JAPAN

Day 1

• Met up with Kyle at SFO, then flew into Narita/Tokyo International.
• Then took the JR line to Shinagawa where our first hotel was. We got a little lost trying to get out of the station, but thankfully almost all of the signs had english subtitles!
  
• Checked in to our hotel, it was right across from the train station, and our room was very small, but the beds were surprisingly comfortable.
  
• We got dinner at a ramen noodle place, it was delicious and so much better than the airplane food.

Day 2

• Got on train to Kyoto, accidentally boarded the wrong train at first but thanks to kyle's attentive observations we were able to switch at the next station and everything just magically worked out.
• Then we left our bags at the hotel and took a bus to the Golden Temple, where the Shogun would retire and later became a Zen Buddhist temple.
• Then we took a taxi to Nijo Castle, main castle and home of the Shogun for several generations.
• After that we went to Nishiski market and later to Taramuchi outdoor food market, we randomly came across an okonomiyaki restaurant which was amazing and the atmosphere was awesome, with a lighted waterfall in the middle of the table.
• We've met a lot of really nice Australians so far

Day 3

• Took a shinkanzen (bullet train) to Nara
  
• Ate fresh mochi on the street, then at the park saw a ton of deer that just wander around aimlessly. We also saw a turtle pond and a 5-tier pagoda
  
• Saw Todaiji temple with the giant buddha. It was really cool.
  
• Then random earthquake simulator at a tourist/information place we stopped at to cool down. yay for air conditioning.
  
• Then curry and rice for lunch. yum. and then walked through a lantern park that leads to a red shinto temple at the far end of Nara park.
  
• Then quickly back to train as it got hotter and hotter outside.
  
• Walked around Imperial palace in Kyoto
• Then found a sushi place on the river for dinner. Best Sushi Ive ever eaten! Oh wow.