We loved Kyoto - the cherry blossom by the river, buying vintage kimonos and having noodles in the geisha district, the incredible markets, the Golden Pavilion, Fushimi Inari Tori gates walk with the little wooden foxes you write your wishes on, then hang from the trees. Nara with the wooden giants guarding the temples, the deer who bow for rice cakes,
We loved climbing Mount Koya and staying in a Buddhist temple on the top, fire ceremonies, zen gardens, silk futons and kimonos. Loved Arasha where you climb a hill and stand in a cage on top, so the wild baby monekys can come to be fed apples and peanuts then zoom off again.
Loved walking the old samurai route with the medieval teahouses, waterwheels, giant boulders, crystal streams, rice paddies and tiny wooden houses - like studio Ghibli films.
Loved the Ghibli museum too. And Tokyo with its giant robots, amazing sushi at the fish market, fantastic fashion shops.
Loved bathing in the hot springs and walking around sulphur geysers where the black eggs are boiled, the amazing sculpture gardens, the exquisite moss gardens, the Hokusai and Hiroshige galleries.