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11:56:03
Here we are on the train just as it is getting ready to leave Tokyo station (you can see the sign on the platform in the background).
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13:47:34
On the train, I think I'm putting on this facial expression - it was actually a very pleasant journey.
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14:25:21
We can see the sea! Almost looks like we're on a boat here - the train line ran very close to the coast.
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14:25:27
The waves lapping on the shore.
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14:49:52
We've arrived at our destination now - Shimoda.
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14:51:14
Chie with the train that brought us here.
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14:56:58
So Shimoda is famous for being the landing point of Commodore Perry - and this is a replica of his ship.
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15:43:26
At our room in the ryokan now - the best bit of which being the outdoor bath (onsen water of course) on the balcony.
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15:47:16
One of my dreams in life was to sit in an onsen and have a little jug of sake floated out to me... Bliss!
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15:52:53
A view of our balcony, the roten buro (outdoor bath) and beyond to the bay.
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16:07:48
Having a bit of a wander around the rest of the ryokan.
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16:10:37
We sat in the bath watching the sunset...
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16:37:50
...not the most glorious sunset I've ever seen, but possibly the most pleasant place I've ever sat whilst watching one!
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16:43:18
The little sake jug is still happilly bobbing along.
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16:43:52
Same again without the flash.
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16:57:27
One more picture of the sunset.
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18:33:39
Dinner, ryokan style, was a real feast and to my surprise they managed an entirely vegetarian menu for me. Excellent!
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18:34:25
Here's me looking a bit silly in my yutaka, and proudly holding up the specially created menu that the chef had put together for me.
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18:35:10
Amongst some of the highlights - Tofu with mushrooms (enoki?), garnished with willow leaves - very seasonal!
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18:43:42
...nice perspective in this shot of Chie filling up my glass. Cheers!
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18:55:33
Another tofu dish - this time a tofu steak with a sort of chargrilled flavour, served with some asparagus. Definitely a hint of sesame oil in here.
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19:01:03
Some tempura, with an ssortment of unusual Japanese vegetables.
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19:25:00
The final course was shabu shabu...
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19:25:20
...and look - matsutake! This is a really expensive Japanese mushroom.
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19:25:52
Chie enjoying the shabu shabu.
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19:33:54
My little shabu shabu pot bubbling away.
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19:34:01
A close-up - clearly I was somewhat fascinated by this!
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20:47:07
After dinner, while Chie went off to visit the communal bath (I wasn't too bothered, given that we had our own) I passed the time playing with this simple puzzle...
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20:48:14
...I found it oddly compelling.
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20:51:06
It took me a while but I managed to get most of the shapes listed on the little card.
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20:51:55
The T.
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21:46:41
After one last dip in our bath, I came back to the puzzle and managed the previously elusive house shape. :)
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