The ryokan breakfast

http://bit.ly/WoqaLb

This is one meal, for one person

http://bit.ly/10XIBFL

The art of Japanese hospitality

http://bit.ly/X1aCJY

The Rising Sun is taking its own sweet time

6am. I'm right now wide awake waiting for the sun to rise. About 3 hours north of metro Tokyo, a little bit more west - Kinugawa Onsen, Nikko-shi.

I've been up since 4.30am. First parking myself in the steaming outdoor ofuro. With a clear view of the icy sky, I thought I'd catch the first warm rays of the day here.

By 5am, the winter steam kinda winded me and I quickly sought refuge under the thick blanket in my room.

With the window shades wide open of course. I've the same view here as the one in onsen.

The stars slowly faded as light finally invaded a few minutes ago. It's getting brighter but slowly. The sun is in no hurry here in the mountains. The river seems to be taking its cue, even the flow seems a little more sluggish in this lazy glow.

Maybe I should pop back to sleep.

Land of the Rising Burp

I'm giving my tum tums a good rub-down after a sumptuous kaiseki meal. Ah, such is life in a ryokan - a must-do when in Japan.

The dinner was a 12-course. Sashimi, shabu-shabu, chawanmushi, etc - on fancy plates and with fancier names - we had it all tonight.

The first eight courses were already set on the dinner table when we entered our private banquet room. Very impressive. After spilling out the uncontainable oohs and ahhs, a long silence followed. We were so busy exploring each and every dish, for the first time during our trip, nobody really bothered with the sake.

!

I'm really stuffed now and I don't think I should be eating too much in the next couple of days. But I've been saying that after every meal this trip.

And there's still kaiseki breakfast to look forward to tomorrow.