Well I managed to skip a day trip in my last blog - before we stayed at the capsule in we went to visit the shinto shrines in Ise - they were very awe inspiring. The one we visited was the outer shrine, nestled up on a mountian in a forest. We took some pictures then headed back to the town to eat supper. We found a small noodle place and went in, the two owners were really friendly - even went so far as to mention a job opening teaching english at a local school. We caught the train back to Nagoya, and thats when we stayed at the capsule place.
A day later we went to Miyajima. Michael had to treck back to Kyoto because he forgot his camera at the hostel there. I got to the hostel - which was amazing to say the least (Right on the waterfront, 2 minutes from the ferry to the island, amazing view), dropped off my bags then headed over to Miyajima island. The ferry ride was short, we passed by the "floating" (tide was out.. wasn't floating) Torii gate. I got off the ferry and started up a small road, away from the crowds. I walked for a while, passed some cherry blossoms, went under a tunnel then ran into some of the islands tame deer. When I say tame I mean you could literally walk up to and pet them. They looked a bit haggard though, there was apparently a ban on feeding them a year or two back due to population issues. I went on up the hill, snapping pictures as I walked until I came to a small path that went up the mountain side. I walked up it, and it lead onto a larger nature trail, which went up to the top of Mount Misen. The climb took me just under two hours - but I was pretty thirsty when I got to the top. I came out of the forest on top of a monkey colony, I took a few minutes of video, then took the ropeway back down. I walked past a few shrines down to the torii gate - the sun was setting and it was very beautiful. I ran into Mike, so we took some pictures then took the ferry back to the mainland and had supper.
Today we are going to Fukuoka, which is on the southern end of the main island - staying overnight there then Mike will be heading back to Tokyo.
Photos from Ise and Miyajima
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Down with the sickness
Ugh, hayfever. I hate it... never had it before, but apparently I do get it in japan. Last night Michael and myself stayed in a capsule hotel in nagoya - it was a very nice one, almost like a REAL hotel. They had a very nice bath/sauna/hot tub area, only drawback was you had to be COMPLETELY naked to go in - so there was a bunch of naked old dudes - along with michael and me, sitting in hot water. I didn't really have time to take pictures of the capsules, but if/when I visit another one I'll be sure to take some. Today was Kyoto, got in at 11:39. We went to see Nijo castle - a spectacular feudal era complex, complete with a moat. It was very old looking - the castle itself was 400 years old. We started going to the golden pavilion but I started to feel my symptoms and it was getting cold so I headed back to the hostel. So I've been here for a while, made a trip to the pharmacy to get some medicine - hopefully I feel better tomorrow. I'll put up a link to some pictures when I get the chance - tomorrow evening most likely.
Monday, March 23, 2009
A few days later...
Phew - well alright, its been a few days but I'm ready to update the blog once again. I went to the Tokyo International Anime Fair on the 20th/21st, held at Tokyo Big Sight - it was very, very busy. There were exihibits from all the main anime studios/production houses - as well as some universities and colleges. The first day wasn't as busy as the second - more events happened the second day. There were models dressed up as characters posing for photos and handing out fliers/swag. The event its self wasn't that great, but there were plenty of cool people and things to look at.
On Sunday the 22rd Bryan, Michael and myself went up to Nikko - a small shrine village, full of history. Bryan and Michael are both from California, really nice guys. It was overcast and rain was coming and going - but nothing more than a gentle shower. The clouds looked cool over the mountains, and fog was present most of the time, making for a few good photos. We got into Nikko and wandered around for a while, looking for a post office to get some cash. We walked the length of the town, then half way back before we found one - we then went to eat at Skylark. After eating we went back up to the "Shinkyo" bridge, It was a very scenic view from the side. We had no real path while walking up the mountian, but we encountered several temples and shrines. Most attractions were closed due to the weekend, but it was still a very nice trip. On the way back Bryan bought a bottle of sake and we drank it on the train. Thats one thing about Japan I've learned - it is perfectly socially acceptable to drink in public... no one will stop you or even give notice to you. So long as you behave (which we did, it wasn't really strong stuff), you're not even viewed as a nussiance.
Today (Monday the 23rd), Bryan, Michael and myself went up to Mitaka to visit the Ghibli animation museum. We had to get tickets so we went to the Lawson near the train station, but they were sold out. We went anyway, thinking we could get them there. We wandered around for like an hour in Inogashira park, looking for the museum. We found it and asked the attendant if we could buy tickets, but he said that we had to get them before we arrived in the country - or a the lawson. Dejected we stood around for a while, then started back to the train. We had got about 100 feet away when the attendant chased me down and said that we could get tickets! He took my name, and wrote a voucher for us then directed us back to the nearest lawson to pick them up - said it was a "very special" case - and to keep it discreet. We were pretty happy about it, so we went to get our tickets and went on in. The Ghibli museum is very very well designed, every detail is attended to. The exhibits were intricate and interesting (unfortunentaly we were prohibited from taking pictures, but we got a few in the areas we were allowed to). After the museum we headed down to Tokyo station where Bryan split off from Michael and myself to go to Sendai - we continued to Kamakura.
In Kamakura we saw the Daibutsu or "Great buddha". We walked from the train station about 2 km, and made it to the shrine area. The buddha was huge, 11.3 meters tall, cast of bronze - weighing 12 tons. After taking photos we went down to a temple garden and walked up a mountain to a viewing point. Kamakura is an ocean town, so the view was very nice. It was getting late and we were hungry so we started walking back towards the station. We stopped at a yakitori stand and got some grilled chicken, it was tasty. We messed up the train to tokyo so we had to transfer a few times to get back to our respective hostels, but we both got back in good time.
Anyway, we plan to go to Nagoya tomorrow, see Nagoya castle and stay in a capsule inn. Hopefully it'll be a good time.
Pictures of Nikko, Ghibli and Kamakura
On Sunday the 22rd Bryan, Michael and myself went up to Nikko - a small shrine village, full of history. Bryan and Michael are both from California, really nice guys. It was overcast and rain was coming and going - but nothing more than a gentle shower. The clouds looked cool over the mountains, and fog was present most of the time, making for a few good photos. We got into Nikko and wandered around for a while, looking for a post office to get some cash. We walked the length of the town, then half way back before we found one - we then went to eat at Skylark. After eating we went back up to the "Shinkyo" bridge, It was a very scenic view from the side. We had no real path while walking up the mountian, but we encountered several temples and shrines. Most attractions were closed due to the weekend, but it was still a very nice trip. On the way back Bryan bought a bottle of sake and we drank it on the train. Thats one thing about Japan I've learned - it is perfectly socially acceptable to drink in public... no one will stop you or even give notice to you. So long as you behave (which we did, it wasn't really strong stuff), you're not even viewed as a nussiance.
Today (Monday the 23rd), Bryan, Michael and myself went up to Mitaka to visit the Ghibli animation museum. We had to get tickets so we went to the Lawson near the train station, but they were sold out. We went anyway, thinking we could get them there. We wandered around for like an hour in Inogashira park, looking for the museum. We found it and asked the attendant if we could buy tickets, but he said that we had to get them before we arrived in the country - or a the lawson. Dejected we stood around for a while, then started back to the train. We had got about 100 feet away when the attendant chased me down and said that we could get tickets! He took my name, and wrote a voucher for us then directed us back to the nearest lawson to pick them up - said it was a "very special" case - and to keep it discreet. We were pretty happy about it, so we went to get our tickets and went on in. The Ghibli museum is very very well designed, every detail is attended to. The exhibits were intricate and interesting (unfortunentaly we were prohibited from taking pictures, but we got a few in the areas we were allowed to). After the museum we headed down to Tokyo station where Bryan split off from Michael and myself to go to Sendai - we continued to Kamakura.
In Kamakura we saw the Daibutsu or "Great buddha". We walked from the train station about 2 km, and made it to the shrine area. The buddha was huge, 11.3 meters tall, cast of bronze - weighing 12 tons. After taking photos we went down to a temple garden and walked up a mountain to a viewing point. Kamakura is an ocean town, so the view was very nice. It was getting late and we were hungry so we started walking back towards the station. We stopped at a yakitori stand and got some grilled chicken, it was tasty. We messed up the train to tokyo so we had to transfer a few times to get back to our respective hostels, but we both got back in good time.
Anyway, we plan to go to Nagoya tomorrow, see Nagoya castle and stay in a capsule inn. Hopefully it'll be a good time.
Pictures of Nikko, Ghibli and Kamakura
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Afternoon - Day 1
This afternoon I went down to the Sensō-ji Temple in Asakusa. It was a very nice (although slightly tourist oriented) area. The street leading up to the shrine was lined with fake cherry blossoms - they still looked nice and added to the atmosphere. It was quite busy in the shopping area, but a little less packed in the shrine area. I visited the temple building and put in an offering (for ritual's sake) then toured the surrounding area.
On the main streets surrounding there were plenty of shops and restaurants, I stopped at a Starbucks and got a "Grande Matcha Frappicino Blended Cream", it was pretty good. There is a covered "street" nearby Sensō-ji lined with shops, I took a walk down there and decided to go back to the subway station and take the next train to Shibuya.
I arrived at Shibuya Stn, checked my map and proceeded to the Hachiko exit, the station itself wasn't that busy, but outside was something else. I took a few pictures and wandered around for a while, looking for the statue of Hachiko - took me about 10 minutes of searching (... I know its easy to find - but you have to know where you are in relation to a map, lol). Took some pictures of the statue then headed back to Khaosan.
I plan to take a break for a couple hours - then maybe I'll head over to Akihabara for the evening.
Afternoon photos here
Quick video of the shopping arcade leading up to the temple here.
On the main streets surrounding there were plenty of shops and restaurants, I stopped at a Starbucks and got a "Grande Matcha Frappicino Blended Cream", it was pretty good. There is a covered "street" nearby Sensō-ji lined with shops, I took a walk down there and decided to go back to the subway station and take the next train to Shibuya.
I arrived at Shibuya Stn, checked my map and proceeded to the Hachiko exit, the station itself wasn't that busy, but outside was something else. I took a few pictures and wandered around for a while, looking for the statue of Hachiko - took me about 10 minutes of searching (... I know its easy to find - but you have to know where you are in relation to a map, lol). Took some pictures of the statue then headed back to Khaosan.
I plan to take a break for a couple hours - then maybe I'll head over to Akihabara for the evening.
Afternoon photos here
Quick video of the shopping arcade leading up to the temple here.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The first day!
I arrived in Narita at about 3:20 pm, made my way through immigration and customs then down to the JR station to get my JR pass. The whole process took about 40 minutes, so I was able to catch the 4:00 train out of the airport terminal. The train ride was fairly uneventful... I was pretty tired too.
Narita and the surrounding area looks alot like southern ontario, hilly with trees. I remember one instance while I was on the train looking out the window at the trees passing by - I saw pine trees, then another I didn't recognize. I looked down at the ground and saw it was bamboo!
After I got off the train I stumbled around the station for a bit, looking for the exit. I went out the first one I saw - then looked at my map and followed it in direction I thought I was supposed to go. Couldn't find the hostel... I doubled back to the station, looked at my map again and saw I was supposed to go out exit "C 4", looked for it, found exit #4 - same thing... although this time I just kept walking in the direction I thought I should go, towards the river that runs behind the hostel. I found it and signed myself in. I went up to my bunk, unpacked and crashed at about 8 pm.
I woke up at 7 am and took a shower then bumbled downstairs with my laptop to call home. Finished that up and went to get some breakfast. I walked out, crossed the river towards a Mcdonalds. It was pretty small, but tall - like 4 floors. I got a Mcgriddle combo with a coffee, not hard at all to order, 460 yen. I went back to the hostel for a minute and grabbed my backpack then headed out for Akihabara.
I walked for a few minutes then reached the river crossing next to Akihabara stn. I walked down the street for a while, wandered around looking for stuff. It took me a while to find the main street - there was just so much around to see. I walked down the main st, waiting for stores to open. After a while I found Yobodashi Camera, a huge electronics department store - 5 floors worth. I walked around there, looking at all the merchandise (they had a 103" plasma... freakin huge, I had to stop and stare for a while).
After I was finished walking around Akihabara I headed back to my hostel, picked up a coke from a vending machine on my way. I plan to visit the Imperial palace or Shibuya in the afternoon.
All in all it has been a very surreal first morning, some combination of jet lag and information overload. Later!
Photos are here!
Narita and the surrounding area looks alot like southern ontario, hilly with trees. I remember one instance while I was on the train looking out the window at the trees passing by - I saw pine trees, then another I didn't recognize. I looked down at the ground and saw it was bamboo!
After I got off the train I stumbled around the station for a bit, looking for the exit. I went out the first one I saw - then looked at my map and followed it in direction I thought I was supposed to go. Couldn't find the hostel... I doubled back to the station, looked at my map again and saw I was supposed to go out exit "C 4", looked for it, found exit #4 - same thing... although this time I just kept walking in the direction I thought I should go, towards the river that runs behind the hostel. I found it and signed myself in. I went up to my bunk, unpacked and crashed at about 8 pm.
I woke up at 7 am and took a shower then bumbled downstairs with my laptop to call home. Finished that up and went to get some breakfast. I walked out, crossed the river towards a Mcdonalds. It was pretty small, but tall - like 4 floors. I got a Mcgriddle combo with a coffee, not hard at all to order, 460 yen. I went back to the hostel for a minute and grabbed my backpack then headed out for Akihabara.
I walked for a few minutes then reached the river crossing next to Akihabara stn. I walked down the street for a while, wandered around looking for stuff. It took me a while to find the main street - there was just so much around to see. I walked down the main st, waiting for stores to open. After a while I found Yobodashi Camera, a huge electronics department store - 5 floors worth. I walked around there, looking at all the merchandise (they had a 103" plasma... freakin huge, I had to stop and stare for a while).
After I was finished walking around Akihabara I headed back to my hostel, picked up a coke from a vending machine on my way. I plan to visit the Imperial palace or Shibuya in the afternoon.
All in all it has been a very surreal first morning, some combination of jet lag and information overload. Later!
Photos are here!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Almost there...
So - two days until I leave Winnipeg for Narita, Japan. I will be using this blog to update people who wish to know what I'm up to during my trip. I plan to post photos, daily activities and other random stuff. Now I get to wait for two days, pack my stuff then get on a plane, lets hope its a good trip.
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