Hotel Route-Inn Nishi-Nasuno Nasushiobara

... hump in the top bar. Guess I know which arm to do more bicep curls on. My brother and I mistakenly brought another set of tickets (language barrier alert!) so we foolishly decided to subject ourselves to the Ninja Warrior torture again! I did just about the same the second time. My left arm failed me again on the ring maze! Overall it was a really fun experience. I guess you can say that I kind of survived a Japanese game show!

... me 2-3 hours and so I was able to catch a train at 3:30. Arrived at Matsumoto around 7:30. Realized that the ryokan was going to be a bit far to pull a suitcase, I thought I'd catch a bus (as the website recommended, "just a short ride on Bus #2". Hmm. There is no "Bus #2". There was a "Bay #2" and the next bus was 50 minutes away. I'm sweaty and tired. Screw it, I'm taking a cab. Good ...

... zum Rand gefuellte Wanne mit heissem Wasser gaaaaanz frueh am Morgen (weil Fruehstueck wird um halb 8 serviert... und nur bis halb 8)
Wir wissen jetzt auch, wie man so ein Japanisches Bad auch richtig benutzt... wir hatten zwar schon mal von irgendeinem Japankenner gehoert, wie das denn so ablaueft... aber wenn man dann wirklich da ist, dann denkt man nicht an irgendwelche Waschablaeufe oder so... also haben wir auch gleich mal am ersten ...

... and scallop), beef, tempura and some unknowns that tasted great. Washed down with a big, cold Asahi beer!

Then, bath time. Wow. First time in a Japanese bath. Private, not a sento, but hot enough to peel paint and just the thing for sore muscles. The whole Japanese process where you shower/rinse first, then get in the tub to soak.

... wohl Wandern angesagt! ... y a y :p

Gestern und vorgestern haben wir uns in Asakusa mit Sabine und Andi getroffen (Studienkollegin und soon-to-be-Gspons ;)
War sehr amuesant uns auf der von Japanern nur so wimmelnden Azumbashi Bruecke zu finden. Sabine passt wie die Faust aufs Auge hier nach Japan. Dieses Land bringt ihre besten Eigenschaften noch besser zum Vorschein! XD
Wir sind einfach mal Essen gegangen und danach am Abend noch zu einem ...

... was small but charming. The temple could be reached by bus but I just walked to get a better idea of what the town looked like and see some of the shops along the way. Before crossing the street climb the hill up toward the temple I saw a noteworthy red bridge that crossed a beautiful river that flows through the town. I am not sure what the name is but it seems like it is one of the "postcard" type places Nikko is known for.

Nikkō, Tochigi, Japan michaelsavage

... It is a part of decoration of the sacred horse stable and the carvings showing the life of monkeys are displayed around the stable. On the opposite side, the most impressive architecture of Nikko, Yomeimon gate stood there. But I remembered that I should see another thing before going through the gate, which was listening to Roaring Dragon in the next hall. Honestly, I didn't know ...

... They were very helpful and we got public bus tickets, expensive $20 (like everything else here) and rode out a half hour up a windy mountain road to Chuzen-ji Lake. From the bus stop we walked 300 meters to Kegon Falls, pretty nice as far as falls goes, similiar but not as nice as Akaka Falls, Hawaii... I'm just saying. Then we walked to the lake and was a little bummed out by the hiking trail options and it started to ...

10/07/2009 Edo Wonderland





Hoy nos habia dicho Norito que como nos ibamos a levantar tarde, no nos harian desayuno ("free day"). Nos acabamos levantando a las 11. Entre que pillamos algo de desayunar en el 7-Eleven, andamos a la estacion y llegamos a Nikko se nos hizo la una.


Nos fuimos directas a Edo Wanderland solo para medio dia, con el precio de la entrada reducido. El sitio no estaba mal. Habia varios teatrillos repartidos ...

... famosa por la cantidad de grabados y figuras que aparecen en sus cuatro costados. Es la foto que se utiliza para las guias de viajes. En este portal hay imagenes del emperador de la epoca, famoso por escuchar a sus subditos siempre que le necesitaban. A lo alto del portal, aparece dandose un banyo mientras escucha. Mas arriba, imagenes de ninos, pues estos representan el futuro del pais. Este templo era tan perfecto cuando lo construyeron que tuvieron que introducir un fallo ...