China - Tibet Autonomous Region and a bit of Japan on the way home

[Matt_01]

When you get back to the car park it is best to call a cab to get back down. It is highly unlikely there would will be one there, it took around 15 minutes for one to show up. Back at the station I realised it was around 4pm and had not booked a place to stay. I have stayed in these smaller towns in the past so would be pretty confident not much would be open after around 6pm so I decided to push on to Kyoto. The fact there was a limited express arriving within the next 15 minutes was also a factor. SO back on the train to the next stop. On the way I just booked a room at the Kyoto dormy inn, it was quite late when I arrived however the bath was still open and dinner was the free noodles. No photos of either of those, the baths you are not allowed, and the noodles I had left the phone in the room to charge.

 

[Matt_01]

After milling around and catching up with others I decided to relook at my plan. Originally it was to head to Hikone, Inuyama and then casually make my way back up to Tokyo with a couple of stops along the way. Well after a 5 minute though process I had the mad idea to see if I would be able to knock off Maruoka and possibly Hirosaki and then all 12 would be done. New plan, early start to Inuyama first stop Nagoya and then another to the castle. Inuyama is interesting as I believe that the castle complex had been given back to the family in the 1880/90s and was basically in private ownership until the late 20th century or early this century (I will need to check).

 

[Matt_01]

Next on the list Hikone this is a larger complex that also has a museum and gardens.
The museum and parts of the lords residence.

 

[Matt_01]

The castle

 

[Matt_01]

And a few of the gardens than back to the station.

 

[LinaLee]

On arrival at Bicchu Takahashi Station I just jumped in a cab and was not that expensive. If you started earlier in the day you could walk to but it is all up hill and narrow roads. At the top carpark there is still around 700m to hike up hill to get to the top.
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I must have accidentally changed something on my phone as the image colour is not correct and I didn't notice it to later.
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But the effect is very authentic like those period photos! I think you can correct it back in the photo edit mode. Had the same happen to me too.

 

[serfty]

Had the same happy to me too.

Nothing like happy snaps ...

 

[LinaLee]

Nothing like happy snaps ...

Fixed it but you’re quick

 

[rbjhan]

Ha, I saw the Izumoshi Station photo (I actually stayed at that Dormy Inn in 22!) and was confused for a minute