15:14:17 Here we are, bizarrely enough, in an optician's in Hiroshima. Kana had come to pick up her new glasses, and Chie was going to get hers adjusted. Customer loyalty seems to be really important in Japan, and the service in this shop was fabulous. The staff knew Chie's family well, and on entry we were immediately seated and provided with some very nice coffee in expensive looking china.
15:14:31 I'm not part of Chie's family, I've never been to this shop before, I'm not Japanese, and I don't even wear glasses, but still, I too was treated to some excellent customer service. It was categorically the most fun I've ever had in an optician's.
15:15:29 While we were here, Chie thought she'd try on some glasses. Here's exhibit (A)...
15:19:21 ...exhibit (B) - which Chie rather liked...
15:19:46 ..and exhibit (C), the third and final pair. I think on reflection the second pair were probably nicest.
16:23:11 Well, it was time for me and Chie to head for Osaka as we were going to be flying back to England the next day. So here's the now customary family picture outside their flat.
16:23:31 ...although we were in a bit of a hurry this time...
17:14:17 After saying our goodbyes to the rest of the family, Chie's Dad very kindly came to the platform with us to give us a hand with our luggage and wave us off.
17:16:38 We didn't manage to fit in a visit to Miyajima this year, as Chie was poorly the day the rest of the family went. So, this is the closest I could get - a picture of a poster in Hiroshima station.
19:14:42 After a painfully overcrowded trip on the usually luxurious Shinkansen, here we are pausing for breath in Shin-Osaka station.
19:15:06 Chie has just changed her shoes. Note the can of gorgeous Asahi beer on the right hand side. It had been too crowded to drink on the train, so I'd more or less necked this in one on the platform after getting off. The next bit of the journey, you'll be pleased to know, was very pleasant indeed. We took the Haruka line to Kansai airport, and there was barely another person on it.
20:46:09 Our hotel room, which was very western, but very nice. The JAL Kansai hotel is a proper airport hotel - you can walk to the airport check-in desks from the hotel's foyer in about 5 minutes. None of that shuttle bus nonsense.
21:28:11 I think we're leaving to go and find some dinner now. A handy tip if you're ever staying a night in Kansai airport: everywhere to eat seems to close before 10. The only place open was an Italian restaurant, which was actually quite nice.