Hotel Hakusatei Hamamatsu

... so it makes stepping on them almost like stepping on a hallow stone--sometimes they crunch, then you're in for it. When you try to catch them, they flip upside down, wiggle around pathetically, but emit a strongly repugnant smell, that'll stick to you for a couple hours at least. Find one dead, it'll still smell.<br>My pal Derek has a good story about how he left his clothes on the line, was in a rush for work, and had every kid at school (teacher's ...

... myself to (Myoujin), he said the word onsen and I thought "why the hell not?".<br>This time, no bandage, but just my trusted long-hand-towel. I drape it, and it seems discreet enough. In fact, it was almost empty this time. I only saw two men in it at any time, and most of the evening I had the whole onsen to myself. It was amazing, and I'm falling asleep as I write this entry.<br><br>Again, there's no pictures (common, I'm not THAT perverted), but I ...

Death to anyone who actually calls this a "sport". Where's the 'sport', or fun, in running long distances, causing pain, exhaustion, thirst, and minimal benefits to ones physical condition? What about one's mental condition?<br><br>I remember crossing that finish line, muttering "thanks" in about three languages, I was so delirious. Sure, it was an awesome experience, taking in the beautiful scenery on a perfect Autumn day in ...

... carrying race', where with two bendy plastic poles, you and another person carry various sized balls around the track. The balls ranged from basketball to golf-ball. It's not as easy as it sounds.<br><br>Another game was called Tama-ire (Literally, Put the Ball In). They set up two baskets high on a pool about 15 or so feet in the air. One basket will have a ribbon on it, the other won't. The object is to put as many of your balls in the proper cup, where a point ...

... high-tailed' it outta there, leaving his hapless victim (not his dinner, mind you...they're herbivores right?) on her own.<br><br>So, having disturbed this lovely display of primal roots, I burst out laughing, feeling awful for having taken part in playing the breakin-father. But heh, if I'm not allowed to have fun, neither are the bloody bunny-rabbits!<br><br>Kinball rocks!<br>

... I didn't blink (well I couldn't then anyways) in turning around and spotting two little reptile eyes staring at me from a pile of dead branches and leaves. I moved back, startling it in the process, and realized that what looked like a snake was really a skinny gecko. Phew.<br><br>Not taking any chances, I stand up, and start to walk back to Derek's place. Yet no sooner than 10 steps from the path, I run into a snake. It was thin, black, and barely perceptible. Fortunately, these ...

... to drive around Toei a little to become more familiar with it.<br>I spent the majority of that afternoon buying some beers for that evening's festivities (coming up...), and getting my hair cut.<br><br>I asked a woman at the beer store where she would recommend getting my hair cut, since two barber-shop signs were twirling their blue white and red colors within 10 paces of each other. She pointed at one of the two, yet unsure which she meant I decided on the one that offered the ...

... the Japanese Education system. Think about how much money we spend on paying people to sweep, vacuum, mop, and clean up the messes that Western students haphazardly leave after themselves after eating, emptying out their lockers, or crafting a state-of-the-art spitball machine complete with an endless supply of ammunition. We're messy kids, and we don't even realize it.<br>In Japan, right from the start, they teach these kids the responsibility of cleaning up after themselves ...

... lamb, chicken, rice and tofu as well...it was good to be eating so healthily for a change! We then talked about Japan and which places I wanted to go to, before I was given another lengthy masterclass in Shorinji kenpo by Yumi`s dad whilst enjoying the odd sake or three... Unfortunately my time in Hamamatsu concluded with the disappointment of missing out on tickets to the Arctic Monkeys gig...they sold out in ten minutes and all the websites crashed, making it ...

... told them that it was time to start, time for lunch, time to stop and I guess the 9pm one is for going to bed.. no idea. I'm a pretty heavy sleeper so the siren doesn't wake me up. Anyways, this siren doesn't really bother me, but it confuses me as to why they still use it - everyone has a watch now. I can understand if it was a monk on the top of a tower ringing a bell. This is (obviously run by a timer) an air-raid siren that blares really loudly and can't be older than 70 ...