It's impossible to choose a stand out moment from so many amazing novel experiences. The Shogun palace in Kyoto competes with the Golden Temple and the Shinto shrine not forgetting the post office tower where a group of young school boys gave us the benefit of their local knowledge and practised their language skills. The peaceful ease of Kyoto was shattered by Tokyo! Rush hour in Shinjuku station, self-service restaurants, busy markets, we felt like travellers from a different century even with the moderating effect of Senso-ji Temple. And then we went to Hakone, travelling back in time on the switchback railway, taking the cable car over the sulphur spewing volcano hoping the clouds would unveil Fuji. It was wonderful