The wake up was rough this morning! The alarm was set for 7:30, but as I rolled over I smashed on the snooze! I managed to somehow wake to check the clock only to see itilluminate 8:25! I jumped out of bed faster than a couple of the days I was late for work. Reason being breakfast closed at 8:30! Quickly slip into some pants, pull a shirt over my head and bolt it downstairs! Who cares about brushing your teeth or washing my face, even having the shirt on backwards; breakfast was calling! The shock on the servers face was priceless as she runs back into the kitchen to bring out the food she had already packing away from the breakfast floor. It was really nice of her to bring the rest of it back me, they could have just said no.

Hakone is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, less than 100 kilometers from Tokyo. Famous for hot springs, outdoor activities, natural beauty and the view of nearby Mt. Fuji.Hakone close popular destinations among Japanese looking for a break from Tokyo. No trip to Hakone would be complete without a dip at a Japanese hot springs though. If you’re planning to stay overnight, your lodgings may include bathing facilities, but if not many hotels open up their baths to visitors for around ¥500 or so. The volcanically active Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, centered around Lake Ashinoko is an all day event which takes you on a trip across the park via train, trolley, gondola and a Disney decked out pirate ship across the lake itself. Beware though, the JR pass will not provide free access to these attractions without extra cost. The first leg consists of a lot of tram transfers as they all work together to get you to the top of the mountain. Each stop has it’s own small detour consisting of food/beverage stands and a couple souvenirs shops families can look around through.

As you ride the gondola up and over the final peak you will find yourself over a volcanic hot spring full of sulfur springs called the Great Boiling Valley (Owakudani). The valley is open for public viewing and if your like me traveling during the winter, the 80 degree pools make for a warm up stop. Careful though the paths are narrow and constantly filled with tours; falling into one will burn your senors before your brain gets a chance to respond in pain. Owakudani also serves up it’s own delicacy known locally as kurotamago or black-egg. The name is derived from the color of the eggshell which is black from boiling in the thermal hot spring. It is worth mentioning that while the shell is blackened, the content remains the same like in any other egg. Myth says eating one of these eggs can add seven years to your lifespan. Priced at 6 for 500 yen that’s one hell of a deal to extend life!

From here it’s time to take the gondola down to Ashinoko for the final trip across the lake in a pirate ship. I apologize for the lack of photos but I remember dozing off for most of the voyage across the lake. Fatigue had finally caught up to me today! As we all started boarding off, the day was coming to an end and the sun was in the perfect position to photograph Mount Fuji. When this ship docked, I made sure to be the first one off and quickly made my way around to dock to perch myself in the best possible position. In one of the photographs I include the Hakone Jinja Shrine to the composition. If you do a search about this landmark you’ll notice the same composition comes up as the most popular photograph in that area.

As I photographed away, a local who spoke really good English told me on most occasions Fuji is really hard to see because of haze and sometimes caused by fog that builds up around the lake. Even he came out to grab a bunch of photographs as a scene like this normally doesn’t come out – lucky me . As the sun dropped over the horizon the a cold breeze started to pick up from the lake and the temperature absolutely dropped. If it wasn’t for the view I would have fled the scene only to hide in a convince store and sipping away on hot tea!

Hakone is situated at higher elevation then most of the cities I’ve visited in Japan, so at night it became uncomfortably cold. Beijing’s recorded temperature drop of -15C was by far the worst, but I’d give Hakone a close second. On the way back from Lake Ashinoko the travel guide featured Tenzan as being the best hot spring in the area; I’d be up for anything to warm me up at this point though. Tenzan is not just an onsen facility, but hosts a wide range of amenities. A relaxation room overlooks a river where you can unwind while reading or even catch up on some Zzz’s. They have an excellent shabu restaurant which serves up some of the best tasting beer you can buy on tap. It’s a kind of place you can either enjoy it with a family, some friends, or even go solo. In the main hot spring itself, the atmosphere Tenza projected was soothing. Candles were lit during the night to establish a sense of relaxation and probably minimize the visibility of all that naked ass – that was a first for me! You could choose from a handful of different saunas, cold wash bays, four different temperature Jacuzzi and a main hot spring designed entirely using stones and rocks. Nothing I have ever experienced before, this really felt Japanese. I remember walking over to this one Jacuzzi which was occupied by two individuals; trying to blend in and act cool I stepped into the pool only to feel as though the skin on my legs would burn off ! No clue how those two survive because I could’ve realistically boiled food in there.

I wandered around the spa for about two hours and decided to call it a night. When I got back to my hotel in Odawara, the first I did was undress and fall over onto the bed face first.

On my second leg in Kyoto I’ll be visiting Toji Temple, Nijo Castle, Tenruji Temple with it’s magnificent bamboo forest and finally the beautiful Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion). There were a couple places I would have liked to squeeze into the schedule but my time restriction wouldn’t allow me to see it all. Just a couple minutes away from Kyoto station was the Toji Temple which clenches japans tallest wooden pagoda at five stories high.

Dated back to 768, this is one of the oldest still standing structures which I came across in Japan; and might I add the oldest and most run down unkempt structure too. Maybe if I had looked past the ugly rainy weather it could have swayed my vote, but I just found the pagoda and temple neglected . I wouldn’t recommend coming here unless you wanted to see what nature can do to a wooden building over the centuries, then you’ve came to the right place.

Nijo Castle, aka Tokugawa Shogun headquarters was definitely on my list of must sees in Kyoto. To impress visitors the castle was more palace then fortress, with defenses designed for looks rather than combat. Despite the facade of a fortress with its moat, stonewall, barricades; it was the headquarters for some of the deadliest shogun for over 700 years – sure hope it doesn’t disappoint!
A couple striking features about the castle would an extensive garden, designed by the renowned gardener Kobori Enshu, that’s famous in its own right. The garden features a small waterfall which drains into a pond with three islands designed with numerous carefully placed stones and topiary pine trees. Another was the nightingale floors placed within Ninomaru Palace. To protect occupants from treachery and assassination, the builders constructed the floors of the corridors in such a way they would squeak at the lightest pressure. And finally all the exquisite examples of lavish design and decor, including the wood carvings above the sliding doors, metal fixtures, and ceiling paintings. Building and paintings have miraculously survived since the 17th century and shows how rich and powerful the shogun lived.

Tenryuji Temple is located in the west Kyoto region. It’s also referred to as a Zen temple, which means -A school of Mahayana Buddhism that asserts that enlightenment can be attained through meditation, self-contemplation, and intuition rather than through faith and devotion and that is practiced mainly in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.This temple has much controversial history, but I won’t go into it as I don’t want to bore you with buddhism102. The temple showcases a magnificent garden, and should be visited just for this.

Although not all that exciting during winter, it’s best viewed during the spring, summer and fall seasons. Just behind the head priests quarters, a large empty veranda looks out onto the garden. Raised just 3 feet off the ground, this is the best place to walk out into and view the stunning man made landscape. The view was just like a painting; the calm pond admires itself image through it’s reflection, rocks placed and sculptured to form the forefront of islands and in the distance trees flurish with spectacular vibrant coats to render the beautiful landscape. All was so unreal; like a chameleon, the painting changes to the seasons choosing. Japanese gardening at it’s finest.

Outside the temple’s exit along the Okochi Sanso trail, Kyoto’s popular bamboo forest. Another place I wouldn’t miss to visit, even if it meant extending my stay. The bamboo seer length was amazing, their trunks extended to the sky blocking out parts of the sun. I couldn’t help but stand there with my mouth wide open; no question that my stay here exceeded allotted time, but when a scene like this doesn’t register with reality so it makes you appreciate it even more.
Waiting for a bus in Kinkuji, I walked into this cute shop called, Lil’ Orbits. The friendly none English speaking girls whipped up their creation of ice cream, sprinkles, hot fudge and mini donuts on top. All finished off with a cute logo and a plastic spork.

My last stop was at Kinkakuji the Golden Pavilion. It’s only a two story temple, but the whole top floor is covered in gold leaf! It’s situated around a magnificent garden and ontop of a mirror pond, called a Kyōko-chi.

Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺 ,Kinkaku-ji^?) or “Golden Pavilion Temple” is the informal name of Rokuon-ji (鹿苑寺 ,Rokuon-ji^?) or “Deer Garden Temple” in Kyoto, Japan. It was originally built in 1397 to serve as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, as part of his estate then known as Kitayama.^[1] It was his son who converted the building into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school. The temple was burned down twice during the Ōnin War. The Golden Pavilion, or Kinkaku, is a three-story building on the grounds of the Rokuon-ji temple complex. The top two stories of the pavilion are covered with pure gold leaf. The pavilion functions as a shariden, housing relics of the Buddha (Buddha’s Ashes). The top floor is built in traditional Chinese Cha’an style, also known as Zen shu butsuden zukuri; and the middle floor in the style of warrior aristocrats, or Buke zukuri. The ground floor is rendered in shinden-zukuri-style, reminiscent of the residential style of the Heian imperial aristocracy without gold leaf. The building is often linked or contrasted with Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion Temple, which is also located in Kyoto. – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinkaku-ji.

I was told you couldn’t get a bad photo here because the whole layout was picturesque. I think this has to be one of my favourite photos from the trip! I was hoping to get some snowy photos of the golden pavilion, but I think mine turned out phenomenal non the less! If I had more time just 10 minutes walk is the Ryoanji Temple; famous for it’s rock garden.

My departure from Kyoto was 8:48 and I arrived in Odayama at 10:45! Because of the late arrival, it was hard to find a vacant room, let alone even an open hotel. I was fortunate to find one at 11:50, just 10 minutes before front desk closed! After a nice shower, I layed on the bed and watch Japanese game shows to sleep.

Kyoto, one of the most beloved places to visit in Japan. If you ask any local or tourist they would agree. Just last year the city government announced a record amount of tourists visited Kyoto for the sixth year in a row, and rated Kyoto second most beautiful city in Japan. Kyoto is rich with heritage, culture and traditional architecture; even the Japanese escape to Kyoto for their holidays.

During the night you could hear the rain pouring off the side of the roof. It was a cold morning and an even more miserable experience to wake up to. The weather had other plans though, at about 10:00am the sun started peaking in through the Shoji blinds to warm my space.  I peaked out from under the blankets to feel the ray warming my skin. There’s something about the it’s energy; it happens to all of us but the feeling I get turns me into a new person. Within minutes, the energy of 10 men flows through me and I’m ready to take on the day – no matter what! I get myself ready, throw on my trusty runners and head back to the Kyoto JR station, where the Kyoto’s tourist center is located. If you’re having a hard time planning the day, just ask the staff! They will help structure your day trip(s) to fit in the attraction you’d like to see with the time you have.

The first stop was to Sanjusangendo Temple, only 15 minutes by bus from the JR station. “Sanjusangendo” means a hall with 33 bays, the number is sacred in Buddhism, for it is believed that Buddha saves mankind by disguising himself in 33 different forms. Also not to forget the most important part is the 1001 statues of Kannon-Bosatsu which are placed within it! Each as big as 5 1/2 feet tall, carved out of wood and leafed in gold. In the center, the principal image of Kannon is 11 feet tall. In front of the Kannon statues are 28 different guardian disciples of Buddha with intense expressions and impressive detail. No photography was prohibited within the temple, so I captured a couple outside to compensate. If you ran from one end of the hall to the other it would be equivalent to a 200m sprint. Took a few photos outside by the garden and set off to the next destination.

The guide outlined Kiyomizu Temple as being the most famous temple in Kyoto. I hope not setting my expectations to be disappointed! First thing the bus stop I took a wrong turn and ended up walking up the backside side to the Temple. No regrets though, as I stumbled upon this beautiful cemetery! Tombstones of all shapes and sizes covered every inch of soil this side of the mountain. I also couldn’t believe how quite the area was; when I closed my eyes it was as if placed on top of a mountain peak with nature all around and steady breeze through my hair. I did notice one tomb wasn’t like all the others; what distinguished his from the rest was the unexpected can of Asahi super “dry” Japanese draft beer. Now, I don’t know what your thinking, but I’m guessing this man loved his Asahi beer! – and the last thing in Mr. Yoko’s will says, “Instead of placing flowers by my grave, just drop off some cold bruschis!”

The path lead me through a small forest and finally out to where I should have initially been in the first place. Just straight ahead, the entrance to the temple grounds stood beautifully carved orange pagodas and arches. In direct sunlight the vibrant orange only enhanced it’s appearance from the rest of the city, it was hard not to admire the wonderful workmanship! The place also brought out a character in everyone; you’d notice how a lot more individuals wore elaborate kimonos, sporting the wood platform shoes. Even the clocked monks with straw hats and metal cains made themselves present with the tourists – quite entertaining.

The word Kiyomizu translates to clear water or pure water. Reason for this is beneath the main hall is the Otowa waterfall where 3 channels of water flow into a pond. Each stream is believed to have therapeutic property: wisdom, health, and longevity. Visitors are welcome to drink from each of the streams but the Japanese believe if greed compels you drink all three, then you’ll bring misfortune upon yourself. A popular Japanese expression “to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu” or “to take the plunge” if one where to survive a 13m jump into the pond below from the main hall one wish would be granted. Two hundred thirty-four jumps were recorded in the Edo period and, of those, 85.4% survived. The practice is now prohibited – I wonder why! On my way back I was able to relocated main street down – you know, the one I was suppose to take initially! Not only was this path narrow, but absolutely jammed with shops consisting of souvenirs, restaurants and yummy goodies. If your hungry, I recommend dropping into all the goodie stores and sampling their food. By the time you reach the bottom – top depending on where you start – you technically just burned off some fat walking and was fed along the way!

Next stop was the Kyoto Imperial Palace, but upon arrival I found booking in advance was mandatory. Back on the bus it was and off to Gion district, famous for shopping and geisha. I wandered the beautiful streets of Gion in search of Geishas, no luck though! Just 3 blocks from crossing the Kamo River along Shijo Avenue was a popular Japanese BBQ restaurant I read about in a guide.  Starting at just 2,200Yen per person (prices varied depending on choice) got you a great selection of quality beef, chicken, seafood, vegetables and desert. Each table had it’s own BBQ grill, so the food came prepared raw. The restaurant itself had great atmosphere, wonderful service and played rock jazz which made for an enjoyable evening. The place was mostly filled with couple, so it didn’t make way to strike up any conversation.

After dinner, just next door I stopped into a six story arcade called “The Namco Wonder Tower”. Every floor had it’s different themed entertainment room for the boys, but the basement was only for the ladies! – strictly just ladies only! At the time I didn’t know because I was absolutely oblivious to the signs. I had also got a little excited because I found out the whole floor was dedicated to those Japanese sticky photo machines. Yup, the whole 3,000sq foot floor taken up by 25 or so of those machines – imagine the choices! There was no way I was missing out on this! ** Disclaimer: Will not be liable for any brains exploding because of cuteness overload.  >>Click here<<

Stay tuned for Kyoto Day 2

Today’s day trip destination was Nara Park. I was compelled to visit Nara was because of the huge population of tame deer that populate the 660 hectare park. The myth behind this city says that as the sun broke through the clouds, clearing a path that shon down on earth, a god rode down from the sky on a white deer. Ok, so I might have exaggerated a part or two, but if the story didn’t make you lift an eyebrow then I don’t know what would. The city of Nara greets and takes care of the deer, and for this reason alone it deserves a look around.

Every morning I made myself quick instant oats again, but the bland taste didn’t appeal to my taste buds today. I decided to leave a little early this morning to find a place to sit down and enjoy something other than oats and granola bars on the go. On the way to the park my eyes caught a glimpse of a Mister Donut tucked away in a shopping district across the street. My eyes instantly glazed over and my mind was forced to make an emergency detour. Having been so health-conscious throughout the trip I decided to treat myself to something nice. The selection inside was spectacular, with donuts that I’ve never seen before. The meal I ordered included chicken noodle soup, warm tea and a donut of my choice. I knew the mind was a couple steps behind the stomach because when the meal arrived so did an extra donut. The prices were right anyway, no returns were going to be made today.

Spotting a deer became as common as seeing a person when I got closer to the park. There were fences put in place for their safety, but for the most part they were accustomed to graze anywhere they felt was in their best interest. The deer were very tame and human’s attention didn’t bother them one bit. If you had the need to pet or hug them you might get away with it; although a treat might have to be sacrificed to do so. I found that if you’re going to buy food, be prepared to for a bunch of deer heads invade your personal bubble. These deer have a specialty and it’s to scare you. Don’t expect them to just roll over and say please just because you’re carrying food. From some of the pictures below, you can see the individual holding food will get chased down; even stalked! Makes for great photos!

The rest of the park was an enjoyable experience. There were the odd small shrines scattered throughout, but the one to visit is Todai-ji Temple. It doesn’t stack up to what Kyoto would offer, but it has its own uniqueness. Not only does Todai-ji house Japan’s largest Buddha statue, but it is also the world’s largest wooden building. After a reconstruction in 1692, only two-thirds of the original temple still stands.

As I made a full circle around the park I diverted my trip and headed to the Nara City Museum of Photography. As soon as I left the park, I found myself in a residential area north of Nara City. Traditional Japanese houses populated the surrounding streets and alleys, as if out of an old book about Japanese architecture. The quiet neighborhood was phenomenal to walk through; every house bore a small garden (some more extravagant than others), clay tile roofs, sheltered parking to fit an economic car, and wood being the material of choice for the rest of the house. Absolutely stunning, I would live in one!

The Nara City Museum of Photography was designed and built in 1992 by Kisho Kurokawa. For half a century, master photographer Taikichi Irie spent time documenting festivals in the ancient Yamato area around Nara. Irie generously donated his entire collection of photographs to the city of Nara, which led to the construction of the museum. Nara still breathes a rich historical inheritance dating back to the great artistic and religious flowering of the Tempyo Era in the eighth century. The Museum of Photography is a focal point highlighting the individual citizens’ culture that continually preserves this legacy. The highlights were minimal and the collection pretty uniform, although pieces dating back to the 40′s and 50′s added interest. If you have time, drop by, but is not all that recommended.

There wasn’t much else to do in Nara so I took the next train out to Kyoto, my next destination. I booked Kyoto for two full days and I was going to make sure I didn’t waste any time. Seeing as I didn’t pre-book any accommodations, I was lucky to find a beautiful traditional Japanese-style inn called Ryokan Kyoka, just a 6 minute walk from Kyoto JR station. The hot bath, yukata robe, and cozy futon that awaited me made for a relaxing night.

Couldn’t finish it off without posting another deer photo! Enjoy!

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The Floating Garden Observatory is situated in Osaka and offers a full 360 view of the city. Because the subway was just minutes away from my hotel, I decided to make this my first stop of the morning. At Osaka’s main terminal (which is in conjunction with the JR line) I loaded up a locker with all my luggage and took only what was essential for my quick trip.

The futuristic observatory located 557ft above Osaka floated seamlessly between two towers of the Umeda Sky Building. A super fast glass elevator separated you and the outside by a thin layer of glass and transported any individual from the 3rd floor to the 32nd within seconds. You then take a enclosed escalator which bridges the two buildings before reaching a restaurant look-out and then finally the extravagant 360 open view of Osaka. The city was covered by a dense layer of cloud, making any landscape photos boring and washed out. I think it was my timing, but just as I was taking photos I got a lucky moment where the sun made it’s way from behind the cloud and showered the city with some colour and contrast. This gave my shooting subject some more colour and light to play with. From the picture below you can see how the patches of light affected the overall image.

For more about the Observatory I leave you with this link: http://www.skybldg.co.jp/garden/index.html

As I looked down at my watch, it was time to make my way back to the station. I had to make it to Himeji Castle by 4pm as the front gates close by that time during the winter season. At a couple points in my trip, I felt like throwing away the whole concept of time but with the nature of my trip that simply wasn’t an option. I read that Osaka had it’s own castle, but it’s better to go see Himeji because of its incredible history and immense structure. Once you’ve seen one, you won’t need to see the other. This was also my first time on Japan’s transportation phenomenon; Shinkansen (The Bullet Train). These trains reach speeds of 300km/h with top at 450km/h depending on the model. The 92km journey from Shin Osaka to Himeji City only took only 30 minutes with 3 stops. That’s fast! If your in a hurry, a ticket like that costs you 3440Yen, where as an hour and 20 minute ride is less then half that. If you’ve purchased your JR pass before coming to Japan price shouldn’t be a concern, but for a local it would set them back $180CND/$150USD for a one way ticket. I was only a couple sentences into the blog before arriving at Himeji, hardly enough time to really concentrate. This wasn’t my utmost concern at arrival, rather it was the fact that Himeji was closing in 5 minutes and I was 2km’s away! I pressed the laptop bag against my side, grabbed the camera sling bag from behind for extra support and started sprinting! Arriving at the last stretch I thought I wasn’t going to make it, but fortunately an attendant saw me and was kind enough to leave the doors open. The funny part was when he waved his hands gesturing me to hurry up, It made him look sideline coach looking for me to deliver that game winning touch down. Upon arrival, I was informed the castle was to close in 30 and the entire park in an hour. No rush what so ever!

Consequently exploring the surrounding architecture became a stretch so I was only able to make it to the top of the main castle, spend 5 minutes, come around to the garden and arrive back at the exit/entrance. Although I didn’t read up to much about the castle I knew a couple things before I decided to make the trip. It was a perfect example of Japanese 14th century architecture with the use of stone, tile, and plaster for it’s outside strength and wood to insulate the inside. Himeji castle was recognized by UNESCO to be one of the three most historical castles within Japan. Rebuilding was never an issue because the castle has never been damaged by attacks or bombed during the second world war. Throughout the centuries, the castle was occupied by many clans of it’s past who all contributed to it’s enlargement. Perhaps the most famous is it’s confusing maze of paths leading up to the main keep which kept me a little occupied. Approaching forces would weave their way through some of these paths only to arrive at a dead end. However the castle was never under serge, so this left the system untested. The wooden structural interior houses many floors for dojo’s, meeting rooms, and traps/hiding spots in case of intruders. The top floor is quite spectacular. Each side had it’s own 180 degree view, whether to monitor distant forces or to lookout over the city below. We all made our way out as they politely told us it was closing time. I hung around the outside for a bit taking photos as the sun made it’s way down over the horizon. It made for a great photo opportunity and I took full advantage of it.

I decided to use the rest of the night to pick up my luggage from Shin-Osaka and board the next rapid line to Nara. From word of mouth, I heard the Super Hotels around Japan supplied travelers a cheaper alternative to the standard hotel rates and I was able to find one at Nara’s train stop. The stay was affordable for a single individual and didn’t break the wallet much.

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It was time to say good bye to Beijing and in a few short hours say hello to Osaka, Japan. Today’s departure was a bit of a sluggish one; rolling out of bed was the first obstacle to overcome. I missed the airport shuttle bus by a matter of only a few seconds. I was running low on time and if I were to catch the next bus I would never have made my flight in time. Cabbing was the only other alternative and I was fortunate to split my costs with another worried traveler who by luck was on the same flight as me. Now I won’t bore you with all the flight time, but I can still remember that exact moment when I first stepped into Kansai Airport. The airport was quiet; there were little other traffic besides our arrival. In the background, the ambient solo of the Shamisen (Japanese 3-stringed banjo) filled the silence. It was like a dash of salt to make the whole experience that much better.

Throughout the entire trip nowhere was I hassled by security, except today in Japan. I admit though, they made it as relaxing and friendly as possible. They were wondering what I was doing travelling through so many Asian countries over such a short period of time. Anyways, I finally actually got to try out Japan’s imfamous washlets. The heated seat by the way – BRILLIANT! I won’t get into the details but it was hard to part ways! I packed my entire luggage into a locker and took a side trip to Ruiku Pleasure Town. Back home I found out that this was where an awesome Plaza Capcom arcade was located. I tried getting myself a tour with Capcom Japan Inc, but after much searching, emails and phone calls, I was out of luck!

The mall was my first taste of what Japan had to offer in terms of food and merchandise. From the pictures below you can see there was no shortage of toys. It also couldn’t have been called Pleasure Town without a huge ferris wheel spouting from the center. I was very happy to visit Capcom because they are one of my favorite video game developers. They have treated me to some of the best games ever to come out in my childhood. I hereby thank Capcom for releasing all those phenomenal games which I totally ignored my homework for and scrounged up any bits of time to build the bread and butter of the happiest memories from my childhood! I would also like to thank Plaza Capcom for not selling any souvenirs because I would’ve wiped them clean and simulatenously emptied my wallet!

I returned back to the airport to pick up my luggage and caught a subway which dropped me off across the street from my hotel. The railway system took some getting used to at first, but thankfully a lot of the signs and information were in English. At the hotel, the night came to a natural end with a well deserved hot bath and subsequently dozing off to Japanese games shows. It doesn’t matter who you are and what language you speak, plant anybody in front of a Japanese game show and it’s impossible not to laugh!

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