See if you can find the original picture from my links in previous blogs.
If you want to see Tom's original blog, you can find it here.
Tuesday 22 April 2008
Artwork by Thomas Hardy
Back in Sydney
We arrived at 6.30am this morning. Flight was basically empty, only 50 or so people in economy, we all had a row of seats to ourselves.
Sunday 20 April 2008
Happy Birthday Joey !
Its my nephew Joseph's 3rd Birthday on Monday, happy birthday !! hope you have lots of fun, see you we get home. Love Scott, Sharon & Emma.
Mt Fuji
This is possibly the last post I'll do from Japan, as we fly home tomorrow night. I may post a few follow up items when we get home though.
We went to Mt Fuji today, I was considering not actually going, as it was a tour by the same company that did the Niko tour, but this one was really good, the bus driver could actually drive, and the last leg of the trip was a Bullet Train back into Tokyo, not a bus trip.
It started similar, the tour company have no clue on how to get people quickly from the Hotel to the bus terminal then onto the tour, but when the tour actually started, it was great, the guide was excellent.
It started with a 1.5 hour drive to Mt Fuji visitors centre, where they recommend using the toilets as the ones on Mt Fuji leave a lot to be desired. Everyone on the bus took the advice. Its then a short 20 minute or so drive up the mountain to "stop 4". You can drive to "stop 5" but its closed this time of year due to snow.
Not actually much at the "stop 4" as unfortunately the mountain was obscured by cloud. At least we saw it last week from the Bullet train on the way to Kyoto. Very cold on the mountain, got some snaps, then back on the bus to lunch. Lunch was much better than the one provided on the Niko tour.
After the lunch, back on the bus to a place called Hakone, where there is a crater lake with a boat that takes you to a cable car. From the top of the cable car you get an awesome view down to the pacific ocean.
We said goodbye to Chris today, he took a train home to Nagoya as we headed back to Tokyo.
Pictures from Today :-
Showers
One thing I won't miss from Japan is the showers. Everywhere we have stayed they are over the bath, and mostly there are one set of taps that control the bath and shower. This was the rare ones that was different.
Todays Pictures
Includes Tokyo Museum, Asakusa, Kappabashi. Above pic is one of the coated bananas for sale in Ueno park
Saturday 19 April 2008
Kappabashi
After Asakusa, Sharon and I went to Kappa Bashi, its an area of Tokyo that sells items for the food/restaurant trade. They sell knives, pottery, utensils, signs, just about anything. Its amazing to wander around and look at.
We heard about it via Allison & Barry, some friends of theirs discovered it on a trip to Tokyo. Sharon bought a few *very* sharp knives, two are made from ceramics, no steel at all. We will make sure they don't travel in the hand luggage on the way home !
They also sell the fake food you see displayed everywhere here outside restaurants, very surprising is that they are incredibly expensive. A small fake sushi piece costs about $20, far cheaper to buy the real thing.
If you want to go to Kappa Bashi, get off the Tokyo Metro at Tawaramachi station (exit 1) and walk 300 metres back to Inaricho station. On the corner you will see a massive Chef's head on top of a building.
Asakusa
After Ueno park, we headed over to Asakusa which was only a few stops on the Tokyo Metro
(Uneo has both a JR Station and Metro Station, they are close but they don't seem be be connected, you need to walk out on the street from one to the other).
Asakusa can best be described as a Japanese Paddy's market, only not quite as crap. A lot of junk is sold there, however you will find some nice Japanese souvenirs. Also the vendors are not pushy, you can wander around without something trying to get you to buy something as soon as you approach.
Sharon loved the place, I think we will be making another stop there before we leave Japan.
Zoo / Tokyo Museum
Today was a little better than yesterday weather wise, still cold and windy but no rain (well not until later this afternoon anyway). We headed up to Ueno Park, where Chris, Sue and Emma went into the small zoo there, whilst Paul, Sharon & I went into the Tokyo Museum.
Outside there was a man selling fresh bananas dipped in chocolate or strawberry coating, we bought one for Emma but she didn't really like it.
Friday 18 April 2008
Note on the Subway systems in Tokyo
I just noticed on my last post, the map at the top of the post is only the "JR" system, it doesn't include the other subway lines run by other companies (These lines are termed "Metro" lines).
Thus the link I provided to the complete map is a far better representation of the entire Tokyo train system. tokyo metro map
ie, to get to Ginza from where we are, you would get on a JR line train at Shinagawa to Shimbashi, then change over to the Metro system, get on the "Ginza" lines and get off at Ginza station (which is station G09 on the Ginza line).
Tokyu Hands / Loft in Shibuya
Another cold rainy day here in Tokyo. Sharon wanted to go to one of the "100 yen" stores, (just like the $2 shops you find in Sydney). We spent about an hour in one just outside Harajuku station. We then headed down to Shibuya which is a really trendy area of Tokyo and looked in a "Tokyu Hands" shop and a "Loft" Shop.
Chris asked one of his colleagues (Ai, pronounced eye) from the Tokyo branch of the company he works for to show us around Shibuya. This was great as we would have got totally lost. Emma absolutely adored her and every where we went she wanted to hold Ai's hand.
Whilst we went to Tokyu Hands and Loft, Paul went to see a Renoir exhibition thats on in Tokyo at the moment. After we were finished in Shibuya (at around 5pm), Sharon and Co. took Emma back to the hotel and I went on to Akihabara to have another look around.
I cruised around all the street vendors then went into Yodabashi (major competitor of BIC Camera). About 8 levels of techno stuff, from phones, computers, tvs, toys, toilets, you name it, they sell it. If you can plug it in, Yodabashi will sell it (and yes, in Japan, the toilet seats are plugged in to the wall)
Everywhere we went today was on the circular JR "Yamanote" Line. It circles around tokyo and crosses most other Tokyo subway lines at some point. If you want to go between districts in Tokyo, this line is definitely your friend. Our hotel is near the "Shinagawa" station, which as an added bonus is also a Shinkansen (or Bullet Train) station.
In Tokyo different companies own different lines, and it doesn't seem if you can get a day pass that covers every line.
I believe you can change lines without purchasing another ticket, but I think you need to tell the machine at which station you will switch lines, so we find it easier to just buy new tickets. That said we have mostly stuck to the circular JR line, as it goes to virtually everywhere we want to go.
To give you an idea of how big the Tokyo subway is, here is a link to a map ( tokyo metro map
). Its actually easier to navigate than it looks, the map in the actual subway is better than the one shown (the one at the top of this blog is the one at Shinagawa station), and every station on the map has the cost in Yen of how much it costs to get to from your current location. Most stations have the english names in them too. (if not just ask a station guard how much the station will cost to get to).
If you do get it wrong, don't panic, unlike Sydney where you can get hit with a $200 fine for traveling on the wrong ticket, at each station there is a "fare adjustment" machine which will re-do your ticket for you before you go through the gates. Far more civilised than Sydney's "Shitty-Rail" system.
You just need to remember if the station you want to go to is not on the same line, you probably need to buy a transfer ticket, as when you get to the station where you change lines you may need to go out one set of ticket gates and into another.
I've been using this guide book for Tokyo, which I've found excellent and also has a copy of the subway map in it.
I didn't take many pics today, I didn't want to risk wrecking my cameras in the rain.
Some links from today :-
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2077.html (100 Yen shop)
Thursday 17 April 2008
Tokyo Disneyland
We went to Tokyo Disneyland today. Unfortunately the weather conspired against us again and it rained. Luckily there was no wind this time and we did get a few hours in before the rain actually started.
Emma got to see Cinderella and her Castle and we got to go on a few rides. Buzz Lightyear and Star Wars ride were particularly cool.
Todays pics
Apple Ginza
Well I've seen zillions of temples and shrines here in Japan, but this is the only one where I've found enlightenment. Sure enough like other temples, you are not allowed to take photographs inside (I did manage to snap one before security asked me to stop).
There are 4 levels, ground is ipods/Mac's, 1st is the Genius bar, 2nd is for presentations and 3rd is Software & accessories, plus macs and ipods in case you missed them when you walked in.
Lots of glass, (the lift is almost all glass) and like most things Apple there is a distinct lack of buttons. In the lift you can push a button to open the doors, but everything else is automagic, the lift stops at all floors once you get in it.
Had some beautiful headphones in the store. I ended up buying some special glass cleaner for my iMac, they want $50 for it at home, I got it for $20.
Niko
I finally found something in Tokyo that annoys the crap out of me. Busses. They annoy me at the best of times at home, but todays one was shocking. We paid for a tour of Niko, which includes a transfer to the Tokyo bus terminal from your hotel (and what a complete hole of a place that is, as most bus terminals are...)
We finally got on the bus, and from the terminal Niko is a 2+ hour bus ride on the motorway out of Tokyo. At least it was a nice air-conditioned coach. We stopped at some Japanese version of a truck stop. Not to foul as far as truck stops go. Found a vending machine that dispenses hot dogs, hot chips and hamburgers. I can't begin to imagine how disgusting they would probably be.
We got to Niko and had a look at the temple, as far as temples go, it was quite nice, although I found the small Japanese garden much more interesting. After this we had a traditional Japanese lunch at one of the restaurants there (included in the tour). Sharon, Paul, Sue and Chris liked the food, but I wasn't all that impressed with it and stuck to the rice, as did Emma.
Whilst we were there we had a massive amount of really bright cloud/smog cover which made taking photos extremely difficult due to the contrast of the rather dark temples.
We found a JR station at Niko, and honestly this is the point I should have said "Sayonara" and headed back to Tokyo on my own (approx. 2 hours on the train) as it was my last chance. The next point was quite interesting, climb a massive mountain to find a huge lake at the top of it, but the 42 hairpin curves, on narrow roads with 12% gradients on a bus playing this god horrible traditional Japanese flute music was not particularly appealing.
The ride home wasn't much better, it was about 3 hours on the motorway, I don't know why but the bus wouldn't seem to go over 75kph, we have huge semis flying past us at 120. I've never wanted to get off a bus so desperately in my life. At the truck stop I asked if there was a JR station, but no, I was out of luck.
Travel tip:- If you want to go to Niko, take the JR train. You will do Niko in less than 5 hours and probably save $80 over what we paid.. It took us 11 hours by Bus.
Tuesday 15 April 2008
Ice Pack
When you buy takeaway sandwiches here in japan, they put little ice packs in the bag with the food. There is a lot of unnecessary waste with wrapping and associated items here in Japan.
Cylon Raider ?
For all you Battlestar Galactica fans out there, is it just me, or does this bullet train really look like the front of a Cylon Raider ?
Back in Tokyo
Had a rather relaxed morning today as we were traveling back to Tokyo, there were plenty of trains during the day and its less than a two hour ride. We headed out for breakfast and found a great cafe under the station called the Mermaid Cafe. It was fantastic as it had an espresso machine and made real coffee. Nothing as good as you get in Sydney or Melbourne, but real coffee none the less.
It would seem espresso coffee is rare in Japan (maybe except for a seasoning on steak, ick). At home they are on every corner on every street in the CBD, but not here. There are even a couple of espresso machines in Heathcote !
After breakfast we headed back to the hotel to pack, then headed out to shop for an hour or so before Sharon's brother arrived for the trip to Tokyo. We went to the same department store as yesterday where I could drool over all the neat gadgets. I bought a few small items, again from BIC Camera.
We caught the Shinkansen back to Tokyo, it was a little easier as we had Chris to help with the luggage. That was the last Bullet train trip with all our luggage. Although I will miss the bullet train, I won't miss carting all our luggage around. We do have way too much stuff.
Back in Tokyo, I was a little annoyed, as the Hotel had run out of internet modems, and couldn't give me one. They do have a wireless access point in the lobby, but its not the same as being at the desk in the room. I later found out there was one in Paul & Sue's room, so I snaffled that one.
We had a few hours before dinner, so whilst my rail pass was still valid, I decided to go down to the bullet train platform and take some pics. There must be a closet train spotter in me crying to get out.
Came back to the hotel to collect the others for dinner, and went down to the "Wired Cafe" again to have dinner (we had lunch there last week). The good news was that my meal was free, the bad new is that it was free as I was sharing the salad with a small snail I found looking up at me. Unfortunately I'd already eaten 90% of the food.
On the way back I snapped some night shots around the hotel
Todays pics
http://flickr.com/photos/sg_harrison/sets/72157604547806772/
Sony Rolly
Here is something I nearly bought, a sony "Rolly" MP3 player that dances around. Unfortunatley the software is in Japanese only.
Try this link at the bottom to see whats its all about.
Bicycles
Lots of people in Japan ride bikes around the cities. I didn't see too many of them in Tokyo, but in Kyoto, Hiroshima and Nagoya you see them everywhere.Unlike at home, your allowed to ride them on the footpath, and on the footpath most streets have a dedicated section for bicycles.
It also helps that most main roads are really wide (as is the footpath) and the cities are almost completely flat. In Japan all cities seem to be on the plains, the hills and mountains are all covered in trees.
Outback Steak House
We met up with Sharon's brother at 7pm and headed over to the "Outback Steakhouse". An Australian themed restaurant owned by some Americans. We met some of Chris' friends who live in and around Nagoya. The food we had was very nice.
There were a few items on the menu that were distinctly non Australian, and I doubt the Coffee Steak would be much of a hit back home.
The steaks at this place were quite reasonably priced at around $25, far cheaper than I expected.
Monday 14 April 2008
3D Picture
Saw this very good picture today. Front or slightly side on its in 3D, from deep side on you can see how they did it.
Nagoya
had breakfast in hotel, then walked the luggage to the station in stages as we have so much of it. Got on train to Nagoya, via Osaka (change at Osaka). Really nice day, pity we spent three hours of it on the train.
A lady on the bullet training was doing some origami, which I thought it was really cool, and when we got off the train, she gave it to Emma !
Got to Nagoya a bit earlier than we had planned (as we had a full day in Chris (Sharon's Brother) is still at work so won't meet up till this evening.
The Hotel in Nagoya is great, 5 min walk from a BIC Camera store and a the Takashimaya department store. That store is super cool, they have a fantastic toy section and hardware section where I bought quite a few cool gadgets. I'll blog more on them later. I also bought a fantastic leather case for my new G9 camera, very retro looking.
The picture on this post is from Nagoya Station
Todays pictures
http://flickr.com/photos/sg_harrison/sets/72157604532663955/
Sunday 13 April 2008
You won't see this at home
Responsible serving of alcohol laws are slightly more relaxed in Japan than Australia.
Cool Coke Can
Check out the cool coke can I bought on the Bullet train today. Only cost 120yen, and it came with what looks like an itunes voucher. Awesome !
Miyajima Island
After a small rest in the hotel, Sharon, Paul and I went to Miyajima Island. You catch a train from Hiroshima, then a ferry to the island. The JR rail pass covers both the train and the ferry.
There is a famous shinto shrine on the island, with an even more famous "torii" gate in the ocean just off the island. One of the most photographed places in Japan after Mt Fuji.
You can find more details on the island and the shrine at
Check out the pictures on the link under the previous blog post.
Hiroshima
We got up early, and had a minor disaster on our hands as I'd forgot to put the milk in the fridge last night, and Emma wouldn't have been able to have her coco pops. Disaster was averted when I found a 7-11 with milk less than 300m from the hotel. We had been buying it at Kyoto station !
We left the hotel 7.30, so we could get a Bullet train to Hiroshima at 8.22am. We had booked a Taxi for 7.40 and as we have come to expect in Japan, it was there right on time.
The cab driver was very friendly, spoke a little English and gave us a mini tour of Kyoto on the way to the station. He pointed out the supposed restaurant where ramen noodles were first created. He was quite astounded (and happy) that I gave him a $2 tip. Tipping is definitely not expected here in Japan. This is the way the world should operate.
At the station Emma again was mobbed by a crowd of teenage girls, but loved it as she always does.
We got to the train station with heaps of time to spare (sort of a miracle for us) and we discovered there was an earlier train to Hiroshima that was going in 5 minutes. We got on that and arrived in Hiroshima much earlier than expected.
This Bullet train had a 200watt power outlet for each seat to plug in a computer of phone. Not sure what would happen if you tried to plug in your toaster !
Each seat also had a leaver, not sure what it did, but found out when I pulled it, it made sharon give me "the look". The leaver moved the seat around and her pen slipped across the journal she was writing. Oops !
I've discussed the toilets here before, but on the Bullet train, there was a button on the wall to lower and raise the seat, so you never have to touch the toilet with your hand.
When we got to Hiroshima, we couldn't check into the hotel yet as it was too early, so we dumped our luggage at the hotel and caught a tram to the Atom Bomb Dome and peace park. The Hotel New Hiroden is right near the station and tram terminal, so everything is close.
After looking at the A-Bomb dome (the building directly under where the bomb exploded at 8.15am) we walked to the museum. There is a very interesting "T" shaped bridge just opposite the A-Bomb dome, which is apparently what the crew of the Enola Gay were aiming for. They didn't miss by much at all.
Entry to the museum was only 50yen (50 cents!). It was very interesting but also horrifying. I took many pictures, but some of the stories and pictures in there were far to horrifying to photograph. I'm glad we didn't take Emma inside, she can live in a world of princesses, fairies and mermaids for a few more years before she learns about horrors like that.
As we were walking through there was a mentally disabled man who the guards were trying to remove from the building making these loud moaning sounds, much like someone in massive pain. Quite freaky and added to the ambience of the place in a most horrible way.
The Museum presented a reasonably balanced account of the Second World War, Japan's role and actions within the war before the bombing were discussed quite openly. After an hour I was quite happy to get out of there and go and look at something else. I'm glad we went though, as its something I've wanted to see for a very long time. Even though its sad and at times stomach turning, I would highly recommend it.
We went to the hotel and checked in, the room is fantastic, lots of room and again free internet.
You can read more about the bombing at :-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki
Photo's from today :-
http://flickr.com/photos/sg_harrison/sets/72157604512231840/
Paul Buys a New Camera
Paul was thinking about getting a new camera for his trip to Africa later this year. For that type of holiday where your looking a lions and can't really get too close, a small point and shoot just won't have enough zoom.Canon just released the 450D in Japan (still not really available at home) so they have some great runout bargains on the "older" 400D. He picked up a 400D with a Tamron 18-200 zoom lens at BIC Camera.
They also threw in a free screen protector a reasonable camera bag and UV filter to protect the lens.
Beer Dispensing Machine
They automate a lot in Japan. Unfortunately I didn't grab a picture, but in the restaurant tonight we ordered some beer, and the waiter sticks a glass in a machine, which auto-tilts the glass, dispenses the beer until its almost full, waits a few seconds, tilts it back, adds a bit more, then its ready.
Way Cool !
Coffee in a Can
We see this in lots of vending machines, you can get either plain black coffee, or with milk. I quite like the milk version, I've had a few since we have been in Japan. In the supermarkets and 7-11 stores you can purchase them either cold, or hot !I've not tried the hot version. When you see them in the store the hot version is in a dispenser that looks just like a fridge with the cold version. You don't really know which one is which until you approach and feel the warmth.
Mega Apples
Emma wanted an apple on the way back to the train, we found a small fruit shop selling these massive apples for 100yen ($1). Small shop with not that much fruit, but every single piece was impeccably presented any layed out.
Saturday 12 April 2008
Nara and Deer Park
Had breakfast at the station again, I spoke to an English guy who was off to BIC Camera (I love that place) to buy a Nikon D80 Camera.
Took a train to Nara today, its about 40 minutes out of Kyoto on the coast. There is a large buddhist temple there as well as a large park with lots of Deer. The park is about a 1.5km walk from the station in a straight line, past lots and lots of touristy shops selling all manner of souvenirs, food and assorted crap you find in tourist areas (think Katoomba and you get the general idea). The train wasn't a bullet train, but they shuttle along at a decent speed.
On the train trip we sat next to a lovely Japanese lady who was off to Nara for a day trip, she taught Japanese at one of the local universities to foreign students, mostly from other asian countries and also from the middle east.
We also spoke to a retired British couple on holiday, whilst we were speaking to them a Japanese girl pulled out an Agatha Christie novel, said she loved the books, and asked if she was Agatha Christie. Would have been interesting if she was, considering Agatha Christie has been dead since 1976.
Walking to the park Sharon found a 100 Yen shop, selling all manner of stuff (think $2 shop at home). We also found a shop selling small dolls, when we asked about the price, the guy whips out a calculator and types in the price for us. I didn't think they were really that good, and he kept adding 0's to the price. The smallest one worked out to be 10,000 Yen ($100) so we left in a hurry.
We also saw two ladies pushing a cat in a specialised cat stroller, very different !
In the Deer park, you can buy feed for the Deer, and they are not backward in coming forward, Paul bought some food and got mobbed by them. Thankfully we didn't give the food to Emma, as they would have freaked her out. Once they know you have it, they don't stop until its gone, and still keep following you.
Paul and I continued into the park to see the temple, but we took the wrong path and had been walking for 20 minutes before we realised, the park is huge and keeps going on and on. We had a quick look, snapped a few shots and went back to find the girls and have some lunch.
We found a restaurant called "Piano", really trendy looking place selling Italian, Sharon and Sue had pasta, Paul & I had Pizza. Emma had a Vegemite sandwich we prepared earlier. Once again Emma was a hit with the teenage girls and girls in their twenties, they all think she is very cute. We thought she might get sick of all the attention, but she laps it up.
When we left Nara, Sharon & Sue did some shopping at Kyoto station whilst Paul & I took Emma back to the hotel for a rest. We went back to Kyoto station for Dinner, we had "Katsu" which is basically various cuts of pork lightly fried in a crumbed batter (kind of like a schnitzel) served with raw cabbage, rice and mitso soup.
We check out tomorrow and head south to Hiroshima. We discovered the hotel has its own coin operated laundry, so we put a load through and I'm currently waiting for the dryer to complete before I pack the last suitcase. Its only a 100 volt, 20 amp dryer, so I may be blogging for a while yet.....
Pictures for today
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sg_harrison/sets/72157604498080359/
Gion
After returning from Himeji, we fed Emma, left her in the Hotel with Sue and headed out to Gion. The traditional section of Kyoto where the Geisha live (or at least used to) and perform. The most famous tea house there is the Ichiriki tea house, mentioned in the book "Memoirs of a Geisha".
All of the buildings in this street are traditional timber buildings. Apparently its quite difficult for tourists to book a tea ceremony at these houses without being a guest of someone who is known there. They do have a theatre called "Gion Corner" that has a 50 minute performance of traditional Japanese arts, including :-
A Tea Ceremony
Kyoto Music
Flower Arangements
Gagaku (Court Music)
Kyogen (Ancient comic play)
Kyomai (Kyoto Style Dance)
Bunraku (Puppet Play)
Its sounds a lot, but each one only went for a few minutes, which was fine by me. I though the most interesting was the puppet play, as unlike western style puppets, the puppeteer is visible, and quite often there are more than one operating each puppet. The puppeteer does wear a black gown and mask, so it obvious they are not part of the play, just controlling it.
Sharon was really happy, as this was the one thing she wanted to do In Kyoto. She is re-reading "Memoirs of a Geisha" right now.
This display at Gion Corner cost 3,125 Yen each, (approx. $32). So far this has been the most expensive thing we have done, as I've mentioned before I'm surprised at how cheap Japan can be. Most temples and monuments etc cost less than $10 to get in per adult, and children under 5 (sometimes 7) at most things are free.
Its cost us virtually nothing to travel with Emma, as she rides the subway for free (where it costs us about $2.50 per trip), she didn't need a Japan Rail pass, which are worth a few hundred dollars and she gets into museums and temples for free. Apart from airfare and accommodation, its not expensive to bring small children to Japan.
After Gion Corner we walked back into Kyoto and as we were passing a tea house, some real Geisha exited a party (must have been some special event, as crowds were gathered to see them exit, and the guests were picked up in Rolls Royces and assorted super high end Mercs and BMWs). I managed to snap a few pics, one of which is at the top of this blog entry.
We decided to get dinner, but had difficulty, as it seems most restaurants in Kyoto close at 10pm. And its Friday night !!. Unfortunately it was McDonalds or starve, so McDonalds it was. I had a Teriyaki burger, a food event I won't be repeating.
Read more about Gion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gion
Tonights pics
http://flickr.com/photos/sg_harrison/sets/72157604481761156/
Friday 11 April 2008
Himeji Castle
Left the hotel a little earlier today, caught the subway from Gojo station up to Kyoto station (1 stop) and had breakfast at one of the many little cafe restaurants there. We caught the 10.16 bullet train to Osaka (about 20 minutes by bullet) then changed onto another bullet to Himeji (approx 30 minutes from Osaka).
Although we passed through a number of cities, in reality its really one mega city all the way from Kyoto to Osaka and Himeji, a little bit of farmland, but mostly suburb atfer suburb. Most of the houses in the Suburbs look reasonably large, far bigger than I would have imagined for Japan.
At Himeji we walked about 1km to the Castle, one of the few if not the only remaining timber castles in Japan, rather than me tell you all the details, you can read about the castle at :-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himeji_Castle
Your allowed in the building, but must remove shoes. They provide slippers, but its rather scary going up the stairs in the castle (which are more akin to ladders) with slipper, especially when your carrying a ton of cameras etc. I soon took of the slippers and just walked in my socks. A significant number of others were doing the same.
Walked back to the station, stopping at a small supermarket (well small by Australian standards) to pick up a few essentials, had lunch in a small restaurant at the top of a large department store, then caught a bullet directly to Kyoto.
At lunch this time, Paul's lunch was messed up, he was given the same thing I ordered. Quite tasty though, so I don't think he was too concerned.
One thing where Japan is 20 years behind Australia is in the attitude to smoking. Trains still have smoking cars, and all restaurants have a smoking area, which can be very loosely defined. Thankfully they don't smoke on aircraft any longer (international flights anyway, we are not doing any domestic flights)
Todays pictures of Himeji Castle
http://flickr.com/photos/sg_harrison/sets/72157604485689067/
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