suburban, more like us and the characters in the manga, all we really like us to tanto.Matsumoto eat in and around Ueno, in a restaurant where we ensure you eat a lot bene.Ed so it will be in effect, a typical Japanese style by placement of tables to tempura, soba and much to. It leads also to take a coffee and a slice of cake and even a lesson in English. That's right, we know the teacher and then, while he studies we are entering a manga.Questo is the effect almeno.Un football field and a beautiful garden where the kids play cater for old and sakura in Japan fiore.Un live differently.
After the English lesson, the teacher of the Kodokan us take a brief tour of central Tokyo and Ueno, the goals of domani.Alle 18:00 is the time of the Kodokan, the workout. Here are the strongest in the world, This, says Matsumoto, is the mecca of Judo.Niente heating and no pants and no particular devotion to the GAIJIN. I take under the best instructors, without sosta.Ne leave alive, a little dented but happy.
Eat in an excellent grill near the hotel, take a little water from the sky and a bit of cheap beer and we dormire.Domeni will be a long day.

PS: the best thing the Kodokan was immerse in the spa.
PPS: I (maintenance), I slept in the Kodokan, not looking at Caramel.
PPPs: Melo loved chocolate all'arancia that made us taste Matsumoto (I no)!

Day 3

Here we are now ready to grind a large quantity of a good breakfast chilometri.Dopo stage already habitual to JR station where we take the train to go to Tokyo Center, our goal the Imperial Palace and its gardens, which had already seen the car yesterday of Matsumoto.VIVA Matsumoto!
Go to Tokyo Station and after a scrape we are in East map garden of the imperial palace where the Emperor resides precisely. To justify the huge amount of people there is the feast of sakura in fiore.Questi beautiful cherry blossom trees only two weeks per year and our great good fortune: they are our weeks!
We wonder what some Japanese amino contemplate their beauty, stopping to observe them, photographs and even many Japanese disegnandole.Già ... designed the sakura and was moved to essi.Il our odometer continues to spin vertiginously (tired and hungry! )
Wind we have taken so much, but it really was worth it! Looking for Suidobashi station we prepare to reach Ueno and once we arrived that there is chaos in this zona.Subito left the station can be reached immediately deciamo famous zoo and visitarlo.Ovviamente all of the park is beautiful and therefore can not be true that the zoo is within, but to us personally, this place brings sadness ... Although not understood Tuttti day to see some real animals, it is also true that a tiger was enclosed within a cage is the most unnatural to exist, as well as poor lionesses private hunting, or even an eagle real majestic and beautiful with the wings chiuse.Nemmeno a picture for these poor animals . The famous giant panda was sleeping away and giving the tapir is the ugliest can exist in nature.
Released by the zoo to visit the park and we wonder for the umpteenth time the luck we had to peck this wonderful flowering period!
A Ueno, there is a lot of life, even more so in a marketplace increasingly around the station, teeming with people and shops ... really beautiful Ueno!
But now Carmelo has to go to the Kodokan, so take the train and we head into the Tokyo Dome.
We are in advance and we enjoy the park all around the Big Egg.Entriamo half hour with the Kodokan in advance and go up to 8 plan to assist all'allenamento a type of bambini.Incontriamo Milan practicing ju jitsu and judo and we to put a little parlare.L 'cross only Italian in this holiday.
Matsumoto arrives at 17.30 and we go cambiare.Mi said today that about 100 athletes coming from all over the Giappone.I best of Japan, effetti.Poi, one day, you tell the changing rooms with benches, the barefoot and their customs and the fact that Matsumoto has made me reach for the Master Matsumura, of 81 years and 10th dan, for a special lesson in NE WAZA.Arriva the national coach of the Japanese and world champion Suzuki.Matsumura to 81 years fighting against one of those young people and eliminates brutalmente.Incredibile.Mi shows 4 techniques and asks me to show them in Italia.Non so late that dire.Più us down in the car also 2 cans of Gatorade ... that tenero! greet the Master Matsumoto and we are going to eat sushi. WASABI TOO! Tired tired tired you go to bed ...

Day 4

Wake up at 7 to get groped by Nikko soon as possible, but .... nisba!
Trains to Nikko in the morning just to 7:12 and at 10.35 and was only 8.30 we decide to postpone until tomorrow the city of apes and forward to today and its Asakusa Senso-ji.Stavolta you go with the metro and arrived just try The famous temple and before it is the beautiful avenue of stalls which flanks the entrance. I do have many totorini and hello Kitty and a thousand other personaggini here that can only meet with such ease ... so shopping today!
But before we dive into profane turn towards the wonderful Senso-ji with the big lantern at its entrance (Kaminarimon leads of thunder) with right Fujino, god of the wind and left RAIJIN, god of thunder, the guardian deity protettrici.Il the temple is a Gatton soft caress you from chiunque.Solita crowd who purifies the source, as well as the usual smoke should be good for your health that all try to inhale the most beautiful sakura possibile.Soliti all around and yet After the usual many many photos to capture those magical moments ... Maybe this was always the "usual" life!
As I said before, the sacred and profane ... and so we let the stalls! Finally many souvenirs, very very nice: dolls in kimonos, fans, lucky cats, sake sets, lanterns and so typical of Jappo can esistere.Mi buy everything, but I thought that we expect another 10 days .... also try the cookies, which seem made of hot chocolate and cream instead of beans is ... nauseating to me, for Melotto no ... but he is omnivorous.
Spending is spending time to eat and turning a bit for us old Asakusa clubs with a soba vetrina.Saliamo in a flight of stairs and settled there, after removing their shoes, at a table japanese style.Ci is increased and the an english appetizer Menu.com choose raw horse meat: filet really great! Then we soba and tempura shrimp. (Matsumoto VIVA!) We drink hot sake in small wooden cups, and we enjoy a lot the situation.

Pomeriggio.Una thing is certain, for any child aged between 13 and 18 years Shibuya is the most beautiful place in the station mondo.Usciti see the statue of Hachiko, the famous dog that waiting 10 years for the return of his master in the station, and thousands (literally) of people crossing the intersection of the most famous mondo.Sollevando our gaze from the forest of bodies being invested by the colorful buildings and a giant big screen that bears the symbol of Pride! to understand be in place giusto.Nelle next 3 or 4 hours (we have never had a clock) vague aimlessly among malls and skyscrapers as high salt the game at 10 floors, including coffee and elegant pink palace, do not understand anything, start to cold and hotel.Optiamo in return for a grill and there we go, wake up at 6 tomorrow to go to Nikko will be dura.Mangiamo chicken, salad and kebabs liver porco.Stanchi, we go to sleep and tomorrow, maybe we can wake up on time.
Arigato goza maaaaaaas

Day 5

E 'on the day of Nikko and its wonders and treasures of mondiale.E' the day when we wake up to 6.Riusciamo not without difficulty in putting on the Tobu-nikko.Manu wearing felpina Dai-ki and the giubbottone.Nikko is in the mountains will be cold and cold! Just off to the station already feel the cold air is here, this had also called for Matsumoto covers since we are in the mountains ... in fact it freezes!
To climb, walk half an hour silent ascent on foot that helps to warm up, then enter the park: wonderful! 1300 yen (just under 10 euros) and we can see tutto.Templi beautifully bound in the middle of a nature that should also be monkeys in freedom that we have not seen, a bit discouraged by fatigue and stress that freddo.Vorrei has snowed all the time!
Now while I write I am sitting in a restaurant opposite the station, which should start at 16:37 our train to return to Shinjuku.
Pending ... take 2 slices of cake really delicious: a cheesecake and a chocolate and espresso that smacks of hot water and we are dedicated to a brief tour of pictures ... for example: in all the halls of Tokyo Game is the moment of a strange child-bean that a crowd of hundreds as hypnotic singing an absurd song ... disturbing ...
And forget the odious Cantilena Thanksgiving shopping orders or the efficiency and punctuality of trains that split the minutes, the crazy hair styles or ubiquitous services for non vedenti.E then good, even exceptional cuisine giapponese.Se thought of return as the X-ray of ourselves, now we are concerned to do a little diet ...

Arriva the Tobu-nikko and there is 3900 yen a head! Back at the hotel and we consulted under a hot shower ... Shibuya tonight, I am almost certain that the scene of Kill Bill when Uma Thurman is on the motorcycle and the car side of 'interpreter of Oren Ishi has been turned on its quest'incrocio, sull'Hachiko exit.
A tour in chaos and we sit down to 8 floor of a building near the ridiculous disney store, the cafe Bellini (sometimes pride Etnean comes out). Everything is in Italian and the waiters recite some incredibly kind words: pot pronto! The bruschetta is really good, the cappuccino and cake and cheese ... Tomorrow you go to Kamakura!
Buonanotte Shibuya ...

Day 6

I state one thing: the time there was amico.Solo a rainy evening at 6 and then the magic of the cherry blossom, but too much wind in our faces that we have always put out a fine knock giornata.Ma not oggi.Oggi spring is full and the first train to Kamakura (a first for us) 9.14.Non surprised at the accuracy of the ending, here it says 9:14 when the train leaves at 9.15 am or 9:13, but 9:14!
I take an extra slice of bread "negro" and the rather well well before we go ....
If Nikko was on the summit of the mountain and there was a cold Executioner and a few dozen intrepid tourists to visit the wonders here in Kamakura, a town of sea, there is a splendid sun that is reflected on the candor of sakura and a real own pilgrimage of thousands of people "ganze" like us! Wonderful! got the station, the flow of the crowd overwhelms us and transports in the direction of a long avenue of about one km, at whose side is an infinite array of cherry trees in bloom . After walking along this path leading to a pink torii leading to one of the main temples and giardini.Delle white doves flying around a garden, which typically has the effect of transmit peace and serenity, and prepare to visit the temple.
Personally, I am preparing 4 skewers of roasted chicken soaked in a sauce of undoubted serietà.Manu instead opts for a handful of cotton candy packaged in an envelope full of nice personaggini. (The bag of sugar had attracted me from day one, I could not fail to take it!)
With this beautiful day is just want to get lost! There is also a street called Shopping Town in which there are many souvenir shops, but especially the many small shops of stuff to eat and each dish is their taste-free ... How many delights! back to reiterate that the Japanese cuisine I was really surprised by his goodness! spiluccando Just a little here and a little there, practically pranziamo.Il sweet of the day is a wonderful chocolate crepe ... Kamakura has already won .
By bus we move to another area, the direction Daibutsu.Con many records can not be wrong and so we enter the garden surrounding the famous giant Buddha until we find him in front with its imposing 11 meters bronzei.Uno show that only a few days ago I saw in photos and now I am in front, as usual in most everything is made even more memorable by the frame of the sakura.
In addition to this area Daibutsu there was condigliato the Hase Kannon temple with its garden, really beautiful and full of flowers of every tipo.Qui are also statues of Jizo, protector of the souls of the children in fact defunti.Apprendo that the statues with hats and dressed sciarpette were from mothers who have lost a child with an abortion.
Hase Kannon we left the bus to Kita Kamakura and visit the temples nearby, and then by the same bus stop take the train that will take us from the sacred to the profane ... SHIBUYA! And 'Saturday afternoon and "the brothel Paris is" ... beautiful ... goes a little turn the shops, especially the HMV music store in Caramel which is exalted in front of a parade dvd martial arts and bought one. There were 10000000 dvd anime ... even THE MAGIC MIRROR!
Returning to our Shinjuku finally feel what I wanted to prove from day one: the bakery in the station! Take a couple of sweets to the sweet potatoes and we totally won! MAXIMA delicious! A bed too happy today ... tomorrow Harajuku!

Day 7

Rieccoci ready to begin another day in Tokyo, today morning at Harajuku! When we arrive there is still chiuso.Visitiamo the Meiji Shrine in disrespectful awaiting a rampant shopping.La our attention is caught by a curious line of young girls near the entry of metro.Ci we question on this subject of waiting until a guy with the headset makes it 5 to carry a building, of course we follow ... these poor Rinchi seems a little wait to meet one of Kattun or who knows what other boy band ... We enter the momento.Incredibile Purple & Yellow by where a lot of nice stuff at reasonable prices and of course acquistiamo.Precedentememte, the Meiji temple, we spent a fortune on souvenirs ... but now it's time for shopping! We are 12 and change the line to go to Shimbashi to Odaiba artificial island in Tokyo bay area, where the Ariake Coloseum, the place of today's Pride FC.Il route is raised and already the impressive visual impact. Imagine traveling in the sky, then in the brooklyn bridge to an island that did not exist until a few years yet fa.Immaginate that the best architects in the world have locked up one evening in a restaurant in Tokyo and you are drunk until Sake in the morning, painting and designing the buildings, even the mega buildings that crowd the island. We all over and then landed in a stralunata atmosphere spettrale.Sono about 13:15, we are at Ariake, and enter a mangiare.Manu is not attracted these spaghetti with meat sauce .... I sì.Con surprise are great and there is also the parmigiano.Ci go in front of the Coloseum, where the hymn echoes delPride.Compro a package of souvenirs and even the maintenance of the mythical cock pride! enter and take place at the row or 13-14, but do not see too well because it away.
Immediately after the first meeting, as good as us Italians, we leave our seats and we take 2 that would cost € 100 in più.Sono spectacular places and none them réclamer ... ah ah ah! (We pride ^ _ ^)
The event was beautiful (fortunately you like to Manu!) And gaudiente as ever dream the day that I should like to start ....
Back to Shinjuku hungry like animals and also a little tired when we meet Tsunahachi, the best tempura in Tokyo! Really good, there's that saying! We "arricriati" very very much and then the clubs is really nice, as usual between tatami table and we have chosen the tatami.Dimenticavo that even today we have purchased back to the sweet potatoes dolecetti station ... We are seriously recommend this little shop which is located near the east exit of Shinjuku station.Qualora not manage to see it immediately followed the wonderful scent that expands the radius of miles ...
Then he goes to sleep, with the china panza.

Day 8

Last day to spend in Tokyo and have a bit of sadness there too .... axle last breakfast here in Lornstar and I to do later in my croissant smoky ^ _ ^
With all the calm that we are willing to grant us today we are preparing for a trip a few steps away, the Gyoen Park and won once again the spectacle of nature pena.Uno see all sakura in their maximum splendore.Il wind will detach the petals and it looked like snow rosa.Le photos to these beauties, there are not like us and also all the visitors to the park pay tribute to the blooming of cherry trees with lots of photos and picnic on prato.Quanta beauty around us! Back hotel via Doutor and buy 3 Milano sandwich to eat on our lettone.Dimenticavo in the park that we took the famous green tea Jappo original, with lots of sweet dough, yet esperienza.Il relax today is ours and what will soon be preparing the suitcases for the move tomorrow.
Tokyo to greet Tsunahachi.Prima But we chose a trip to Roppongi sealed by a nice coffee and a slice of cake, not bad for a little certo.Ci relax enjoying the last hours to Lornstar and we plan our next few days in Kyoto and Nara ... I only hope that they can be as wonderful or at least half of those first 7th

Tokyo .... bye ...

Day 9

Not expected but welcome today last breakfast ... Lornstar us! Then supercaricati of our luggage we are approaching the station in Shinjuku last ... HIGH STUDIO to greet, first and last image of our Shinjuku! CIAOOOOOOO
Orientation in these mega stations is not easy, especially if professionals do not understand a word of what you say ... however in the end we find our train ... and go ...
After nearly 3 hours of travel we arrived in Kyoto! The first contact with the city we have the station ... which more than one station is a real and proper plans cittadina.11 shops and restaurants, all in a futuristic steel construction. To understand the ultimate plan is called EAT PARADISE ... restaurants .... obviously only eat here!
Beak of the station booth Osama Tezuka! I make a picture with the Sapphire Princess and buy a lot of gadgets carini the Japan ... W!
Finding our hotel, fortunately, is not as complicated as we had read, perhaps for the many references made in spite of anonymity memoria.A outside inside the inn is very comfortable and the room beautiful! Perfectly japanese style! Unwind our futon. .. and now begins the adventure of Kyoto!
Are seized by a brief crisis but, thanks to Manu, and everything goes prepapriamo us to taste the new città.Ci frankly it seems impossible to erase from our glittering eyes the wonderful experiences in this week and I must admit that at this time a veil of melancholy was laid out on the noi.Si going to do a little shopping in Isetan department store, you go a few hours in patrol, remembers a bit of Tokyo in front of a cup of coffee and the rain is crashing down on noi.Il mythical jacket by us-ki repairs on the road to the White ritorno.Siamo now and our hotel room with the futon laid out and the rain that roar from outside the window, already knows of the house.
Manu declined to call her, but has just knocked us and now awaits the careful wording of the domani.Rotoliamoci on the futon!

Day 10

Buongiorno Kyoto! Sveglia to 7.30 by morning call and have a little stretch of music by listening the sound of rain outside ... what balls! But the Lonely Planet had a thought a day like this uggiosa advised to go into the food market gallery Nishiki-koji, rich in things and their delicious snacks ... that diet!
As the rain slowed and we believe that we should not be losing a day Kyoto sightseeing just for a bit of rain, so our next step becomes the Nijo castle.Certo a beautiful sun made it more a tribute to the beautiful garden of the castle, but appreciate it anyway.
The fine gardens of Nijo Castle, as extraordinarily beautiful, are not getting closer to our humble opinion, because even ruined by bad weather, our expectations yet impregnated by cousins Tokyani! From a distance we see that sakura seems weak and sfiorito, rain begins to close and we approach a bit to contemplate the heroic resistance last, when is the joyous reality that sakura blossom was still with him and our Kyoto!
Take the metro in the direction where Kawaramachi eat something on the fly in a cafè.La rain has almost stopped falling when a nice old woman comes up to our table and tells us ... The communication sequence that follows says that close to Gion, about half an hour from us, there is a better place or a set of sites known to Maruyama Koen, where there are beautiful temples and a large amount of cherry blossom.Come not to listen to a Japanese old woman with a mask?
We therefore put in motion towards Kyoto east, crossing the bustling district of Gion until you reach the park. And 'it is here that our named Kyoto Sakura blossoms definitivamente.Meravigliosi gardens full of waterfalls, trees, streams and flowers are mixed with many temples and the crowd of food stalls and visitors in a whole that is Japan that sognavamo.Percorriamo the Kyomizudera a crowded street filled with souvenir shop, a kind of Taormina with the Japanese case if you will forgive the comparison, and we arrive at Kyomizu Temple.Questo is up to now, one of the highest peak of beauty achieved in this Japanese adventure ... Totally immersed in the green, this shrine with its pagoda Kyoto.Percorriamo dominates the route between cherry trees and other works of art nature man to walk on the soil of the place of highest tempio.per instantly isolate the sound and imagine this place without the crowds of visitors and the flash of cameras, let us alone with the wind and the rustle of the leaves of the huge trees, for a moment closing his eyes and inhaling the incense that is spreading from large incinerator at the entrance, you feel closer to the heart of the world.

Dinner based tempura from Wako Ton Katsu, where I take the set which includes named Satsuki pork cutlet, 2 breaded shrimp, salad with deadly sauce, miso soup, pickles and baby, a large bowl of rice and a nice iced beer everything ... even a 10 euro! Manu calls even in a miso (which is to chronicle the hot soup vongolette).
Unwind our futon praying that tomorrow will be a lovely blinding sun to shine on us and Kinkakuji asleep tired and happy day of our 10th

Day 11

Today we will see the Golden Pavilion. The Kinkaku-ji, so called, is perhaps what we expected so far (at least I). It 'a symbol of beauty and to be admired as it should require a day of sole.Oggi is a day of sole.Il Kinkaku-ji is golden. At least it is covered for 2 thirds, and while we do breakfast from starbucks they imagine the luncentezza rethinking its history ... them into a detailed program of the day along with Daitoku -ji-ji Rioan and Ninna-ji a delicious cake soaked in a hot cappuccino.
From Kyoto station start the bus leading to all points of città.La Our first goal is the Daitoku-ji with its 24 temples and gardens zen.Sfortunatamente these are all paid (quite expensive) and really tiny so there is no penalty tutti.Inizia visit our marathon: the next destination Golden Pavilion. If we could give advice to all those they plan to visit Kyoto, it would have to walk as much as possible.
Species in these areas is not difficult to find the taste traditional alleys where women in kimono cross or between screens to see some dream house.
We arrive at Kinkaku-ji and pay the ticket ... what we have seen is not describable in my opinion, then it will Manu.
(... why?) And what should I say? Bello and shining in the sun so much that we wanted to oggi.Purtroppo you can not visit the inside, but the glow of gold already leaves us breathless, even if from afar. Photos which I have made several, but in this case, more than ever, we already know that they can never bring justice to such a scenario.
We continue our long walk to the other two objectives of the day: Ninnaji and Ryoan-ji, the latter famous for its Zen rock garden.
Fatigue faces and refreshment we move toward the bus dori Shijo and find joy with our friend Milan sandwich.
The area we live kidnaps with its shops, a healthy bit of shopping after an overdose of art has never hurt anyone.
The marathon comes to an end and after the Kyoto bus to do a look at hotel and then to dinner where Caramel had left eyes (and a long trail of saliva) ieri.Lo definitely call the restaurant of the porche, at least waiting to learn their true nome.Il plate of both is really good, but for me I was ruined by an excess of the tasting chili that has tizia aggiunto.In compensation Caramel has goduto.Ancora once with beautiful full panza si va a lettuccio.Domani Nara!

Day 12

Even today after a wonderful night's sleep on the futon I wake up even before the morning call sound and already, from the window of heaven allotted by the buildings in front of our window I see the beautiful day that is!
Breakfast at Starbuck's and finally back to use our JR pass for the train to Nara.Dopo about an hour in the company of gentlemen 2 Americans, also directed the ancient capital, the train stops at the JR station to Nara.La city seems alive now and the lady un'arzilla ICT he gives us maps of the city and has asked us what our flagship tipico.Noi we look a little off and we understand that he lived in a world too gray not afford to respond to domanda.Diremmo the apprpriatamente Zagare, but after barely fail to mention the color ...
We are in Sanjo-dori to enter into our walking tour of Nara Koen and his 8 sites recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The first and most important of those we meet them at the entrance to the KOFUKUJI Temple (also world heritage), with glowing eyes and a little attitude irridente against tourists: I'm talking about the 1200 deer that populate the park and that crowd around tourists who have decided to spend 150 yen to delight with some biscuits.
Immersed in the nature walk, observing pagoda 57 meters high and the building in wood in the world while these sweet creatures you will pass near or touch the edge is one of those timeless experiences that you print in the memory so as not to leave more .. ..
But what are these fawns carini! A little should be envied considering all the wonderful park and have the title of world heritage that we have seen buckle.
Walking through the park will enjoy the beautiful sunny day, finally feel warm, and we try as much as possible to keep the route in advance, even if in a paradise like this would just get lost ....
We arrive at the spectacular TODAI-JI, construction timber larger than the world of container Daibutsu (Buddha) The world's largest! All great!
Children are pushed into a pertugio behind a pillar, according to a legend that says that anyone who manages to go from that hole to reach the lighting ... not by chance manage to spend only children.
We walk without stopping up the hill, passing through the "great bell" to the complex of temples of the Kasuga shrine, through the Ningatsu and Sangatsu Hall.
Time passes and Nara flows under our piedini.Nel early afternoon NARAMACHI you go to the shopping center in town where a taste of a few souvenirs are the 17.30 hours to return to stazione.Saliti reappear here on the train the gentlemen Americans journey after a complete trip to Nara to Kyoto ritonrno.
We have the tips of the nose a little flushed, as well as guanciott and the front and what we do not regret at all.
Dinner nell'eat paradise, where you can do on a free for all! I am so full that I even feel sick ...
Tired of the beautiful day we go to bed.

Day 13

Today Ginkakuji and Nanzen-ji .... yes, with the pipe!
We do not even have time to get into the right row of the bus that Nuvoloni above us began to throw down rain and wind ... Definitely not the right time to travel the path of the philosopher ... So wait to find that Isetan eat paradise is not only in the highest floors, but also lower than that ... wonder!
Overlooking it seems to us that the time has improved and in a flash we decide to go to Daigo-Ji.Prima JR, then metro, then bus to the sanctuary, the spectacle of sakura is designed for our joy and I think of who knows how many pictures in pink I have done!
The sanctuary is crowded and all the pink cherry blossom.Quella something we would consider to be minor as one of the most interesting! Heritage also the Daigo-ji is a promontory which includes several temples, a pagoda to 5 plans and the charming bridge on the pond of which I have also a print in palestra.Ci doing each other a dozen photos to witness to our presence and give us even a stop at the hall adjacent to the beautiful ponte.Davvero this place!
It's back on station around 14:15 where we have lunch and settled the next meta.Diciamo that this should have been the day of the "second choice" as a destination but the facts have turned to the definition sorprese.Infatti agenda of the two sites we visited Excited as we were, if not more, the most gettonate.Il second of these is the SANJUSANGENDO.Sulla guide (lonely planet faithful) is reported for the largest representation of Kannon arms from 1000 to the world and to 1000 statues of Kannon that the smaller fiancheggiano.Detta so it would seem a normal thing ... When we enter barefoot in the great hall that we face is stupefacente.Immaginate a statue of Kannon of 1.65 with 42 arms, and now ... try to imagine 1000!! E 'an incredible thing to note in 1000 statues wooden dome height, carved by hand and covered with gold foil and placed in groups of 500 to either side of the great Kannon.Questa (really impressive) is surrounded by other 42 statues of Buddhist deities protettrici.Grande experience!
It's back to the hotel for a nap and then dinner!
In Giappne you eat early, from 18 ... tonight we go to Miumi, where we eat delicious soba and tempura.Prima to close the day we would like to focus on an issue that has affected much of Japan: the anziani.In these 13 days we have been taught to consider them a vital cog in this società.Li have seen done in groups picnic on the high hills of the Daigo-ji, climb the mountain with grandchildren, photographed hand in hand with its compagni.La last week I have seen the Kodokan as young students bow deeply to the passage of an elderly person as the master Matsumura and hung by his older labbra.Gli live here long (more than in all the world) because their role is stronger than their will and the is the same.

PS.Non bear most of the Cantilena committed!

Day 14

Exactly one year ago we were in Milan for the concert of Judas Priest, we are now in Japan at the end of the most beautiful vacation of our vita.Chissà where we come in about another 10 years ....
Kyoto to greet us a reserve of important bellezze.Saggiamente morning we wake up at 7 to avoid the overwhelming confusion of late mattinata.Prendiamo bus No. 100 in the direction Ginkakuji first goal of the philosopher's path, which will lead to first-NAnzen ji and then all'Heian Jingu.
Placed alongside a delicious stagnetto the Ginkakuji however, does not stand the slightest confrontation with his cousin dorato.Non say that is not an important goal, even for the presence of a beautiful garden, but considering that the DAIGOè reported very least, we expected something of più.La TETSUGAKU NO MICHI (the philosopher's path) is overflowing with sakura walking and walking we arrive at the Nanzen-ji.Ammiriamo incantevole Hojo rich zen gardens and paintings on screens of various rooms, and we enjoy a cup of green tea alone in a room with tatami facing all'illuminante on a cascade of mountain ... to wonder!
Then we head to the imposing Heian Jingu, surrounded by large fields and around baseball are nic.Dopo pic we dive, introduced by a giant Torii, dell'heian the garden, in my opinion the most beautiful we have seen in Japan, with a frightening variety of plants and explore fiori.Mentre them, come to us the strong noises and screams of a collision between shinai .... come from Kyoto Budo Center, famous for Kendo where today there is a competizione.Sono very happy to have could benefit from this hall while he was in his moment of greatest activity has been seen as a forest in a duel between samurai!
It is like night and two real Japanese dinner at 19.30 after a couple of hours shopping for last minute, taking two from Mimiu dishes and tempura Udon, a sweet and a nice beer ghiacciata.Questa is our last dinner in Japan ( This 2006 ...) and has the flavor of something great and ending of something great that is beginning to grow more quickly, leaving hope for the future.

Day 15..... back to Catania

Another word that two!
I'm sad and a little indispettita ... so do not write anything sentimental!
Vabbè .... here we close our tale of travel ... aware of the beauty of what we have done and hope to be able to write many more ...

PS ... It was much better to write on the futon ...