We woke up this morning and had another breakfast that I didn’t stand a hope in hell of finishing.  Yet Kaoru’s Mum just kept bringing more and more out.  I wanted to eat it all, as it’s all so nice!

We went for a walk to the bank and to post some letters, and then stopped for a hot chocolate, and to reflect on the last couple of weeks.  What an adventure it has been!  We’ve had some really busy days, and done a lot, with lots of friends and family.  But now the holiday must come to an end, and I have to start earning money again to pay for it all!

Back at the house we re-packed our bags, to fit sponge bags in.  Both suitcases were about 26 kg, so we took some things out to put in our carry on bags (which luckily were pretty empty).  Fingers crossed we will be OK, as they are both just under 23, but on Cathay the limit is 20.  We had lunch and a chat, and passed the time before Kaoru’s Dad took us to the bus stop.

We woke up this morning half happy, half sad.  The holiday is rapidly coming to an end.  After a shower we went and had breakfast, packed our bags, and checked out of our room. We walked to the station and caught the next Shinkansen to Tokyo.  They run every 15 minutes so we weren’t waiting long!  We didn’t have reserved seats on this trip but managed to find a couple of seats next to each other.

I dozed off on the train, but Kaoru woke me up to see Mount Fuji.  I got a few shots of it on my camera, as we get quite close on the Shinkansen.  Then we had our real treat – as we pulled in to Yokohama, Dr Yellow was waiting on the platform!  It is considered very lucky to see Dr Yellow – it is a yellow Shinkansen that is responsible for inspecting the tracks and wires to ensure everything is running perfectly.  Kaoru has never seen it, and there it was, waiting at the platform!

We finally arrived in Tokyo, and caught the subway to Nishi-Kasai.  We had Mos Burger for lunch, and then walked to Kaoru’s parents house.  After some tea and a chat we went upstairs and I had some work to take care of, and Kaoru went to have some passport photos taken.  I also had about 500ml of wedding sake left over so had a crack at that.  We had dinner at home – the first meal I have eaten at this house!  We had gyoza, with rice and other vegetables.  We had a chat and I showed them photos of things we had done since we were last in Japan – some camping, photos of Kaoru driving the boat on the Tweed River, etc.  Then we rolled out our futon’s and went to bed.

We had a much needed sleep in today. Well, given how hard the mattress and pillow were, and all the noise outside our room, it wasn’t really sleep – but it was rest, nonetheless. We had breakfast at 9 and I went back to bed a bit longer.

We eventually got up and went to Toji shrine. It was beautiful with all the cherry blossoms and the 5 tier pegoda.  We had a good look around and grabandbed some lunch at a cafe, before going to mum and dad’s room about 115. Aunty Linda and Uncle Owen were already in there so we had a chat and then went downstairs to do our 140 tour of Nara.

It was about an 80 minute bus trip, on which the tour director (apparently) never stopped talking. Dad was the only one of us who didn’t sleep.  In Nara we were told that the deer are wild but friendly and that we can feed them if we want. We walked around the Todaiji Temple – the home of the largest Buddha in Japan. We walked around the grounds for a bit and then went to Kasuga shrine for more walking and sight seeing. Back on the bus we went to the souvenir shop for 15 minutes and then the bus brought us back to kyoto.

We arrived back just after 6, but dinner was booked for 8 as our eta was 730. So Kaoru and I went to mum and dad’s room for some sake and a chat.  We knocked on Aunty Linda and Uncle Owen’s door and got to the restaurant about 7.40 hoping they would seat us early.  They were very busy so we had to wait a bit, but were in before 8, nonetheless.

Tonights dinner was Kushiage – kind of like a shabu shabu (where you cook your self) but it was deep fried food.  So basically we went to a bar and picked a number of skewers, ranging from pork, to salmon to cheese, then dipped them in batter, covered them in breadcrumbs, and then cooked them in a deep frier in the middle of the table.  Delicious!  We took the drink package too, so for an extra 1000 yen we had unlimited drinks.  For dessert they had a chocolate fountain, with marshmallows, pefiterolls, ice cream….it was hard to know what to have next!

After dinner we said goodbye to Mum and Dad, and Aunty Linda and Uncle Owen, as we wouldn’t be seeing them again until back in Australia.  We walked back to our hotel in the cold, and turned the heating right up in our room when we got back to defrost!

We were woken by the alarm this morning. After breakfast and getting ready we walked to mum and dad’s hotel and met them in the lobby, to do our morning tour of kyoto. The day was very cold and my cold was at its peak, but I soldiered on through it. We went to a few temples and returned to the hotel about 130. We then went to a sushi train for lunch as we know Uncle Owen is fine with sushi.

Kaoru and I went back to our hotel and I had a much needed lay down. About 500 we went back to their hotel, via Aeon Plaza to buy a couple of scarves! We caught a couple of taxis to Kiyomizu dera for the night exhibition. The shrine was amazing lite up at night and we had some great views of kyoto too. We had some food from street vendors but not enough to keep us for the night. So we caught taxis back to the hotel and ended up at another sushi restaurant. I couldn’t eat all I had ordered, partially because of how bad I felt, and partially because of how much I had already eaten that night. Kaoru and I went back to our hotel and defrosted.

We went down for a cooked breakfast which was included in our room rate. There was a lot to choose from but I just stuck with noodles, soup and rice. Back in our room I had to do some more work and we left about 1000 to meet up with mum and dad, and Aunty Linda and Uncle Owen, who were catching the train in this morning.  We only had to wait about 5 minutes for them to arrive but it was too early for them to check in, so they put their bags in storage and off we went.

We walked through the train station to the bus terminal and hopped on a bus to the northern side of kyoto. We got off and walked a bit, stopping at a shop to buy Kaoru a wedding gift – she had previously talked about these combs that she liked, which keep your hair shiny, and given all she had done I thought she deserved a nice treat.

Finding lunch was tricky but eventually we found a place we could all eat at. We walked around the Yamato shrine grounds for a bit and then went to the kimono hire place. Kaoru and I walked around a bit more while the 4 oldies got dressed up in kimonos. We came back and picked them up, and found some cherry blossom trees to take photos under. Dad and I had a beer to keep us going. Then it was off to have a traditional tea ceremony.

Lots of people wanted to take photos of the 4 westerners in kimonos so it was slow going. But eventually we arrived and learnt about the ceremony and had some tea ourselves. Once that was over we had to walk back to have a pre-booked rickshaw ride. It was quite chilly and we appreciated the blanket the driver put over us! We had a very informative and enjoyable 20 minute ride through kyoto but then it was time to get back to the kimono hire place and change back to normal clothes.

We caught a bus back to the hotel and checked mum and dad and Aunty Linda and Uncle Owen in. Dad and I had some wedding sake – he was down to 500ml from the 2 litres he took about a week ago! Kaoru found a shabu shabu place for us to go to for dinner and made a booking, so off we went. It was a delicious feast. Then we said goodnight and Kaoru and I went back to our hotel.

Last night was sleeping on the futon on the floor.  But I woke up feeling quite gooind, so my back is getting used to it!  I went down for breakfast, which was rice, little sausages, soup, and sweet egg stuff (tamagoyaki).  After a shower, Kaoru and I walked to the train station  to go to Tokyo, and then got on the Shinkansen for Kyoto.

While waiting to board we started talking to a man and his daughter that were also waiting in line.  The man lives in Seoul, and his daughter in LA.  From what I could gather he was in shipping, and hass travelled a long way around the world, including Melbourne.  We were surprised to hear he was 95 years old!  I wouldn’t have picked him as over 80.  He was very friendly.

We found our seats, and I caught up on a few things – what else is there to do for 2 hours, while travelling at 300km/hr! We enjoyed some Strawberries and Cream Kit Kat’s that Aunty Lynette left behind with Kaoru, and some other sweets and drinks.

After a couple of hours we arrived in Kyoto and as we had some time before we could check in we had some lunch. Then we walked to the skydeck at the station building, which involved a single escalator from the 7th to the 11th floors. We had some nice views of the city but were tired from carrying heavy bags around. So we made our way to the hotel.

We got to the hotel just after 230 but check in wasn’t until 300 – so we had to wait in the lobby for a bit. Eventually we checked in and went to our room. It wasn’t as nice as our last hotel but better than the Washington. Although the mattress was very hard and the pillow not much better.

We relaxed for a bit and then decided to get a feel for the area.  We caught a train to the northern side of kyoto so Kaoru could buy some cards. We had a hot drink and relaxed for a bit and then started to walk back to our hotel, via the bank as the exchange rate was looking quite good! It took us over an hour to walk back, through lots of small streets and alleys, so we really got to enjoy the area.

We stopped at the supermarket to get some bento boxes for dinner, which we ate in our room. I had a bit of work to take care of so did that while we watched some tv.

Kaoru woke up early to see Julia, Andrew and Ella off – they were booked on a 650 bus. She then did a load of washing. I got up, had a shower and we went to breakfast at Excelsior.

On the way back I paid the bill while there was no line. Then we had to do that job we always hate – packing. It took us a while and at the end I reckon my bag would be about 30kg. Luckily this wasn’t our pack to go home. We put our bags with the bell Captain and went to the lounge to wait for our 1230 bus to Disneyland.  We got a few snacks for the trip, and boarded.  After having already gone to Disneyland, and been thoroughly annoyed at it, hearing the song playing for the entire bus trip was extremely annoying.  But after an hour or so we got there, and then caught a taxi to Kaoru’s parents house.  All up ~2000 yen, whereas a taxi from the hotel would have been > 6000 yen, and given the weight of our bags, we didn’t want to walk with them!

After a cup of tea and a catch up, we went for a walk to the bank, and to sort a few things out.  The 4 of us went to the usual sushi train place for dinner, and as always, it was hard to stop because it was soooo good!  Back at Kaoru’s parents, we packed our bags for Kyoto (as we only wanted to bring small bags and not our suitcases) and went to bed.

This was another casual starting day.  We woke up and got ready, and then Kaoru and I enjoyed a snack and tea in the lounge.  We went back to our room a bit after 11, and were joined by Julia, Andrew, Ella and James, for Ella’s 4th birthday party.  In our room, before our very eyes, James underwent the transformation to Akimbo.  I don’t think I have known a drag queen before!

We met up with Brett and Naomi, who were a little taken aback too!  Then made our way to the “Alice in Wonderland” restaurant for Ella’s birthday party.  Kozue (with Yukari and Minami) turned up not long after us, and so did a friend of Julia’s with her 4 year old.  The food wasn’t anything fantastic, but the themed restaurant was a bit of fun.

After paying the bill, Kaoru and I went to Meiji Shrine as it’s a special place to us (the first place Kaoru took me when we first met).  On the walk back home we decided a massage was in order, as we were, after all, on our honeymoon!  So Kaoru found a place near our hotel and we went there.

75 minutes later, I had had a relaxing sleep and had been tortured!  The pressure they were using was very firm, and the harder they pushed, the more tense I because.  So I don’t know if it was doing more good or bad, but it was time where we were alone together, and had nothing to think about.

Back at our room, James wasn’t there yet (I had given him my card as we didn’t know how long we would be, and his stuff was in there to get changed back to James for his flight home).  So Kaoru and I went up to the lounge for a couple of drinks and think about dinner.

We went back to our room about 6.00 and James arrived not long after.  He showered and transformed from Akimbo back to James, and the 3 of us had a couple of sake’s and a good chat.  Whilst we had spent the last week together, we hadn’t spent a lot of time with just the 3 of us, so it was good to get to know him a bit better.  I gave him a travel pack of sake, and we put him on the 7.50 bus to the airport.  I had received a message from Julia that they were having an early night, and would be at the hotel for a 6.50 bus tomorrow, so now Kaoru and I were going to spend our first night alone together!

So for our honeymoon dinner, we went to a restaurant on the 29th floor of a building across from our hotel.  We ate a caeser salad, a tofu course similar to one of those from our dinner with Kaoru’s and my parents, and….wait for it…..whale bacon!  It was quite interesting – very similar to a ham (funnily enough).  But we were both quite tired, especially as we were so relaxed from our massages, so we got some dessert from the convenience store in the hotel and retired.

Today was a late-ish start.  Kaoru and I had breakfast in our room and then went up to the lounge for a bit.  Around 11.30 we met Brett and Naomi, Julia, Andrew, Ella and Simon in the lobby to go out for sushi.  Simon was yet to experience real Japanese sushi, and as this was his last time, I had planned it for his lunch today.  All of us except Kaoru and Naomi went to the same place Michael, Leila, Kaoru and I had gone to on our first night in Shinjuku and had a feast.

Just after 12, we had to leave and get back to the lobby of the hotel, where we caught the 12.30 bus to Disneyland!  We were all excited about having a fun-filled day with some rides and shows.  I had previously booked us all on the bus, due to leave the park at 10.50 to come home.  So we were set for a long day.

It took about an hour to get there, and we got our passes out and in we went.  With a group of 9, there was no way we were going to all do what we wanted, so we split up in to two groups, and set a meeting point for 7.30, with the intention of watching the parade and fireworks together, and then going home.  So Brett, Naomi, Kaoru, Simon and I headed off together.  We didn’t have much of a plan, but wanted to start by orientating ourselves.  But we were in for a disapointment right from the first *real* line we saw – 230 minutes waiting time!  It took a while for that to process in our minds – nearly 4 hours!  It would pretty much be the only ride we would do for the day.

We skipped that and joined a 40-odd minute line to do the tea cup ride.  Simon came in with Kaoru and I and we (foolishly) let him steer.  So by the time we came off that, we were feeling pretty ill from all the spinning.  We went for something a little more sedate – “It’s a Small World”.  This also had a short line (~25 minutes).  As we walked around the park more, we were seeing these crazy long lines (210 minutes, 250 minutes, etc), and could not believe that people would join them.  Naomi made the call that it was definately NOT the happiest place on earth!

We had some food, and managed to pick up a ride or two, before watching the light parade.  A rope barrier went through the park making it impossible to get from one side to the other, while a convoy of lit up vehicles went through.  So we watched that, before going across and trying a few of the rides one more time to see if the lines were shorter.  We were able to do a couple, and Kaoru, Naomi and I got on the last run of the Merry-Go-Round before the park closed.  So we slowly made our way to the gate, knowing the bus wasn’t coming for a while.

At the start of the day it was very warm, and I was holding the park map up to keep the sun off my head.  By the end it was freezing cold, and luckily I had my Uniglo top that I had bought the night of the cruise to put on.

We caught our shuttle bus back to the hotel, and Julia and the gang went back to their place.  Brett, Naomi, Simon and I found a bar to have some farewell drinks at, while Kaoru had a bath and went to bed.  A lot of the bars were closed or closing, and those that were open were full of smokers.  But eventually we found a cocktail bar which was a bit more expensive, but quite nice, and we knocked back a few drinks there.  We walked back to the hotel, said goodbye to Simon (as he was off to Singapore tomorrow early morning) and went to bed.

It was raining today. But plans had been made and must be executed! Kaoru took Naomi shopping for the day so they left about 10.00. Brett, Simon, James and I left at a slightly more respectable 1030, and caught the train to Shibuya, so they could see the 5 way intersection. We went up to Starbucks and managed to get a seat to enjoy a drink. It was even crazier with all the umbrellas up!

But we had to leave and head off to the Suntory brewery! We met Kenichi at the station and caught a courtesy shuttle bus to the brewery.  We were taken for about a 45 minute tour of the brewery, none of which we understood, and then enjoyed a couple of glasses of beer.  The first was their premium, and the second was a more seasonal drink (which we didn’t like as much).  We got a few photos, and then caught the bus back to the train station, where Kenichi left to go home and spend the afternoon with his family.  And we went to Shinjuku to celebrate my bucks 🙂

We opted for a pub crawl.  Given the bars were all smokey, we needed some fresh air between each of them!  So we spent the next few hours in and out of bars, nibbling on food and drinking beer.  After a couple of hours of this, Kaoru called me to say she and Naomi were back.  So we decided to head back and get the girls and make plans for the rest of the night (dinner, etc).

The 6 of us went out for a drink first (Brett, Naomi, Simon, James, Kaoru and I), and then James went home for some rest.  It was about 8.00 by now, and Kaoru managed to make a booking for us at a Shabu Shabu restaurant – something none of the others had done before.  So we made our way through the underground tunnels of Shinjuku (to keep out of the rain) and enjoyed a 2 hour eating and drinking fest for ~$55 each!  Everybody enjoyed the food, and the experience, and we definately over-ate, but it was all included so we had to get our moneys worth!

On the way home we went to Brett and Simon’s favourite bar – Pronto – for a night cap.  It had been a long and enjoyable day, and we were happy to go to bed by the end!

This was a Kaoru guided tour day. Mum and Dad, and Aunty Linda and Uncle Owen left about 8am for the next part of their holiday. The rest of us (12) met in the lobby at 10 to do some Tokyo sightseeing.

First up was Tsukiji. We had a good look around but because it is a very busy place we were concerned with Ella. It’s more of a wholesalers market, not a pedestrian market.  Once out we caught a train to Asakusa and decided we needed an hour to look around separately. Simon came with us which gave him the chance for a more personal guide, and we ate a few different snacks. The time went really quickly though, and when we met up with everybody we heard they didn’t all make it to the end, unfortunately.  But when Julie, David and Aunty Lynette did it on the Tokyo tour they only had 20 minutes, so at least they got more of a look this time.

We then caught the train to Euno to see the Cherry Blossoms. It was amazing to see the difference from when we were there with Michael and Leila last week. The tree that was amazing for us last time was now green with leaves and the ones that were just buds now were in full bloom. And it felt like every person in Tokyo was there to look at it! After walking for a bit we had a beer (Brett found a place to buy them) and then I took Brett, Naomi and Simon to Akihabara. I wanted to take them to the maid Cafe that we went to with Michael and Leila but the 15 minute “sample” is only valid on weekdays. So we skipped that and went to a cafe for a beer. Back at the hotel Brett and I met up in the Luxe lounge for a drink and to get some work done. We met Aunty Lynette and Kaoru up in the lounge but then they left for dinner. Brett, Naomi, Simon and I went for dinner at a Ramen noodle shop. We left and had a drink, and then I went back to go to bed.

We woke to an alarm this morning. After breakfast we went downstairs and met up with everybody for an 8am departure. Dad had all the tickets so it was a day off for Kaoru. Michael and Liela left this morning for the rest of their holiday but the rest of us were keen for some sightseeing. Kaoru and I, Brett and Naomi, Mum and Dad, Aunty Linda and Uncle Owen, Simon, Tony Mak, Julia, Andrew and Ella, James, Aunty Lynette, Julie and David.

The first drive was about 90 minutes which took us to the Mount Fuji Visitors Centre. There was snow along the way and David got to throw his first (of many) snow ball. I slept for a lot of the trip there. Back on the bus we drove to the First Station of Mount Fuji, where we had about 20 minutes to look around – plenty of time to build a snowman! We took lots of photos and everybody was thoroughly enjoying themselves. Then we started the drive to Hakone.

En route we stopped for lunch, and talked about catching the Shinkansen back home. We would have to buy tickets but it would be Davids only time. Once I realized it was the same for Simon and Naomi I was convinced. But that wasn’t until later. We made a few stops along the way, mostly for views of Fuji. Once at Hakone we hopped on a boat on Lake Ashi. The Pirate ship Kaoru and I went on last time was there but not part of the trip. We then caught the rope way up a nearby mountain which had a shrine on top so Kaoru and I could pray. Aunty Lynette is scared of heights but bravely rode the ropeway with us. We had some amazing views of Fuji and the Pacific Ocean.

Back down the mountain we got back on the bus which took us to Odawara station where Kaoru and I, Brett and Naomi, Aunty Lynette, Julie and David, and Simon, got off and caught the Shinkansen back to Shinagawa and then local train to Shinjuku. Kaoru took us to a few places and then went back to the hotel to meet the others (who stayed on the bus and had made it back about 45 minutes later) and take James for a massage. I walked Julie and Aunty Lynette to the cheap alcohol shop so they could buy some to take home. While they browsed I took David back to his room and left him there to bathe.

For dinner, Kaoru and I went out with Julia, Andrew, Ella and James for Okonomiyaki. It wasn’t very good though and having to wait about 30 minutes (despite being told we wouldn’t be waiting long) didn’t help. Eventually we left and went to bed.

Wedding Day!

It was a drizzly day, so not the sunny, beautiful day we were hoping for.  But it wasn’t going to get us down.  Kaoru left for Harijuku a bit before 8.  I had a slightly later start and left a bit before 9.  The first train was too full so I had to wait for the second one to get me from Shinjuku to Harijuku.  When I arrived at the venue, Kaoru’s Mum and Aunts were just arriving in taxis.  So I said hello to them, and then went in.  I was taken to the brides room, where Kaoru was having make up done.  Here I got out of my clothes and in to a robe, at which point I was offered breakfast.  I had eaten in the room but still tried a bit of what was on offer.

Then it was time to get dressed.  It took about 5 minutes to get all the layers on me.  Kaoru was ready not long after, and the photographer came in to get a few snaps off.  Then it was off for more photos.  I was taught how to walk (chest out, hands clenched, and in front of Kaoru) and we went past the reception room (where guests were gathering).  A few people noticed us, and I could hear the “Oh wow – isn’t she lovely”, but we weren’t allowed to see them yet.  A few photos were taken, and we were then taken to the front of the temple for even more.  It was obvious we wouldn’t be using the gardens and having the walk we were hoping for.

Next we were taken to a room and informed that Kaoru’s father hadn’t arrived yet.  But not long after our families were brought in for the formal “introduction”.  Dad did this for our family, and Kaoru’s father did his family – except he forgot the names of his daughters and grandchildren!  This lightened the air in the room a lot as we were all laughing, and Kaoru’s Aunties stood up and introduced themselves!

More photos were taken, and then everybody left to go in to the shrine.  Finally it was our turn.  We were led in by some japanese music, and the banging of the big drum in the shrine.  It was a slow walk, but finally we were in the shrine and ready to start.  The ceremony proceeded normally – we drank the sake, although Kaoru was unable to lift the cup up high enough with the weight of her Kimono.  My throat was quite dry so I was thankful to get some fluids in there.  Then it was time for me to read the vows.  This was the real test, as I had left parts of it in Hiragana, but I did have to cheat and read my translation for a lot of it.  I knew I made a few mistakes along the way, but nobody minded (half the people wouldn’t have noticed!).

After turning the leaf, everybody clapped at the right time with us, which was impressive, as I had only briefed the “Westerners” on it the previous night!  The final drinking of sake occurred (with the parents as well) and we walked out of the shrine through the guests on my side, so they all got a close look at us both dressed up.  We had to go to the photographers room to get some more photos done (why they couldn’t have done these photos when we were in that room earlier, I’ll never know!).

Then it was off to the Brides room so Kaoru could change Kimonos, remove her wig, have her hair done, and make up touched up.  Finally she was ready and it was off to the reception.  We greeted everybody at the door as they came in and took their seats.  Then we went to our seats, and it was time to start the proceedings.  Kozue, as MC, got it underway, and I gave my first welcome address.  Because Kaoru was translating it, I followed my planned words very strictly.  Next was opening the sake barrel, so we had to walk up to the other end of the room, and I called all the kids down to help us.  Ella was a bit upset, but eventually was happy to go up with Kaoru.  I explained to everybody what we needed them to do, and it went great.

Back at our seat, the meal started being served.  Kaoru had trouble eating, but I enjoyed it all!  Various groups of people came up to us to have their photo taken, so there was lots of smiling happening all day.  It was a very formal affair – not so much a party but very regal.  We never got to walk around and greet all of our guests as it was too hard for Kaoru to get up.  I was so hot that at some stage I had to go outside for some fresh air.  There were a lot of layers on, and because I was still sick, it didn’t help.

Sadly the reception part of the day had to finish, and the farewell address was given by Dad, Kaoru’s Dad, and then me.  We said farewell and thank you to each of our guests, and it was off to the Brides room to get changed.  We were then brought some dinner – basically we received all the courses from the main meal *all over again*!  Kaoru hadn’t had much of a chance to eat during the day, but I tried to eat everything.  So while she enjoyed the opportunity to eat, I struggled to get much more in.  But enjoyed revisiting my favourite dishes.  We paid the bill (the really scary part!) and then caught a taxi back to the hotel.  We decided against walking as we had 8 litres of sake (from the barrel we broke), 2 large bunches of flowers from Mio, and our other stuff.

We managed to meet up with Michael and Leila and say goodbye to them (as they leave the next morning), and I gave them a bottle of sake to keep them going.  

We wanted to go to Meiji Jingu shrine but unfortunately they were closed by now.  So instead we went up to the lounge where Mum, Dad, Aunty Linda, Julie and David were.  After Aunty Linda left, I called Aunty Lynette and told her to come up as Naomi (as Brett and Naomi weren’t going to join us – they were out with Simon).  About 9.00 Aunty Lynette saw a glitter at the front desk.  James, Andrew and Ella had found us.  So we invited them in and said to make the most of it as we have to pay for visitors!

After a couple of drinks and some snacks we were kicked out for closing time.  So Andrew, James and Ella came back to our room for a quick sake. and then left.  Finally we were able to sit down alone and reflect on our wonderful wedding day.