Sayonara…..

A few random notes about our time in Japan.

We went to see the snow monkeys near Nagano.  It’s a big tourist draw.

Naoshima Island has a vibrant contemporary art scene and some lovely accommodations.  The art, quite frankly, was not exactly to our taste.  

The local superstore in Okayama was fascinating.  There is much to be learned in such places about how people really live.  (That is not children’s furniture…. it is simply scaled to the typical Japanese home size.)

The ryokan (Japanese inn) in Kyoto was incredible.

We enjoyed a bike ride around the city of Kyoto, but finally had enough of shrines and temples, and chose to cut short the structured touring and simply wander around the city for our last couple of days.

Japan is a singular place… a delight for all the senses.  Our guide Setsuko was so much fun, finding unusual places and things to do.  Lots of new perspectives to contemplate……

But our time there is done, and we move on to what will no doubt be a striking contrast – Russia.