First of all, I am writing this blog from inside a capsule. See the pics.
Monkeys!!! Evan and I ate another traditional Japanese breakfast this morning then made our way alllll the way across town to Aragashiyama to see the bamboo forest. However, on the way we got sidetracked by a sign for monkeys. This intrigued us and we followed a very long, very steep hiking trail up a mountain. At the top were roaming Japanese Monkeys. They were everywhere. The only place that they weren't allowed was a little cabin where you can feed them through the caged windows. (So you are caged and they are not) outside of the house, they just walk right past you. It was bananas (see pic).
After that, we finally made it to the bamboo forest which was breathtaking. It felt like we were walking in a dream. Next, we bused it over to the opposite side of town to Fushimi Inari, a gorgeous shrine dedicated to the god of rice: Inari. It is honored with thousands of vermillion gates all lined up throughout mountain trails. Crazy.
Then, we went to dinner to Gion Hatanaka Ryokan for a very fancy Geisha dinner. It was AMAZING. Seriously, one the best things we've done so far. I got to meet a geisha and a maiko (geisha in training) and watch them perform. So awesome.
And now, of course, I am in a capsule.