Despite the forecast

It did drizzle most of the day, but we still got to see the island scenery thanks to our friend Hanae. We drove around the south of the island, visited a lighthouse, drove some more, saw the island's traditional weaving, had lunch, went to an onsen, saw some old thatched houses and were treated to tea, freshly roasted sweet potatoes and mochi, saw and were persuaded to try some taiko drumming, went around the local history museum and then made our own glass beads! And had a fantastic dinner and a great time hanging out with Hanae and her family.

Lookout

Gecko! We found several small ones in and around the hotel.

Long long ago

Found during a futile search for restaurants last night. No idea how long this has been here...

All view

A ten minute walk from the hotel, a very volcanic seaside. It's a very, very sparsely populated place...

Welcoming committee

Arrived safely in Hachijojima, so far almost Okinawa-style vibes although the weather is supposed to turn tomorrow. Can't complain as it's been amazing so far.

Working girl

Air stewardess Kitty at Haneda airport.

Boo to you too

Exceedingly cute "ghost bread" that was white on the outside but chocolate with chocolate cream filling on the inside.

Om nom nom

Amazing chicken and coconut curry and whole breaded mackerel at Wander Kitchen in Kamakura!

Go big

At the giant statue of Buddha in Hase.

Out of the ordinary

Galettes bretonnes on Enoshima. Fun, but couldn't be compared to Brittany...

Surprise!

Cherry blossoms in October!

Seize the day

Another early start today to head out to Enoshima. I have been here before at sunset, so interesting to see it all again in daylight.

Surfing the sunset

Sunset at the beach in Kamakura, complete with surfers.

First time for everything

Delicious matcha latte and houjicha ice cream at a cafe over a tenugui and tea shop in Kamakura.

Harvest

An autumn specialities box with sweet potato, chestnut, gingko nut, lotus root and lots of mushrooms.

On the rails again

Another long train journey, this time from Sendai south via Tokyo to Kamakura, another bento!

Choo choo

And another Kittfied icon, the inexplicably popular Shinkansen diagnostics train "Doctor Yellow".

You may be lucky he's not around now

Date Masamune, legendary local warlord, possibly a bit too iconic for his own good.

C'mon...

David watching taiyaki being made at a little shop on the way from Sendai station to our hotel. He had a green tea and red bean one, and I had a wonderfully savoury pumpkin one, both literally hot off the press.

Open sesame

Insanely good black sesame paste mochi from the flying dango shop at Genbikei gorge.