Summer trip 4 - Final

Bex, Binkz and Tin's Voyage around Japan continued...

Day 23

J-Hoppers Hiroshima is slightly far from JR Hiroshima Station itself but it's quite close to everything else. Again we were placed on the top floor but this time in a Japanese style room.

The Peace Memorial Park is quite close to the hostel - two tram stops away. Dara came over to our hostel and we all had brekky before going to the A-Dome in the Park.
The A-Dome was almost directly below the hypercentre of the first atomic bomb used against humans - it was eventually left as a reminder of the horrors of nuclear weapons.

I do not endorse the actions of the Japanese during World War II. I am only concentrating on what I see here. The fact that thousands of civilians suffered does not change.

The Park contains other memorials - there was a student's memorial, children's memorial (featuring Sadako - the thousand cranes girl), the Eternal Flame thing they always have at war memorials, a shrine, etc and of course the Peace Memorial Museum.



Entry is 50yen... yes people 50 yen!! then if you want you can pay for an audio listener in english that gives extra commentary for about 200yen? It's not that useful at the beginning of the museum... well it is useful if there's heaps of people - this museum is more popular than the Nagasaki one (second city bombed) - it was packed when we went - very annoying waiting for people to finish gazing at exhibits.
Exhibits include what nuclear weapons entail, why Japan was attacked (glossed over details), what happened, the after-effects, what's going on with nuclear weapons in the world today.

At first the museum is very informative - you find out that every single mayor since the bombing has written letters to every country who currently holds nuclear weapons. You learn where the bomb exploded (above the city near the A-dome) etc.

Then it gets depressing - really depressing. The museum then shows you what happened during the bombing - people's skin was melted off etc - the commentary tape gives accounts of people describing what is was like.
The most heart-breaking is when family members find something that their loved ones' owned in the rubble - a blackened lunch box, a tricycle - and that was the only way they could identify where their loved ones were incinerated.

So very depressing. I stopped listening to the stories it was just so sad T_T The museum goes on to show the lives of those who survived and those that were affected by the bomb.

Wanting to clear our heads we head off to the main shopping area in Hiroshima, walking around. Then we returned to our rooms for a rest before going to Okonomimura - Japanese Pancake Town basically. Two/three levels of nothing but okonomiyaki stores - Hiroshima style. It was as big as my face...


Day 24

Rain.

We wake up early to catch the tide while it's up - we tram to the port to have breakfast - Bianca bought us chocolate cupcakes!!! hmmmm. Rain

We then ferry to Miyajima Island, it's a pretty short ferry ride, very slowly through the rain and fog we see the famous Ikutsujima shrine gates! By the time we land it's pouring... we wander around outside in the rain - spotting a couple of deer before retreating to the ferry station to wait out the rain.

The rain dies down a bit and we start towards the shrine - the tide is high at this point so the torii gate is submerged - we take lots of pictures whilst avoiding deer poo.
All world cultural heritage sites require payment to enter - so we pay and enter. The shrine itself is also underwater during high tide, whilst we walk around the extensive winding sidewalk of the shrine the tide slowly goes down exposing the beach the shrine was built on - it would've much more impressive if the weather was good =( but pretty all the same.

There's quite a lot to do on Miyajima - you could easily spend an entire day here - unfortunately some of the activities are outdoor, and although the rain had eased it was still wet and miserable - so we decided to head back to Hiroshima.
The shops are quite interesting - mostly selling local delicacies like oysters - barbequed, fried you name it - they were AWESOME!!!

The area is also known as the origin of rice scoopers ... and they made a massive one to commemorate - they sell heaps of large rice scoops too.

Once back at Hiroshima we visit Hiroshima or Carp castle. It wasn't worth it - possibly because we had already seen so many - the castle was used as military barracks - it's what made the town a bombing target in the first place. It's also terribly stuffy in there. You're not missing much if you don't go. Although there are the ruins of the barracks and stuff if you're into that.



Day 25

I wake up at the crack of dawn to retrace my steps to visit Himeji and Kobe. I bus to Okayama prefecture and then train (slowly) to Himeji.

It is the only castle in Japan that wasn't torn down and rebuilt when the country removed the Shogunate (i think - my japanese history is lacking). It's a beautiful but hot day. I walk from the station to the castle - which is a good distance - the castle also has extensive grounds and parks like it did in the old days.

The castle is massive!! You can see it from a while off as it also sits on a hill. At the entrance to the inner castle grounds you're given a map that includes a 'suggested course' that you should take to see all of Himeji - it's BIG so be prepared to spend a while here.

While walking up to the actual castle itself you pass many many walls, gates, watch towers and storehouses etc, all very interesting. At the castle itself you have to go to the bathroom before entering - then you take off your shoes and put them in a plastic bag they provide and enter the castle with it.
The gate is big and old, you step inside the first level where it's pretty dark - this level was the toilets. As I went up the very steep wooden stairs I felt the smoothness of the hollows of thousands upon thousands of other feet that had tread these stairs in the past - the presence of age and mystery was quite impressive to me.

It's set up in a way where you go up one side of the stairs, explore one half of each floor as you go up, and then explore the other half and use the same stairs as you go down. Very well organised.
All the way to the top you witness slitted windows, weapon racks, hidden doors where soldiers would hide, and holes where they would drop stones and pour something boiling hot on thier enemies - they utilised every single scrap of space for defense. It was every inch a place for fighting.

At the most top level there's a shrine and some benches for you to have a rest - it's a big castle. The top level commands a stunning view of the castle grounds and Himeji the town.
The way down as i mentioned before is exploring the other half of each level - which is pretty much the same deal - but it's just so nice and OLD in there...

On the way back outside the castle grounds I managed to bump into a place that MIGHT but probably wasn't used for warriors to behead themselves, a well that some poor woman was thrown down for political reasons and was haunted by her until they enshrined her and then I found a secret gate out of the main castle grounds!! So sneaky!! There was a sign that said they'd use it to surprise enemies from behind... fun XD

I was going to leave - I spent so long on the train I was behind schedule - but I decided to take a quick peek at the West rampart area beforehand.
This area houses the garden and the women's quarters or Ooku - inner sanctum. It's mostly ignored by the tourists but it's pretty fascinating in itself.

This Ooku had very very very loooong corridors - it was famous for them, they went on and on and on - it was kind of creepy too cos here I could also feel the presence of oldness. As you walk along these corridors the rooms get larger and brighter and at the end of these very long corridors is the room where a famous princess used to live - they set up life-sized dolls inside that nice room. That was creepy too.



It was lunchtime and I was starving... determined to eat Kobe beef for lunch I hop on the train to Kobe.
Kobe is worth exploring for a day as well, it's a pretty city, but walking very fast I had to take the subway away from JR Kobe station in search of some Kobe restaurants. I had a bus to catch back to Hiroshima so at this point I was pretty desperate - I simply followed the instructions on my Lonely Planet.

The restaurant I ended up going to was pretty posh. I ordered a course that almost cost me 10 000 yen. The course started with a seafood jelly - very pretty and yummy. The chef cooked the beef in front of me - I had rice, vegetables and various sauces with my beef and coffee at the end - I was so stuffed. The beef was so SOFT, definately worth it.

Off I run to catch a bullet train back to Okayama to catch my bus back to Hiroshima but I truly wish I had time to explore Kobe some more.

Tin and Bianca went to a very nice Japanese garden and at night we muck around with our cameras...and some pretty embarassing photos of me were taken - I tried to stay up because it was the last time we got to see Binkz for a long time...but I felll asleep and Binkz left very early in the morning back to Okinawa.

Day 26 - Last day

On our way out of the hostel we bump into the final member of Team Minami (Team South) James!!! What a crazy coincidence! Second time! oh...we bumped into Chris and Faye at the Peace Museum - the Yokohama kids.

Before Tin and I left we go to the Mazda Museum. They only have one or two english tours a day so check beforehand. At the lobby was a display of their current models, a video game, a small history board of the rotary motor and a moving display of Mazda's famous rotary engine.
We got to play around a bit before the tours started.

Firstly we were all taken by the Mazda bus through the extensive factory to the museum itself. Mazda built their own bridge for easier access =S
We're given a history lesson on the formation of Mazda (used to be with Mitsubishi =O), there's quite a few interestingly dated old cars in the museum - the first three-wheeled truck, first plastic car, first fully hand made car etc. Of course we also get to see the latest models - Rx-8 for example and that car that won the 24hour race but can't race in it anymore cos it's too advanced...Pictures galore!!



We're then taken to the factory (no pix allowed), where we watch the workers putting together cars at the speed of light, quite fascinating.

Back inside the museum, they describe how they make the cars from scratch, from design to small clay model to life-size clay model to the millions of parts required to put it together to the engine inside and finally the companies they use to ship their product.

Souvenirs!!! Then back on the bus to the office.

We run back to the hostel where we've left our luggage then frantically taxi to where our bus stop was supposed to be. Again we get totally lost searching for it (the same company as the one we used to get to Nagoya from Tokyo), again we called them up and find the bus just in time!
A long and agonising 5 hour bus ride (supposed to be 3) later...we arrive back in Kokura!! Again it's pouring so we taxi back home finally to our dorms here at KIT. Home sweet home!



And that my friends was our summer voyage around Japan.

Summer trip 3

Bex, Binkz and Tin's Voyage around Japan continued...

Day 16

A hectic morning - we bused and then taxi-ed to the wrong studio (Maica), we were already running late... so I call the studio and then we taxi again to the correct studio (Shiki - http://www.maiko-henshin.com/english/) and we begin our transformation into maiko!! (apprentice geisha).

Binkz and I are given some undergarnments and tabi (japanese socks) to change into before they put on the white foundation and maiko make-up on us. Next we picked any kimono we liked to wear. We stand there while the ladies dress us in many layers and extra padding.
After choosing an obi (sash) they put a wig on us -it was so very heavy.

Tin is by now already dressed as a samurai. Binkz and I wiggle over to the photo studio to get two pictures taken, one with a maiko bag and one with a ball thing. I thought Binkz was amazingly Japanese and maiko looking in her black kimono.

After our photos the ladies hitched up me and Binkz's kimono, gave us high high wooden geta to wear - it took a while for both of us to get used to them.
We went outside to take our own photos in the heat. After a while the wig was too much for us and we went back inside to undress.

It was such a weight off our shoulders!! literally!
Back in the change room there's instructions and oils, tissues, towels, face wash, moisteriser and everything for us to take off the make-up. We redress and go to pick up our photos. Binkz and Tin's were so pretty! but I must say mine was complete waste of money - I made a fugly maiko...

Near our studio are beautiful streets lined with old fashioned looking shops, it's a veritable maze of beautiful traditional arts and crafts, food and of course souvenir stores. We bought a lot of Kyoto sweets and stuff that day ^^.

The reason for this is the very beautiful and popular Kiyomizu Temple is also there. The very best viewing times are spring and autumn because the cherry blossoms and maple leaves are in full bloom. But it's all very nice anyway. The temple is built on the top of a mountain and it has a very nice view of Kyoto. In summer it's really really hot T_T

There's also a spring where everyone lines up to have a sip. Apparently if you sip once you prolong your life by a year, twice by two years and thrice by a long time.

Before we left we sat down under an awning for some refreshments. I had some hiyashiame which I later found out is a Kansai ginger drink very rarely seen outside the area. It was really really yummy!!

To finish the day off we once more visit Kyoto station, the station is again architectually impressive and new - it goes very high. The escalators and stairs go up at least 5 storeys - the top level has a nice garden/sitting level. There were soo many couples LOL.



Day 17

To Nara!! The very very first capital of Japan. We took the train - i had no idea the ryokan i booked was several stations from the actual Nara Station but my annoyance was removed when we saw how traditional and quaint this small town was.

We were only staying one night so after a rest and a late lunch we travel (the long way... lol) to Nara station and Nara Park. Almost as soon as we got off the bus we spot our first deer!!
As we amble our way through the park Binkz and Tin decide to buy some deer biscuits to feed the deer - the deer are aggressive in terms of food...let's just say it's an experience. I wasn't as brave hehe - I watched them get harrassed >=D

Todaiji Temple. The largest bronze statue of Buddha in Japan, and the biggest wooden building in the world - it was rebuilt to two thirds of its size.
It is THE most impressive place I've ever seen. The sheer size and age of both statue and the hall radiates an ancient and venerable energy you don't feel elsewhere.

Inside the hall (apart from the Great Buddha) is a pillar with a small hole at the bottom. If you can crawl through that hall you will apparently gain a spot in heaven (some sources say gain wisdom). Binkz and I managed to crawl through... it's kinda stupid cos that means larger people can't go to heaven - that's just bs.

Tin donated funds to the preservation of the temple by buying a tile that he wrote his name, place and a message on, that tile will be used in repairing the temple.

We wander around the park a bit more...seeing a big bell and more deer, and a beautiful sunset over and through the trees before having an oily Japanese BBQ dinner and sticker photos!!



Day 18

Off we train to Osaka!! The weather remains very hot and sweaty in Kansai - I get us slightly lost looking for J-Hoppers Osaka but with the help of some locals we get there ^^. Leaving our luggage there (it was too early to check-in) we have sushi for lunch - people stared when we went in lol. We wander around Osaka and Umeda before going back to the hostel.

Again we share a room. We were on the top level - it's a hell of a walk. The hostel is quite small, and the showers are on every other floor and there's a roof area at the top to look over Umeda though. Binkz figured out the co-eds are on the top floor, followed by guy/girls floors.

Umeda is the business and department store district, whereas Nanba is where everything else is - clubs, shops and food. We first walk along Dotembori - the foooooood place before calling Dara (ICS Osaka) to ask her where the shops were. We manage to find Shinsaibashi - shops galore!!!!!

We have dinner and then meet up with Dara later for dessert.



Day 19

Dara said she didn't believe in going out during the day...but we made her take us to Osaka castle ^^ . This is the second castle that's had a lot of historical figures use it. The top level gave us a good view of Osaka, the castle itself is like the other ones, the bottom levels full of history.
The garden around the castle is pretty extensive as well.

When we left we had some yummy sofuto (flavoured [or not] soft serve) - we walk around the grounds trying to find the station again, we find a dog standing on a man's bum bag with its forelegs on the mans shoulders... weird...

Dara mentions the longest shopping street in Japan - after getting very lost in the heat we taxi there. It definately is the longest street...but it's also the most boring - full of old pplz shops.

We all went home for a rest, then we went to have Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake) Osaka style!! at the store where Nishikido Ryo went to - Dara took us lol.



Day 20

Binkz and I went shopping!!!!!

During our shopping adventure I noticed that Osaka people definately dressed differently to those in any other city we had visited. They wore a lot more revealing, skin-hugging clothes - which I might add is a big deal in Japan, they weren't actually that skin revealing - tattoos were also in plain view.
Definately NOT something that occurs in Japan (unless you're in a gang... but still they hang around certain areas).

The guys are definately hotter in Osaka!!! They're also better at dressing, some try and fail, but a greater percentage are successful in Osaka O.o Ahhh the eye candy >=D
Osaka is a very busy city - almost like Tokyo, people bustling around doing their own thing, often in a hurry. To be honest I haven't quite made up my mind about Osaka, I have nothing bad to say about it.

But the dialect was very pronounced here...hard to understand...other than that all good.

At night we went to Ame-mura (America Town) for some clubbing... our first attempt wasn't successful - the club was completely empty even after we'd been there for a couple of hours...

I went home early.



Day 21

I do believe we slept the day away...shopped a little then along with Dara went to a much better club called the Grand Cafe. No one danced much at first - but it got better. It was Dara's first time clubbing and she wanted to go to other clubs - the Grand Cafe was underground and a little small - so I went with her...Sitting outside the club for a rest many guys went up to talk to Dara hahaha

The other clubs we went to were pretty shocking...

Day 22

I spent the night at Dara's apartment and got a quick tour of her uni before we head off together to Hiroshima to meet up with Tin and Binkz. They were at Himeji and Kobe. It took a little while to train to Hiroshima, by the time we got there it had started raining again.

Dara goes to her hotel and I streetcar (tram hehe) my way to J-Hoppers Hiroshima. After we settle in Dara and I explore the area around dotombori?? i think it was... that's the hubbub area.

Summer trip 2

Bex, Binkz and Tin's Voyage around Japan continued...

Day 9

That night before Binkz decided to stay at the hostel to rest up after our Fujisan ordeal whilst Tin and I go to Shibuya to meet up with Derrick and his friends for some clubbing!! We took the first train back to the hostel hehe.

It's a Sunday!! So we go to Harajuku again to try and spot some cosplayers. There weren't as many as I expected though... and they generally keep to themselves and stay in groups. If you ask them they'll willingly let you (especially foreigners I noticed) to take pictures.

Although Harajuku is full of small stores that may design their own wares and sell their own individual styled clothes, again the key to finding good stores is the wander off the beaten track. However the small main street from Harajuku station is the best and quickest way to experience the area.

Don't forget to try some of their famous crepes! As well as small stores Harajuku also houses some big brands and shopping complexes. We found some interesting art there by a Japanese artist bearing the male reproductive organ with the name 'Tin' written all over the wall. We all LOLed. (p.s. i spotted it first!)

We wonder around Yoyogi Park, they enshrined the last Meiji Emperor and Emperess of Japan. It's the largest park in Tokyo. A very peaceful place to wander around to get away from busy Tokyo.

That night the hostel is having a party - Wii Olympics! We met and made many friends from around the world ^^ including some Aussies!!! YYYYAAAAAAAYY



Day 10

I think I'm missing some events and days... meh It's our last full day!! Mostly we pack and send stuff off home.
Binkz and I go to Asakusa - the traditional heart of Tokyo. We go crazy buying stuff.



Second destination - Nagoya
Day 11

We wander around Shinjuku trying to find our bus... we went all over Shinjuku with all our luggage...Binkz and Tin got VERY sweaty. In the end we had to call the bus office to get directions.
In actual fact we were supposed to go to their office - and then they would lead us to where the bus was. Pity that kind of information wasn't written on the website -____-"

I do believe it was a 5hour trip to Nagoya. We arrive at night at Nagoya Station to find our ryokan. Again Binkz and I share a Japanese style room this time and Tin gets his own room.



Day 12

We go to Noritake Garden - it's the first western style porcelain brand in Japan. Very expensive stuff. I wanted to go make my own plate... but I was the only one so we didn't. The garden was pretty ^^

Next we try to find the Robot museum...but it turns out it was closed down at the beginning of the year... tough luck =(

So we move on and go back to Nagoya station. There are towers where we can see the rest of Nagoya. Unfortunately the top level was dominated by shops, so we went into a high class looking cafe to enjoy the view. The food was great! and very enjoyable with the view.

Afterwards to go to Nagoya Castle to meet up with Kylie (ICS student in Gifu). Nagoya castle was a very important political centre back in the day, lots of famous historical figures lived there. The most distinctive feature of the castle is the golden dolphins - thought to protect something or other.

Then I lead the others to the shopping area in Nagoya starting with a certain temple. I try to find some Nagoya food... there's sooo much food that can only be eaten in Nagoya - but I wasn't successful.

That night Tin went to meet up with his Japanese friend whilst Binkz and I go to watch a movie and take our first sticker photos of the trip!
When we first walked into the cinema it was a small room with ads in it... we were terribly confused. Until i decided to walk further in the the massive ad of the wall opened up. It was in fact the automatic doors to the actualy cinema -___-" Ahhh silly us.



Day 13

We take the fastest bullet train in Japan to Kyoto!! Our ears popped and our mobiles didn't get reception on our phone sometimes we were going so fast XD.
As soon as we get off the heat hits us. The kansai area, that is area around Kyoto is hotter in summer and colder in winter because the area is surrounded by mountains. There are also no onsen (hot springs) in the area.

The station is very large and impressive, as soon as you leave the station you can see Kyoto Tower. T'was a beautiful day. We walk to our accomodation K's House Kyoto - another youth hostel. This time all three of us share a room.

The hostel was very clean and pretty, there were many living room spaces for people to hang around in. We had to pay for our internet - it was free in Tokyo.

There are literally hundreds of shrines in Kyoto, first up was Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine.

It features two foxes that protect...something or other. But this shrine is famous because many people donate torii gates hoping their wishes will come true. So there's a lot of them, it's the place where Memoirs of a Geisha was filmed - you know the tunnel of red shrine gates?
Very impressive. The reverse side of the gates have the names of the family or company that donated the gate.

The shrine grounds are absolutely massive and involved much walking so be prepared. Of course you don't have to walk all the shrine paths.

Finding our way to and from places in Kyoto is challenging, Kyoto-ites tend to use buses - make sure you catch it in the right direcction >.<
Late afternoon we find ourselves going up Kyoto tower for a good look at the old capital of Japan. The viewing telescopes are free!! Our fun is interrupted once again by rain. Luckily come night time the rain diminishes so we see a beautiful night scene of Kyoto.



Day 14

We start the day with a buffet breakfast at our hostel... yuuuummmmm.

I signed up to a program by WAKJapan (http://www.wakjapan.com/index.html) where locals show you various cultural aspects unique to Japan. I signed up to tea ceremony. When I got there there were some kind of journalists doing a piece on the company doing these things for foreigners, so they came with me to observe how they teach me about the way of tea.

I'm shown to a room where they've set a carpet aside so that western noobs like me can sit freely rather than Japanese style (it's painful >_<). The lady hosting the tea ceremony first explained the history of the way of tea and how it developed. Then the various meanings of certain settings before she gave me some sweets.

That is the proper way to enjoy tea XD . I watched her clean her instruments with slow, precise care before whisking the powdered tea. It was very delicious to me. Most people find powdered tea bitter - but with the after taste of the sweets she gave me it was beautiful.
She then let me make some tea - I wasn't very good cos the whisking requires moving your wrists really fast =S.

I meet up with Binkz and Tin and we go to the Golden Pavilion together - we took long way around on the bus cos we took it on the wrong side... such a waste of time.
The Pavilion is on the World Heritage list so it costs a few hundred yen to see it. The grounds are quite big, the garden is very pretty and would be peaceful if not for all the tourists ^^
The Golden Pavilion itself is quite impressive - so bright *_*

Binkz and Tin took soooo many photos - so by the time that was over it was about 4:30pm. I get off the bus to see Tenryuji - it has a pretty garden and a nice bamboo forest - but I was stupid and didn't go to see it properly. I missed out one of the icons of Kyoto!

The shops outside this shrine were very pretty - colourful and cultural... I could've spent ages there!

Can't remember what we did that night...



Day 15

We start the day late visiting some sort of temple that has some sort of cultural heritage we didn't understand... Again we went the long way around so a lot of time was wasted.
On our bus trip back we visit the Heian Shrine - another period in Japanese history.

The main feature of the shrine features the most massive torii gate you've ever seen O.o

That night we walk around Gion trying to search for wandering Geisha and Maiko - but I do believe we missed the sunset deadline. However the streets we walked on were very traditional and pretty and Oriental.

Summer Trip - A very sped up overview

Bec, Bianca and Tin's Voyage of Japan

Summer holidays!!! Semester one was over zomg so fast >.< style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">

Day 1

We met Binkz at Haneda airport... it was very hard finding each other >.< style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">



Day 2

Tin didn't want to go to Tokyo Tower for some reason - and I wasn't complaining cos I'd already been so we head off to the World Trade building near Ginza to get a view of the city.
It started raining that day.

Next we popped off to Ginza, luckily it was a weekend so they blocked off the main road so that we could all prance around.
To Tin's delight we bumped into the Nissan showroom only to find there was a bigger one elsewhere! So off we plop to visit the GT-Rs and the Fair Ladys.

After lunch we return to main Ginza, passing the Kabuki theatre, and wander around the rich-ass shops in the area. And finally to my delight the Sony building!! where you get to touch and see the latest and up and coming Sony products.



Day 3

Binkz and I go to Harajuku!!! Where we found a whole manner of strange and wonderful things for relatively cheap prices. There are many small stores there with very interesting and different goods. It's not like Sydney where there are so many of the same stores in different places.



I lost my earrings there T_T
We were also lucky cos on that day there was some sort of festival going on... so we got to see some dancing and some mad massive pole waving which fascinated Binkz XD.

After lunch (apparently the best Japanese meal for Bianca =S) we wander around looking for Binkz's Bape store (Ape shall never kill ape!) - we got lost hehe and had to ask some policemen?crowd control? people several times... then it started raining again...but we got there!!
Exhausted...we went home.

oh and Tin was watching some boxing thing.

Day 4

I go to Yokohama!! I wanted to see a Chinatown in Japan but the others didn't so I went my merry way in the pouring rain. It's not so far south of Tokyo, good for a day trip.

It's nothing like Chinatown in Sydney...the buildings are much more 'chinese-y' - some of them almost to the extent where there's just too much chinese decoration. The side streets are chock-a-block FULL of small eateries and restaurants... very very nice feel. The food isn't what i'd call cheap... and whilst i was there i only saw ONE Chinese BBQ place... maybe I just didn't wander around the right areas...

There were heaps of souvenir shops - all of them sold panda themed goods. In Japan, China equals panda. There were also heaps of chinese grocery stores - with lots of Lee Kum Kee on sale!!! But I didn't find what I was looking for cos they tended to sell I THINK Shanghai tastes rather than the Hong Kong dominated stores in Sydney.

After Chinatown I wandered around one of the shopping areas in Yokohama...can't remember what it was called...the Queen's Mall?? There was a massive Pokemon store there...and a Snoopy store XD and then I met up with Chris - an ICS student living in Yokohama. He was kind enough to take me to another popular shopping place, due to restrictions in time we then returned to the main Yokohama area. The main street was surprisingly narrow - but it was busy as hell all the same.
We had some very delicious sushi, Chris showed me some square watermelons and then I hopped off home whilst Chris went to his own informal birthday party hehe.

I do believe Tin and Binkz went to the Imperial Palace that day... and somewhere else



Day 4

Akiba!!!!

I think Akiba is quite interesting, there tends to be more people wandering around alone than other places in Tokyo i've observed. Akiba is also filled with nostalgia... we encountered so many old school characters there, games as well - there's a large second-hand market in Akiba. From figurines to old old old games like Atari it'll be there. If it's truely old to the point of collectiblely rare then it won't be cheap.

To find what you're looking for be not afraid to wander the side streets and go upstairs to find stores - it's perfectly normal and it's the best way to enjoy the real atmosphere of ANY place in Japan - the side streets.

I digress. The electronics. Why would you visit Akiba without buying something electronic?? Japan is cheaper that Australia anyway in terms of electronics prices, but in Akiba...the price of electronics that were popular a year ago are reduced. Except at the few electronic departments that have opened there - but there you can get your things duty free. There are more brands and obviously some are cheaper than others - there's so much of them they put them out in crates outside stores to sell.

Oh and there's the er...adult side of Akiba that's not so hidden. We found a (at least) 5 level store full of costumes and the like.
Maid cafes!! Sometimes you bump into one or two going to work in their outfit - or maybe they're just cosplayers lol. Again the side streets are where there are maid cafes. We spotted a couple giving out pamphlets at the station. Tin went to get one lol. APPARENTLY girls can enter too... but we didn't.



Day 5

Tokyo Dome day!!

Tin heads over there to train at the Judo place nearby so Binkz and I tag along. Tokyo Dome isn't just a stadium there's also an amusement park and and shopping centre around it. We see an awesome looking rollercoaster that winds up and around the building... it was fuuuuun.
We had our photos taken while were on the ride... Tin's expression on those photos are gold!

The architecture around Tokyo dome is quite interesting. The Dome itself that day had a baseball event. Saying Japanese people love baseball is an understatement. Most people were decked out in baseball regalia, and there were many many stalls selling more merchandise.

Tin goes to do his training whilst Binkz and I shop!!



Day 6

Tsukiji fish markets!! I only wanted to go cos it's highly likely they'll move it once they develop the surrounding areas. Didn't get to see enough of the place to get a real feel of it... but I ate some yummy salmon - expensive yummy salmon... but the green tea ice cream was the best I have ever tasted in my life!!

Off we go to Odaiba/Tokyo Bay, I can't quite remember why it was on the itinery...i think there was supposed to be some sort of car museum thing there...
Nevertheless we hop on the monorail and make our way there, coincidently the NHK headquarters is also there and they had some kind of event going on. The building is quite unique - I wanted to climb up to the top of it but it was very very hot that day.

That night we meet up with Mune - an exchange student who went to UTS for a year - in Shibuya for Izakaya... Binkz covered her face the whole night!!! Okinawa made her SOFT!!
T'was nice meeting up with you Mune!



Day 7

Ahhhh today was the day... I had put off climbing Mt Fuji cos I believed the weather was bad... but little did I know that this day was going to be way worse.
We bus from Shinjuku to the 5th Station of the most popular track up Fuji-san the Kawaguchiko trail. I do not recommend - will explain later.

We mass FujiQ - an awesome looking amusement park - on a clear day you can see Fuji-san. Today wasn't the day.

We arrive at the 5th station probably around 8pm. We muck around...taking photos and such. There was a cafeteria but it was closed...so bring your dinner. There are also shops where you can buy last minute gear, souvenirs (for later) and a climbing stick that you can use - I got one ^o^.

At around 9pm maybe? we start climbing. The track between the 5th and 6th station isn't difficult - it's kindof like doing Duke of Ed for those that know. 6th to 7th station was a little more challenging but rewarding all the same when we got to the 7th. But it was only one of the 7th stations...from then on it was very very difficult...the steep incline is nothing like the ones in the Blue Mountains that I had climbed (very similar to the Blackheath walk - Evan's Lookout for those that remember).

We were practically picking our way up and over rocks and boulders and then steep inclines. As we ascend the ground alternated between gravelly and rocks...all the while being steeply inclined.

At each seventh station are huts where for people to stay overnight - they tackle the mountain over two days...smart but expensive.
The track between the first 7th station to the last 8th station was very tough to me. That and the fact it starting POURING. At first it was only drizzling...but it got worse and worse.

The last leg up the mountain from the last 8th station was hell. We were all soaked to the skin and the wind was blowing strong. Due to the popularity of this particular track there was a queue to the top...which meant without moving much we got even colder.

Tin was the first to turn back... Binkz managed to urge me on until we saw the top of the mountain!! We saw the lights of the hut that was the top of Fuji-san!!!
But it was never to be... it was so friggin freezing standing there waiting for the queue to inch forward we had to turn back.

The road was so gravelly and we wanted to go inside so badly practically slid down the mountain back to the last 8th station. Tin was already inside drying off. He was able to stretch his legs cos he got there before the place got full (and he paid 4000yen or something).

Binkz and I were only allowed to sit when there were free seats and we bought something from them. Not that we minded... we bought something warm straight away. Unfortunately the ground where we were sitting was wet...so our feet were freezing. It was about 3am.

As the hours dragged on the rain lessened and people started to leave. Binkz and I were allowed to sit near the coals to try to warm up and dry off. I don't think we'll ever recover from our soaking. I sat so close to the coals my pants caught on fire...there's a hole there now lol. Our group were the last people to leave - we had to clear out by 10am - the hut's checkout time.

I can't remember what time...maybe around 8am we start sliding our way back home. At least the rain stopped. The down way route was a faster zigzag pattern, the road was all gravel so we slid our way down.

We were about an hour and a half away from the 5th station when Tin got sick of it all and powered up ahead. Binkz and I slowly trundle our way back. We died.



All written by Bex.