I’d forgotten about squat toilets. Yes indeed. It is 2026 and squat toilets are still used regularly in Japan. It’s such a contrast to the ‘Western’tpilets in Japan that have so many buttons and features for washing anywhere “down there”, and, if you are very lucky as I was yesterday, babbling Brook type noises to cover any noises the user may make…

Or, you squat!

The bullet train (Shinkansen) whisked us from Tokyo to Kyoto in 2hrs 10 mins on Thursday and we were very lucky to see glorious Fuji from the window!

I was just a little disappointed that the Shinkansen below was not the one we got on!

Scotland could learn an awful lot from Japan Rail for sure. All the seats swing both ways so everyone is always facing forward no natter the direction the train is headed! With the staff bowing at the back and front of each carriage and the announcements made in multiple languages it was a very different journey than my usual journey into Edinburgh!

Speaking of stations, Kyoto station is huge. There are 11 floors filled with shops, restaurants and offices and the trains are also in there somewhere!

I know we have some pretty impressive train stations in the UK, but Kyoto has the Grand Staircase!

Not only does it have pictures on the stairs, it has amazing wee shows!

If anyone has a contact at Waverley, do you think we can get this sorted for Halloween?

Tomorrow it is onwards to Hiroshima. The tour in 2020 took us there, but many places were closed so I’m looking forward to returning.

It sounds very odd to say, “looking forward” to visiting such a place of utter devistation and an incredible loss of life not just at the time, but in the many years following. Yet, how do we make the present and future better for ourselves and our fellow citizens if not to learn how we can stop the horrors of war and the loss of life that goes with that.