I am so slack. I had every intention of keeping this up-to-date, but everyday pressures have prevented me from doing so! Anyways, the next chapter in my Japan adventure was our sojourn in the town of Nikko, about 90 minutes north of Tokyo by train.
Nikko is a great place to visit if you want to see some traditional sights, but can't stray too far from Tokyo. It was very easy to get there by train, and we used our Japan Rail Passes to make the journey.
We stayed at the Nikko Park Lodge, a very cosy establishment on the edge of town. They served us dinner and free wifi, so I highly recommend them. Hot onsen pools can be found nearby; we wanted to check them out but went too late in the evening and couldn't figure out how the hell to use them! I know what you're thinking - how hard is it to use a bath? But when everything is in Japanese and no-one is around to assist you, it can be very daunting. Particularly as there are rules to using onsen, which I was unfamiliar with and I didn't want to come across as some Western pig...
There are plenty of shrines and temples to see, including the famed "3 Monkeys" scuplture.
We actually missed this one, due to being lost in the giant crowd that engulfed the shrine that day. But there were plenty of other sights to see, including a bit of shopping in the town. I bought some very cute souvenirs and a second-hand kimono! A fraction of the cost of a brand new one, it's a very classy black kimono featuring a golden pattern of herons and bamboo. I wear it around the house all the time, which my roommates find kind of weird...
