We spent some days in Kyoto, it is a beautiful city! With the perfect representation of this idea of Japan being ultra-modern, yet ultra-traditional. Huge temples and shrines litter the streets and if you start to explore one, you may get lost for hours climbing up into the hills of the surrounding mountains.

Saving Kyoto for such a late point in the trip, meant that we had seen many temples, castles and gardens by the time we arrived. So my excitement wasn’t high, but as a small city church or cathedral may be beautiful to the unaccustomed eye, walking into Paris or the Vatican city will still blow you away. The same principle was true here, huge examples of the most unique beautiful architecture and designs still so alien to our eyes.

After our ultra immersion into the palaces and temples of Japans age-old capital, we left for Kanazawa, known as the jewel of Japan, an accolade well earned. A quaint city, but containing the most simple yet awe-inspiring castle gardens, free to the public and the centrepiece of the city. Surrounded by other strolling gardens, dotted with lakes, groves and wildlife galore. Falcons fill the sky, cranes and egrets the lakes, carp fight for space and the bread tossed by the locals. And of course, the icing on the cake of everywhere now in Japan, the cherry blossoms in full bloom. It is like the horizons are painted in watercolour.

We managed one day trip from Kanazawa to Nagano to meet the famous snow monkeys. The snow had nearly all melted and the sun was keeping them warm, but there they all were. After a climb up the hill, a whole band of monkeys surround the onsen (hot spring), embracing the ambient temperature produced by the warm water. In the dead of winter they all bathe in the water to make the months more bearable, they spend whole days soaking in the natural hot tub, napping and waiting for spring to bring some dinner. They were fun to watch the baby all played together, whilst the parents lounged completely disinterested in us, searching constantly for bugs in each others fur… They were so FLUFFY!

In Kanzawa, I learned I am as old as I now feel! my back went. My backpack obviously wore me down and now made any form of movement agony, I could not bend it so with Coline now tying my shoes and picking up all my wishes, I was the king of Kanazawa! The frail king I guess.