Konban Wa!

Well I am back in Cold Blighty (did you see what I did there…) and am rather tired after the 12 hour flight back from Japan, well I was when I started writing this, which was about five days ago. Anyway this is what I did in Japan. It is long and it is only meant for me to have a record of what happened and if you want to read then good. I hope you enjoy… (to the Japan crew can you make sure I have spelt name correctly {which I doubt} ta x)

Thursday 27th July

Well the folks and I left early afternoon, heading for the wonders of Heathrow terminal 3. There was some crazy plume of smoke on the M25 - I assume it was an accident (If anybody knows anything about it, could you let me know). Got to the airport and checked in, seats over the wing (people on my course will know why!).

The flight was a bit of a bitch as it was over night so you feel really tired the entire time but can’t sleep. Therefore spent the flight either watching films, reading bear or trying to sleep or a combination of the above.

Friday 28th July

Arrived in Kansai airport about 6 in the evening. We were booked into the hotel at the airport so had about 100 meters to walk, which we were rather happy about, as we watched poor sods head for the train station or the bus terminal.

We checked into the hotel, sorted our rooms out and then went for a swim in the hotel pool. Dad and I managed to cock up straight away by walking into the changing room, and onto the ….. mat without taking of our shoes – whoops. A naked guy getting changed showed us where to put our shoes – at least they didn’t seem too bothered, and they weren’t covered in full body tattoos so we escaped unharmed. Had a good swim and a hot spa set us up for dinner. A quick sauna and a shower – and back to the rooms.

We decided we weren’t that happy and we would go and sort out our train pass for tomorrow and then just go and find something quick to eat and then to bed. We went to the train station and got the passes sorted and booked some seat on the Shinkansen.

In the main entrance there was an escalator up to the second floor (first floor for the Brits reading this) and a row of restaurants. We had a look at them all and we had our first experience the models of food outside showing you what the restaurant serves. We later found out that it is just one company ( I think you said near Tokyo didn’t you em?) which makes these for everybody in Japan. We decided on the first restaurant we passed.

It was full inside and it was predominantly male business men. Most were smoking and even more appeared to be well on the way to being drunk. “Table for three please”. The menus had pictures above the Japanese writing which gave us a fighting chance. We ordered about four plates and dad and I fancied a beer. The picture looked like a small bottle of beer, but no it was at least half a litre and was really good. The food was really good as well and we knew that this was going to be a holiday of good food – We were hooked.

Saturday 29th July

Early (ish) start and back into the train station and down onto the platform – Holy Crap this is clean compared to the UK. The train was close to arriving when some JR West employees all filed out of a room and took up position along the platform. It turns out that they clean the train every time it comes into the Kansai airport platform. They then turn the seat around (!) so they are facing the way the train will be going. It was really cool; turns out all intercity trains do it.

Kansai Airport Express to Shin-Osaka

Shinkansen to KitaKyushu

Sonic 33 to Nakatsu

Total time: approximately 4 hours, and that’s about half way across Japan.

Shinkansen never failed to amaze every time we went on it: quick, quite and comfortable – South-west trains take note – and always on time. The train would leave on the dot of when it was supposed to. If the Swiss and the Japanese can do this why the hell can’t we?

Arrived in Nakatsu and found the folks hotel. It has apparently been up only a couple of months and the floors (levels up not the actual floors, I never smelt the floors) had that new car smell (?!). We then wondered over the You Me Town, where Nova is, to meet Em and Jon. We walked in though the door and where meet by some excitement and shock from Satchi and Shinobo – two of the Nova management staff. We were talking to the two girls when Jon walked out mid lesson to get his glasses and did a great double take. Meet Em once she had finished her class. The meet two of the teaching staff Paddy and Marcus.

We then went to buy Ukata as it was a festival this weekend called Gion. Great shop assistants!

Once we were all Ukata-ed up we went back to Nova to meet Jon as he finished work. To the folks went back to the hotel and I got a backie home on Em’s bike. Jon had to wear my big rucksack as the weight of me and the rucksack on the back of the bike was too much for the poor tyre to cope with! A little rocky to start with but had the backie technique nailed by the time we left Nakatsu.

We went for dinner at a place called Bumbacoo (is the spelling correct? I have no idea!) which was really cool and you had an indoor barbeque to cook your meet and fish. Big beers yet again! They also have a system in Japan where you push a button – which makes a Ping-Pong noise, when you want a waiter to come to your table, which means you are never pestered during your meal. Post meal Em, Jon and I meet up with Katie and went for a drink at Loueges.

Back to my bed in the flat of Em and Jon.

Sunday 30th July

Slept very well but was woken up early morning by a noise I couldn’t place – sounded a bit like water running so I just thought it was either Em or Jon taking a shower. – It turns out, it is a shikada (spelling). A big arse beetle type thing that makes lots of noise. Also turns out that the window was open!


Em and Jon had to work today so we were sent on a mission to Kokura (KitaKyushu). We went to the castle, wondered around the new shopping center – a work of art, both of them! On the way though there was a water feature in the mall and the small kids were playing in – there was also a big kid playing in it as well!

(picture to come when the photos are developed)

Then had a really good smoothie and watched the world go by. On the way home the water feature was dancing to music.

Back to Nakatsu. Got dressed up in the Ukata – We all looked really good. Had a meal In Gofu where everybody that work there shouts a welcome to you when you enter and then thanks you when you leave – great atmosphere.

Post meal we headed for Gion. On route dad Jon and I where stopped by a drunken Japanese guy with a plastic cup filled with liquid and told us all to have a good gulp. It was actually really good. We meet up with the girls a bit further up the road and then we where stopped by some Japanese women who wanted to talk and take our picture in our Ukata. A photographer also took our photo and said he would send us a copy – they turned up a couple of days later. Damn did we look good! Gion is a big festival where different groups of people build huge floats and then proceed to pull them through the streets up to the castle, stopping every now and then so the dancers on board can put on a show. When they get to the castle they pull the float around as quickly as possible, with the crowd making a track and then getting out of the way as quick as possible if they get to close. Meet the rest of the nova crew and the rest of the Gaijin in Naktsu. After I think the 4th float It started to get a bit same-ie so we went to Troppies for some food and a few drinks. Troppies in owned by a Mexican and mode the most amazing salsa I’ve ever eaten!

Monday 31st July

Em and Jon had today, Tuesday and Wednesday of so we decided to go a road trip – except by train. The destination: Nagasaki. Changing at Hakata.

We went into the shops by the station and had doughnuts and coffee.

We arrived at the station and Jon managed to get the tourist information to recommend a hotel and book some rooms for us. We headed out for the hotel which was actually only just down the road.

Once checked in we went for a wonder passed where some Dutch houses were being renovated. (for a long time the Japanese would only allow the Dutch to trade with Japan) We then went to the Chinese quarter and had a Chinese meal, it was good but felt really heavy when compared to the Japanese food. We then went on the hunt for Karaoke. We were just going down this side street, when four ladies where coming out of what looked like a karaoke bar, we then started to ask them if it was a good one. This started off the conversation. Turns out they were very taken with me and one, turns out she had a 32 year old daughter who was a doctor and I think she wanted to set us up. Another one couldn’t keep her eyes off me – Hey I’m in there! We took a photo of all of us and exchanged addresses so we could send them a copy. Just as they where leaving There was an exclamation from Em which probably shouldn’t be printed (!), turns out it was a guy called Phil who worked for Nova in Nagasaki and was the one who actually put Em and Jon onto Kyushu when he was last in the UK. It’s a small old world, In all the streets in all of Nagasaki…

After the chat with Phil he sent us on the street car to an area with lots of bars. We had a wonder down one of the streets and there was a lot of hot Japanese girls outside the restaurants / bars to entice you in and no they weren’t snack bars – well I don’t think so any way. A lot more looks my way!

We were walking back to the hotel kind of giving up for the evening, decided we would just stop of if there was some place that looked good on the way back. We stopped outside a packinco parlour to ask an employee if there was anywhere good near by. He didn’t seem to know but a Japanese business was walking past, he stopped and joined the conversation, he then lead us out of his way to take us to the door of this restaurant. It was a dark wood front with the classic curtains over the door, just inside the door there was a small entrance with a water feature and a small zen garden one on either side of the path. You then went through another door and you where in the restaurant. You had to take your shoes off and they then took them and put them in a cupboard. We where then lead down this dark corridor which wound around inside the building, we were then gestured into an individual room where there was a table. We then went on to have a really good drink and pudding and a really enjoyable evening. We had a really cool waiter. The restaurant was called Zen – recommendation for Nagasaki.

Tuesday 1st August

We went up to a big electrical store today where I got my digital camera. Harrah!
We then went to the Nagasaki peace memorial which was very sorrowing. We were glad we went though.

For dinner we went back to Zen for my graduation celebration. The waiter came in and had a double take. He even remembered dads name from the evening before.

Wednesday 2nd August

Coffee in Papa’s again before we headed back to Nakatsu.

Once we decided to make a move we had a wonder around the store and then as we passed the games arcade we decide to head in. The main reason was so we could have a go with the pernicular. It’s a big photo both which you cram lots of people into and you then move around and do silly stuff while Japanese pop music is played and pictures are taken. After about 12 pictures are taken you can go outside and edit the picture buy writing on them and adding stars and stuff onto them. It then prints out a variety of sizes onto sticky paper so you can stick them on things. Really good fun! We were just finishing when 2 Japanese girls came up to us and asked if we wanted to all do a set. We did which was really good fun. They cut a small strip for us so we have some of them as well.

We then played on some computer games even mum. We played some shooting and some driving. Lou we did try pelicular but we don’t really know what you have to do and the balls where all enclosed inside. We had a few goes at it and only got one token so that is on the way to you as a consolation prize. We went straight to Lougies from the train station. I had a lesson in ordering food.

Thursday 3rd August

Lazy day today – the folks came around to the flat to do some washing. We meet Jon for lunch at Nova and we went to a revolving sushi bar just inside You Me Town. Was really good food and a plate of sushi cost about a £1. Folks and I had a wonder around You Me Town post lunch, got some bits from the supermarket and then went back to the flat for cakes and iced coffee.

Another great meal in Bombacu. More fun antics on the bike on the way home.



Friday 4th August

The folks went of on a trip and I decided to go out on the mama-cherry (Em’s bike). When mum and dad picked up the hire bikes from the station they were given a map with a bike route on, which followed the river out of Nakatsu. Sounded like a plan. Set of late morning, the ride was very hot with a few cool things to see along the way but on the whole it was a pretty boring bike ride. So I did 63km on a mama-cherry in very hot weather and all I really got was really bad sun burn, Harrah!

This was by far and away the high light of the ride…



And typically it was only about 8km into the ride!

That evening Em and Jon had a Japanese lesson. Kristen, Corey and (mental block – somebody please help) came over in the evening.

Saturday 5th August

Spent the day applying after sun (there’s never a hot woman around when you need one!) and watching stuff.

I sat in a bath for a long time soaking – very nice. Em and I met Jon post work and had dinner at Joyful. Kirsten came around for the evening – nice and chilled.

Sunday 6th August

Spent the day applying after sun (there’s never a hot woman around when you need one!) and watching stuff.

The folks came around post trip with Em once she had finished work. Went for dinner somewhere and then went Louiges for a beer – and why not have it in the Karaoke room. Dylan turned up shortly followed by Katie. They weren’t many songs in English so we decided to move onto the main karaoke place in Nakatsu where we ended up staying, getting more and more pissed until gone 2 in the morning. It was a really good night. The unplanned ones always are.

Monday 7th August

Onsen Day Harrah! Hang over Harroo. (For those not in the know Harroo is the opposite of Harrah) The folks and I went to the train station to hire bikes. She asked where we were going and we said to the onsen on Mount Him something or other. She said no you can’t go there and pointed to the picture of the castle in Nakatsu. So with that we went to collect the bikes and then rode to the onsen, with a brief stop at the bakery.

Was a pretty easy ride up to the onsen, granted the moma-cherries didn’t make it any easier. Well worth it when we got there. We were all really sweaty, took of our shoes and put them in the shoe locker, you then hand that key in to get a key for the changing room locker. You then go into the changing room, guys on one side and girls on the other, where you strip off and walk around with only a modesty towel – or nothing depending on what you are feeling like! You go into the first room and have a really good shower so then really clean. There are lots of different pools so you can go in any of them and just relax. When you get to hot there is an icy plunge pool and when you are too cold there is a sauna. It was really relaxing, shame we then had a bike ride home.

Food tonight was at the Moonlight Garden restaurant. We went with Sachi, Yuki and Dylan. The Girls order lots and lots and Lots of really good food for us. We just sat there and ate what came. It was a really enjoyable evening. (3000 Yen per head!)

Bed.

Tuesday 8th August

Easy day today. We meet the folks at the Espresso café, for a coffee. We then went to get the bikes again. Today we decided to go a have a ride up and down route 10. Dad Jon and I wondered around a Homebase equivalent while the girls did something. We then meet up in the 100 Yen store. This is where everything is 100 Yen – funnily enough. That’s 50p. And everything is actually 100 Yen unlike our £ shops where most things are more than a £.

Wednesday 9th August

Today the folks and I went to Hakata for a day trip. First port of call was the Canal City – Papas Café for coffee and cake. Canal city is another new shopping mall (it is actually designed by the same people who designed the one in Kokura) Another work of art! Hada wonder around the shops and then went out to look at a temple around the corner.

I then went off on my own still on the hunt for more Death note books – no luck – I actually gave up look pretty much straight away and decided to head for what looked like a big temple complex on the map. They were really amazing and extremely well kept – raked driveways, thats respect.

Meet Jon for revolving sushi again and then we all made our way over to Katie’s for a (day after) birthday pool party. Good night with lots of people coming in. Tried out my digital camera for the first time – nothing like a group of slightly drunk people around a paddling pool to really test a camera is waterproof as they it is. Turns out it is!

Thursday 10th August

Day trip to the shrine on Miyajima. Shinkansen to Hiroshima and then a local train and a ferry to the island. Our first taste of a tourist hot spot – damn them, we were just glad we had seen “real Japan” up until now rather than doing this for 2 weeks.

Unfortunately the tide was not in our favour so the shrine wasn’t floating. It was quite impressive but it lacked not being surrounded by water and the same can be said for the palace which was also over sand. Had a wonder around the island for a bit and tried to get of the beaten track. We decided to head to one temple which wasn’t very far away, with the intentions of going that’s very nice and then turn and head back. Turns out it was the best part of the island so far. On the way back there was a bridge that I thought looked quite cool in the photos. Did exactly the same again and we found a really nice quite spot under the bridge.

On the train ride home I had some space left on the camera so I thought I would make a video out of the window of the train. I had my ipod on and this was the outcome…



Final night in Nakatsu. Had a big meal Gofu and were joined by Paddy, Katie and Dylan. Great evening



Friday 11th August

Back to the Shinkansen again. This time up to Himeji, to see the castle. There weren’t any spare locker at Himeji station so we decided to stay the night here. Checked in our bags and then headed for the castle. Its really spectacular and you could see why nobody ever successfully invaded it. I would like to have a go though! (I’m thinking a huge paint ball match with hundreds on each team). Words can’t do it justice so look at the pictures (when they arrive!)

For dinner we were direct to a restaurant that looked like Zen and looked really good but was full. Crap! We went for a wonder and ended up in a random little restaurant – food was pretty good but not like we had become accustomed too.

Booked the last two rooms in the hotel in Kyoto for tomorrow night – seemed like the last two rooms in Kyoto! The internet is a marvellous thing.

Saturday 12 August

Headed for Kyoto first thing. It’s a big ol’ place! We got a taxi to the hotel with our luggage. They looked clean from the outside but the taxis really are spot less.

After dropping the luggage off at the hotel we headed for the eastern Kyoto which is apparently the old part. Again Tourists. We wanted a coffee and cake break. We found a really cool café which I think was called The Golden Café but I’m not sure. Anyway the owner was a really cool old woman. She was watching what looked like a Japanese version of Eastenders. After that was finished there was some news on the final of a baseball game. Aftewards the winners were all putting lots of the pitch dirt into a bag to take home. We had no idea why, she could see this and tried to explain. But she had very little English and we had even less Japanese! It’s a shame we would have liked to stay there all day drink coffee (It was really good I think it was a type of distillation process. Jon any ideas?) and talking to her – maybe next time. Post cake – also very good we headed up the tourist route to Kiyomizu-dera temple. During sunrise and sunset, without any people I bet it is a spectacular view over the city.

So we carried on walking around the touristy bit – which really doesn’t look that old at all! We then got caught in the rain. More temples – they are starting to look the same. On the way back we were wondering through the streets and we saw a Geisha (Harrah!) – a real one as well , unfortunately no photo though as she was getting into a car.

On the way home we were on the hunt for a nice place to have our last meal, the first row we came across was headed by The Orient river restaurant – the prices of all the one came down from very expensive to expensive, they did look good however and you could sit outside on a balcony over the river.

We went back to the hotel and got showered and ready for dinner, well the folks did, I had an onsen and got ready for dinner. It was just one pool as it was on the 13th floor but it did have a panoramic view over the city. I meant to go back up after dinner – didn’t happen, I the set my alarm so I could have one before we left, yeah that didn’t happen either. As they say we’ll always have Paris.

We instead found a map in the hotel which showed about 20 restaurants ranging from about 3000 to 5000 Yen per head near to the hotel, of all different genres. Taking a handy Digital photo as the electronic map we headed out. The first one looked okay but we thought we would have a look at the next ones as they were all so close to the hotel. Turns out Number 2 was called Watami and if you are ever in Kyoto go there! My ordering ability is getting better!

Sunday 13th August
In the morning we left our bags at the hotel and grabbed the subway back to Kyoto station. We then took a train and a Taxi up to Ryoan-ji temple. A temple set in landscaped grounds with a ig lily pond. The main tourist attraction here is the zen garden however – apparently one of the best examples in Japan. (There was a program called around the world in eighty treasures. In it the guy said that there are 15 rocks in the sea of gravel and that no matter where you sat you can only ever see 14 of the 15 rocks, I would just like to point out that that is in fact a load of bollocks!) It was very nice but there was so much talking that you couldn’t think at all. There was also a second zen garden which was lots of trees with moss covering the ground (which was brushed through out the day). This was mum and dads favourite but I had a little corner which most people just walked straight by. There was a small pond and trees and shrubs all around.

We headed back to the hotel to pick up the bags and we went to the train station. Got the bags in some lockers, there were some girls have trouble lifting there bag into a top locker so being the gentleman I offered my help. Turns out the bag didn’t actually fit so I tried a few different configurations. I eventually managed to get it close and then with a bit of brute force I managed to get the door closed. I was funny to watch the girls try to get the money into the slot as I held the door closed. The folks tried to take some photo but they were laughing so much they only got one good one. J saves the day again.

Lunch in the Cube, the brand new train station / shopping mall. We got an early evening Kansai airport express to believe it or not Kansai airport.

We checked back into the hotel, it feels really westernised. I was all up for my final onsen but they don’t have one. We went back to the restaurant we went to on the first night and this time we knew what to order and how to order it (kind of). The owner / chef thought we looked familiar and asked if we had come in before. We said yes and that made him really happy. We had another really good meal. If you fly into Kansai airport and want to stay over night go there for dinner.

Monday 14th August

Got up early to have breakfast and then checked out of the hotel. Headed over to the airport which was somewhat busier than it was the night before. We managed to get some seats with extra leg room. When through passport control found a coffee shop and killed time there. Got to the plane without any problems and the plane actually left the gate before the time it said on the ticket – yet again another first. The plane ride was another 12 hours, but managed to fill the time a lot better with a massive movie marathon. Six films back to back.

As everybody was waiting to get off the plane – just standing in the aisle, it was funny to listen to everybody saying how bad the flight was. Not the case if you have leg room and six films. (Hunt for the Red October, Mission Impossible III, Ice Age 2, Inside Man, Failure to Launch and Kinky Boots)

Waiting to go through Passport control there was a guy whos passport was being looked at under a magnifying glass. He was there when we left, for all we know he’s still there!



Had to wait for ages for the purple parking Bus to take us to the car. – Not to self use Pink Elephant next time!


So here we are back home, its now a week later as its taken me that long to write this all up. Hey some of us have to work. And I could have written it daily on the blog from Japan but that would have involved effort and we were having to much fun so raspberries!