I got up before 7 and did my things then hired a bike for ¥1000 and went to Clive and Frances's hostel. Clive came down and we all had the buffet breakfast which I kind of had quite a lot of and then they got bikes for ¥2000 together. We headed straight west on the bikes and it was a 7km journey taking us past some shops and on the way I found out Clive had just paid 2k deposit for the bikes which were free from his hostel. We parked up near a temple and the crowds were elsewhere but we were nearby to the attractions . Another place hall was ¥500 and the woman there showed me a picture of a dragon we could see inside but I didn't see why we would want to go so we went to the main recommended temple which was a world heritage site and we got tickets to go around garden only. Clive was trying out his camera now that he had the memory card and we left the garden together near to the bamboo forest to the north. The bamboo walk I had been looking forward to was a bit busy but still having the canes growing on either side with a small fence did look good. Clive wanted to do a see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil photo with each of us as one of them so we found a more quiet place and tried to take the photo but it wasn't very good and then Frances got something in her eye so Clive tried to get it out and we went to the nearby park which was a bit plain. We crossed to the river which was quite busy with boats and people walking along. We couldn't find any boats to rent so walked along a bit near to a bridge which turned out to be a recommended attraction but we didn't know that at the time. There was another temple which cost and we headed back to bamboos instead which was even busier but we did manage to get the photo done. A man took photos of Clive and Frances in front of the bamboos probably for the occasional tip as he did the same for quite a lot of people. We moved on to more temples but none were considered that good in the guide and they were all charging so we decided not to go in and went back to the bikes and rode east and then north to Hanazono temples area which was supposed to be free. We got a little lost getting there before taking the roads and found it to be a walled area with lots of temples that each charge so it was free but not really. We gave up and left to go to the imperial palace which was open although we had do ride over the pebbled paths to get there which was a bit slow and annoying. We went in and round following the guided recommended route although there wasn't much option to wander anywhere. It was ok not so big but some nice buildings and reasonable descriptions. It had been used after the main palace had burnt down but then soon after the Royal seat was moved to Edo (Tokyo) so it wasn't the main palace anymore but was still used. We left and had a look at the other palace which was nearby but it had to be booked well in advance so we couldn't go inside. It was close to 5pm and we headed to the castle but when we got there it was closed as last entry was 4.45 or something. Clive and Frances went back to a supermarket and their hostel but I went to see more of castle. I cycled around it and just saw walls really and then went to a supermarket which was a bit further and we had gone past in the morning. It was quite a way and on the way back I went to an IT place for SD cards which were again expensive. I got back to the hostel to change into shorts and had a message saying they were napping until 7 which was 1 hour away. I still had the bike so went north on river to the botanical gardens which were only ¥200 but were closed. The UNESCO shrine was also closed and there was a temple which was open enough for me to go around and look at the outside. I headed a bit further north for what maps had as a viewpoint on a hill near to a shrine but there wasn't that much of a view and I went to the shrine which was quite big with entrance booths where you probably have to pay but it was long closed by the time I was there. I went back on main road unlike a lot of cyclists in Japan who ride on pavements (warning for people going there) and got back to the hostel where I again changed this time to to a tracksuit and trainers. I went to their hostel and ate food there and we did some planning as it was all messy. It was golden week in Japan which meant everyone had a holiday and almost all cheap accommodation was booked up. We had planned to go to Hiroshima the next day but instead changed things around and I made a mistake so that our plans didn't quite work out but finally we had booked some days accommodation. I went back to my hostel returning the bike and sewed my bag which had ripped and then read a magazine with things to do they had there. It was good and I wish I'd looked at it on the first day but it had an advert for transporting luggage for people taking the bullet train so I was worried we wouldn't be able to take suitcases on the train. I tried to ask at reception but they didn't know and an American had a look at the article and said that was because there is no storage at their stations and its fine. There was an English guy, another American and a guy from Taiwan and we were having interesting conversations and a Japanese American joined us but she didn't have much to say and was maybe more interested in fashion and manga. I went to bed around the normal time.
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