It was a sunny day today, and to be honest, the one that would have been best to make any attempt on Mount Fuji.                 But I went to the theme park. Fujikyu Theme Park to be exact. And a good one at that.  It was showing it’s [...]

I finally got to the Mount Fuji area, in particular the Kawaguchiko village, last night after spending all day on trains and buses.  To be fair, most folk thought I was mad coming up from Beppu to Fuji in a day, and in hindsight there were other places I would have liked to stop on [...]

I’ ve been very lazy in Beppu. I think moving around, heavy nights and coming to the end of the trip have taken their toll.I went out in Hiroshima with a few folk from the hostel to sample the ‘start of summer’ festival. It ended up being a good night out of discussions, sake and [...]

Unfortunately there is no escape from linking Hiroshima with the A-Bomb dumped there during the war, killing upwards of 100,000 in the process. Luckily it’s quite a nice city, now with plenty open spaces, and apart from the museums and required reminders to the world dotted around the city, you would never know the tragedy [...]

I got up to go to Hiroshima this morning but decided to head to Nara for the day instead, and take the train over late afternoon. (Picture : Nara tourism in ‘low’ season)   Again I was surround by schoolkids so I just had a pleasant walk around some temples and shrines but never went inside [...]

After the aquarium I checked into my capsule hotel at Asahi Plaza Shinsaidbashi.  But more of that later. I was going to have an early night but headed out to explore the nightlife area of Osaka.  Apart from being seduced by an outdoors shop after popping in for a brolly, I wandered around the eating, [...]

Yesterday I went to Osaka Aquarium which has one of the largest tanks in the world.  The had a frickin’ whale shark and manta ray in there!!!!!  And loads more.  Very diferent from the Sydney Aquarium, which I think I preferred, but very good to see all the things.  I wish I had brought along [...]

In regards to outdoors shops. Anyway, I’m sending this from my first night in a capsule hotel. I’ve just been wondering around the nightlife area of Osaka. I’ve had my first sensory overload experience since arriving in Japan. Neon lights everywhere, bars and restaurants, Japanese youths pretending they are american homies, so many restaurants I [...]

I started typing this to talk about the food and experiences I’d miss when I got back, things I’d like when I get back, and things I’d like to be able to buy back in Scotland.  I kindof got carried away in a ‘perfect day’ scenario made up of different things.  It’s raining outside and I should be [...]