Japan, the journal: day 9-10
Day 9 The tone in the apartment in the morning was full of energy. With a toddler running around and playing, there was plenty of activity. He danced to his favourite songs on the children’s TV programs while we talked with his daddy Noboru, and then we all had breakfast together. Soon, the time came when we had to go. Noboru dropped us off at the Nagoya train station on his way to work. Day 9 was to be a day to explore on our own. From the landmark giant mannequin named Nanachan that Maki had shown us when we arrived three days before, we found our way to the bus terminal. We were to take a bus to Ise in Mie prefecture for a self-guided tour of Ise Jingu, a complex of Shinto shrines. The bus ride was about two hours. Thankfully, the bus was comfortable and not too crowded. Mist was rising in the mountains that we passed on the way, giving an extra dimension to the layers of green and beautiful scenery. In this smaller town, there was much less English signage