Wintry wanderings

We've just spent several weeks in Tokyo, Nikko, Nara, Kyoto, Himeji and Hiroshima. Below is a small selection of the far too many photos we took. The trip included a visit from Fiona's parents, a trip to Tokyo Disneyland, and lots of monkeys... We are now back at school (woo-hoo!) for another term of teenage angst. It's very cold - there's snow some mornings, which makes an interesting change. There of course is no heating in the classrooms (why would the heat them) but the girls' skirts still extend roughly 3 inches below the waist. No-one seems to find this strange.

The excellent okonomiyaki place we ate at in Hiroshima had recently been visited by... 

View from the top of Miyajima 

Snow monkeys on top of Miyajima island 

The famous floating torii at Miyajima island, near Hiroshima 

A-Bomb Dome, Hiroshima 

Himeji Castle 

Fiona at Nara 

Kinkakuji, Kyoto - not superimposed, we swear 

Inexplicable label at Ginkakuji, Kyoto 

On top of Mt Gozaisho, near Yokkaichi 

Walking on Mt Gozaisho 

Bernadette and Ian on top of Mt Gozaisho near our house 

View from Fiona's school to the mountains 

Nikko 

Main gate at Nikko temple complex 

Steps up to Tokugawa Ieyasu's mausoleum, Nikko - NB this picture is *not* in black and white 

New Year offerings at Nikko - mikan (mandarin) and mochi (beaten rice cake) 

"Geisha" dog accessories at Asakusa, Tokyo 

Christmas Day at Tokyo Disneyland - Sam's Tigger ears have momentarily fallen off, but Fiona's Minnie ears remain firmly attached 

Still slightly alive eels at Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo 

Gigantic tuna in Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo - deep frozen for transport 

Harajuku goth girls in Tokyo (in negative)