We spent yesterday wandering around Nagoya, and found a park on top of a shopping center that had a lake on the roof. Strange idea, but quite fun. Later, Rachel went shopping for sandals and shades whilst I went to the Toyota industrial museum to watch robots building cars.In the evening we headed a little way out to Gifu to watch the Cormorant fishing after the sun had gone down. This old craft involves specially trained birds which are tethered and held onto by a man on a long narrow canoe like boat. A brazier lights the dark waters and the birds dive for fish. Rings around their neck prevent them eating the catch which is delivered back to the fisherman. Very clever. It is now very much a tourist show with many boats gathered around to watch, but the spectacle is nevertheless quite enchanting. Afterwards we took the ropeway up to the castle which afford great views over the city as is sprawls away towards the hills.
Now we have moved on to Kyoto which is a mere 45 mintues away on the ridiculously fast bullet train, which we are growing to love for more than just its air-con. We could see the whole country in a weekend on that thing.
Kyoto looks great and surely has the worlds most overblown modern train station, but more on that to follow.