Kyoto

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The Bullet Train does what it says on the tin. It just hammers between major cities at 300km/h. Punctually and in comfort. Now theres an idea!

Jumped on early and arrived 2.5 hours later in Kyoto. The ancient capital of Japan for many years before Edo (modern day Tokyo) became the Shoguns and Emperors preferred hang out.

Very Japanese feeling place. Full of Temples and castles. And a fascinating place culturally. Set in and surrounded by mountains. And located on at least 3 major techtonic faults! Ancient but also modern--home town of Nintendo no less!

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Only had a tiny bit of time to fit in a bit of temple viewing and saw the Kiyomizu Temple and the Kinkakuji Temple as well as the Ryoanji Temple. All genuinely fascinating--(normally I find such things a chore), especially as my driver was brilliant in explaining these places to me. I was very much struck by the Zen thing. And also by the seamless intermingling of Shinto, Buddhism and Zen in Japanese spiritual life.

Also visited Gion the traditional heart of Kyoto, little changed for hundreds of years. Fascinating. And real geisha still plying their trade in the buildings in this area of town. And very visible in all of their garb (but no make up during the day I was informed) walking the streets and doing their business.

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My driver was in the Kobe quake. With his girlfriend in her flat at 5.45am when it kicked off. Covered her up and waited for it to stop. He could not get out down the stairs after it as they had collapsed so they had to jump the window on the 3rd floor. The whole of the first floor of the building he collapsed and he said was 'knee high'. Fortunately as they were shops and the quake was so early in the day no one on this floor was killed but he said his friend spend 3 days (!!!) under rubble before being rescued with a dislocated hip. I am sure that geological transiency affects/creates the essence of the national culture here.