day 4 - tokyo to kyoto

We arrived at Tokyo station at 10.10am to catch the 10.33 train to Kyoto.  We were surprised that we were 23 in line to get into a carriage that held our estimate of 90 seats.  We all scrambled on when the man said we could and all grabbed window seats.  Within minutes the carriage was full of cigarette smoke.

We moved to the next carriage and grabbed what seats we could. 

I got the window seat and the girls spent most of the trip braiding each others hair and giving massages.

We were so lucky to see Mt Fuji from the train on our way out of Tokyo.  The weather was just perfect for viewing, as apparently it is usually hidden by cloud. I also think we are lucky that Clive got this shot, considering the train was travelling at approximately 250kms.

The girls managed to befriend some local chaps to play cards with them.  Conveniently the chairs turn around to make this much easier.  The girls were trying to turn around the seat from Jeffrey's row so he could talk to me in the row behind.  Only problem was there was a man sitting in Jeffrey's row and he had just left his seat to get a meal and would have been surprised upon his return.

Some cool dude having a bit of quiet time. 

Paul reading and Jack catching up on some Pokemon.

What an amazing sight. Just a 100km's out of Kyoto it was snowing.  When we arrived in Kyoto it was still falling quite heavily.  It had only started in the morning and they had already received half of what they normally get in an average winter.

First dinner in kyoto was a traditional noodle house where we all sat on the floor.

I think everyone enjoys the food in Japan.

Andrew had to coax Sam into smiling for the camera.

We are all in traditional rooms in a lovely Ryokan close to the temples.

Outside the Heian Shrine about 10pm. A huge Shrine with 5 acres of gardens which we will go back to explore. This is just around the corner from our accommodation.

Here we are cleansing our hands before we enter the shrine to pray. As you could imagine the water is very cold and it is an effort to take off your gloves.

The Shrine was still relatively quiet when we were there. The idea is that you visit the shrine after midnight or sometime over the next three days to welcome in the New Year.

This photo is of the huge bell at Chion-in Temple which we walked to after the Heian Shrine. You really should do this in the opposite order. But we figure we will be visiting alot of shrines and temples over the next few days.  With a huge amount of luck we managed to get to the front of the line that went on for kilometres to make it up through the grounds and up the steps to be standing in front of the bell for the stroke of midnight! You probably saw us on the news, as this is the famous bell ringing ceremony that is televised around the world on NY Eve. 

Andrew and Ally having a little NY cuddle in Kyoto.

This is a shot of the actual bell ringing ceremony.  The monks swing the big log while chanting and then make it gong into the bell 108 times (buddhist sins). The last one obviously on stroke of midnight.  Absolutely amazing to isten to listen to. We felt very priveleged to be there and will probably never forget this New Years Eve.

Even though the snow had stopped falling by the time we went out, it was still extremely cold. Most of us wore our ski gear out, which helped.  This brazier on the way home helped warm our hands for a bit.

Ally and Claire sitting with some miniature snow men, on the walk back through the grounds of the temple.