Lemon cakes and robo-receptionists...

Yesterday (Friday) we finished our conference with a tour of three Kansai-area research laboratories... I skipped the last one (hoping to make it to Kyoto before dinner) and I went back to Nara. Then took a train to Kyoto and am staying in a more-traditional ryokan lodging.

( Vignettes, more details and photos follow )

On the way home

With anticipation, and a touch of sadness. I like Japan... its manners, organization and the sheer density and people and color and differences all suit me. I don't know if I could live here, but visiting is great... I wish I had another couple of weeks.

I'm sitting on the bullet train (shinkansen), rolling along at 200mph literally past Mt. Fuji as I write this (although it's too hazy to see much).

Today... Ginkaku-ji, Kinkaku-ji, the canalside "Philosopher's Walk"... I liked the latter best of all in Kyoto. It was quiet and serene and cool and green among all of the noise and bustle elsewhere. A centering place.

I'll post a couple of photos later ;-).