Kyoto train station shopping plaza.

One of 3 or 4 four star restaurants at the Kyoto train station plaza. The wife ordered broiled fresh water eel. I got the wagyu steak with fries. They did good on the fries.

At a parfait shop at the Kyoto train station plaza. It was cherry blossom season when we were there, so the parfait was made with cherry blossoms.

At the base of Tokyo SkyTree. At 1,480 feet (451.2m) it is amazing.

Tokyo SkyTree. At the 1,300 foot (396m). Looking over the ramp that took us to the highest point of 1,410 feet (428m). Long ways down.

Looking out over Tokyo from the SkyTree observation area.

Royal Host is a family style restaurant in Japan and one of the best places for breakfast.

Having a coffee break in the SkyTree cafe.

The Torii gate at the entrance to Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, near Kyoto. Dedicated to Inari, the deity of a good harvest and success in business. Famous for the 1,000 Torii gates walk way.

Main temple complex of Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, Kyoto.

A beautiful pond in front of the coffee house we stopped at for a break. Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, Kyoto.

Bronze statue, fox god with golden rice ears and a flame on the tip of its tail. Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, Kyoto.

Ocha (green tea) cake at the coffee house at Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, Kyoto. The wife loves this stuff.

A very, very old children's cemetery. Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, Kyoto.

The multiple levels of the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine temple complex. Hard to believe that this was built by hand hundreds of years ago.

The Karamon Gate, Nijo Castle, Kyoto. Built in 1603 as the home for the first Tokugawa shogun, Ieyasu, My wife can trace her lineage to one of the advisors to Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Up close look at the intricate carvings of the The Karamon Gate. Nijo Castle, Kyoto.

One of several high school/college dance teams that were performing the day we visited. They were very good. Nijo Castle, Kyoto.

Administration building for Ieyasu. Nijo Castle, Kyoto.

The Grand Hall. This is where the shogun would have held court and had feasts. Nijo Castle, Kyoto.

Entrance to one of several original tea houses on the grounds. This one has a beautiful stream next to it. It was open to the visitors so we had a nice cold drink inside (shoeless of course). Nijo Castle, Kyoto.

The image shows the Kaminarimon, or "Thunder Gate," which is the outer entrance to the Sensō-ji temple in the Asakusa district of Tokyo.

Senso-ji Temple the oldest temple in Tokyo.

Nakamise-dori, a famous shopping street in the Asakusa district (Ginza) of Tokyo. The street leads to the Senso-ji Temple.

Back in the home town of my wife, Atami, where we stopped at the best ramen house in the area.