I love luggage forwarding. It means the day we leave we just have hand luggage! So easy especially when you see people lugging big bags on buses and trains. What on earth do they pack to need a really large bag? Hint ….. take things out and pack lighter.

Down to Kyoto station. We are all over the public transport now.

In plenty of time for the 9.05 train to Himeji. We want to stop and see the castle.

Into Himeji in 45 mins. Hand luggage into lockers and onto the loop bus for the short trip up the castle. It’s 20 mins walk and we decided to save our feet.

The sun was out and looked in awe at this amazing sight.

We stopped for coffee at a cafe across the road and were welcomed by the sweetest little old lady. She had the worst back….

We bought a combined ticket. Castle and gardens. 1050 yen which is around $10. The prices to all these shrines, temples etc seems to be very low and fairly consistent. All around 500-1000 yen.

Only Steve and Elizabeth decided up climb the steep steps up to the 6th floor. The rest of us went to the first floor. Inside is dark and there is no furniture. It’s all about the views out.

As we walked back out toward the moat we saw a lovely young couple with two little boys. She had a sign saying ‘we are English learners. Can we ask you a few questions’ We stopped and met the most delightful young couple with 2 and 4 year old boys – they were such fun. They asked us a few questions ‘ where do you come from’ what Japanese food do you like’ we had a great chat and then as we farewelled them they gave us a little gift.

Further along the path we met another mother and child. This boy was 7. They explained that talking with visitors helped the children learn English. This little boy had good English. He was very keen for us to take a gift each. This time a little Japanese fabric purse with tissues. And a beautifully folded star. He then asked could we have a photo with him. He told us to put up or 2 fingers as a sign of peace.

What a really special thing to do.

We made our way to the Kokoen gardens.

I was keen to find a seat in a shady stop near some water and just sit. Unfortunately that is lacking in Japan. There are very few seats around.

We caught the loop bus back to the station after a little sightseeing trip around the castle past the museum and art gallery.

The food hall at the station was great. We all bought various food items. Salads, spring rolls and scallops ( but they weren’t hot)

Then the train to Hiroshima and a swap to a more local train to Miyajima and a quick 10 min ferry ride to the island.

Our hotel the Hotel Miyajima Villa was a two minute walk. It’s lovely. Modern but Japanese modern. Futons on a platform, a shower room, separate toilet and basin opening windows! A massage chair, pjs and toiletries you collect down stairs in a little red bag.

Tonight we are having the hotel buffet with an acclaimed chef. It is $99 and includes drinks. Let’s hope it great.

The view from our room is lovely across the water.

I’m sure we’ll love it here. It’s downtime for us after a fairly cracking pace in Kyoto.

Dinner was good! So good we needed a walk after it to walk off the desert we didn’t need.

We walked along the water front. There are lots of children around everywhere we go. It turns out this month is excursion time. Schools all over the country take their students away on trips.

And they were out tonight – being chased by a few deer. Yes it seems they have made it here as well!

The Tori gate was lit up so beautifully it was worth the walk in the rain to get there and back.