Cycling around the Imperial Palace grounds in Kyoto. You can even see the big dai “big” character burned into the hill in the distance.

Fun times.

We were in Japan in February, pretty much just after President Obama’s inauguration ceremony, and there was Obama fever pretty much everywhere. Apparently it’s because it is so easy to understand his speeches.

I quite like this Obamaism. It actually looks quite classy, and it feels more like a neighbourhood coffee shop in New York. This cafe was tucked away in Hebi-michi which is this tiny tiny windy quiet backstreet. It starts at the end of Yomise-dori and slopes down gently before straightening up and ends at Kototoi-dori (a pretty big thoroughfare).

The Yanaka/Nezu area sits just north of Ueno. It’s quite traditional without the crass commercialism of Asakusa. It was a pleasure cycling around the area.
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Good trip, but am totally enjoying my own bed and bathroom. Don’t ever take your own bathroom for granted.

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