Tokyo Inn Tokyo

... TUNA! and swordfish that has just been auctioned off to the highest bidder behind closed doors for mad amounts. An early start, but well worth it if only for the sashimi (mmmmmm sashimi.... we went to the YAMAZAKI restaurant to the left of the famous one with the ridiculous queue- you'll understand when you see it.) After our detour and a small nap, we gathered our things, collected our jp railpasses (more to explain next) and made our way to the moutain town of Takayama.

... tokyo visit.
20pm:Some guys (there were only two guys in the group) became hungry and thus glumpy so we settled at "Watami" one of the franchised "izakaya" chain. We ordered all kinds of foods (including the bitter ...

... on - want to go to harajouku tomorrow as all the girls dress up in the park apparently and also mount fuji (we've been told about an excellent backpackers hostel there!) me and stace already had our first battle with the language barrier trying to find the hostel! some lovely japanese lady walked us here because she couldn't explain where it was! anyway, that's it for now - nothing exciting to write about just wanted to tell you all that we're here safe and sound!

... These people make her look like an angry Mongol. So we navigated the Tokyo mass transit system without much difficulty. But we didn't have specific directions as to how to find the hostel from the metro stop. So I walked around with the address in hand, asking strangers to point me in the right direction. Everyone did. And when directions would not suffice because of my utter lack of Japanese, a lovely woman walked us four blocks to the front ...

... we were like ok...... Then I said it again and a nahd came out from under the counter and pointed to a sign which read at least one guest must speak Japanese. We then left, a little worried. Then next one we went into I said the same thing, and she said you must soeak Japanese. I bent down and looked under the counter, gave her a bit Chad smile, and she then said do you know just a little. I racked my brain, trying to remember Kill Bill scenes, and burst out with 'Arigato ...

7.8.05 Viimeinen paivamme Japanissa ja paatimme kayda ehdassa Japanilaisessa onsenissa, eli kuumissa lahteissa. Ilmeisesti taalla on paljon kuumia lahteita ja niiden ymparille on rakennettu useita ulkoilmakylpyloita. Nama kylpylat ovat hyvin suosittuja japanilaisten kesken. Lounarissa oli maininta muutamasta kylpylasta Tokion ymparilla ja me valitsimme sen, missa mainittiin, etta siella voi pulahtaa myos jokeen. Ensin menimme luotijunalla tunnin verran Takasakiin, sielta otimme ...

... missed the last bus back to the hotel by the time that I descended,but hitchhiked in an expensive sports car,driven by a Japanese schoolgirl,still in her uniform,accompanied by her father in the passenger seat,who were treating the roads around Fuji as a race track.Only in Japan,I guess! A memorable and rewarding experience,then,and something positive to remember this country by.