We met at 8.15am in the lobby to get to our bus tour meeting point on time. The girls’ taxi didn’t know where we were trying to go, so dropped us at the train station and left us to find the meeting place nearby. Thank goodness for technology – I messaged Ross who was in the right place and we mapped our location to his to meet up with the boys.

Our 9 hour bus tour began by taking us to the Golden Pavilion, Kinkajuji. Built 600 years ago by a shogun, an enormous amount of gold was used in construction of the upper floors. While the amount of gold or dollar value was never quantified, in 1985 the Japanese government undertook some R&M and needed 20kg of gold to achieve the renovation 😳

From there the bus took us to Arashiyama. We walked the Togetsukyo bridge, and then through the amazing bamboo forest. Our tour guide had given us instructions but then left us to explore on our own. We had difficulty finding the forest at first (the guide, called Eric, is lovely, but some things get lost in translation), but were glad we persevered.

This was also our lunch stop. One of Jess’ goals for this trip was to eat some dumplings – we found a location for lunch that served dumplings on a stick. Goal achieved and they were delicious!

Our next stop on tour was the Fushimi Inari Shrine, containing the 1,000 Tori gates. We walked through some of them, but it is a 4km round trip to explore them all, and we didn’t have time for that!

It was then another hour on the bus to the Nara deer park and Todaji Temple. Zac and Belle had already seen four temples on their school tour, and the cost of entry (600 yen each) wasn’t included in the tour cost, so the kids weren’t really keen to visit, but joined us anyway.

And they were so glad they did! Jess and Sam both said it was the best thing they had done on our trip so far, and everyone was very impressed. The Todaji temple houses Japan’s biggest Buddha at 15 metres tall, and is a UNESCO world heritage site.

We decided not to feed the deer, because while it is cute the way they bow, if you don’t feed them fast enough by the time they bow at you three times, they can get aggressive and bite 😬

Ross, Zac and I left the others exploring the deer park and headed back to the bus a few minutes early – partly because it was parked near a Starbucks (and we haven’t had a coffee yet today!) and partly because my knee has packed it in and I needed more time to limp back. I know, I know, Ross and I are great chaperones the way we are both falling apart physically 😩

Everyone was keen to eat at the same food hall as last night, opposite the train station and under the Kyoto Skytower. While happy with their choices last night, I think they did have some food envy at others’ choices and wanted to try that tonight.

We caught two taxis back to our hotel. Neither driver had any idea where we were staying and couldn’t communicate with us, so the 8 minute ride was a little difficult. But we are safely back in our rooms, the kids playing games together as they discuss getting an early night to be ready to check out tomorrow, while I rest my weary legs and Ross rests his stuffed back 🤭 Tomorrow to Tokyo we go!