Cleansing.

On the 29th, I soaked in an Onsen. It was hot spring water piped into Tokyo. Very relaxing.

On the 30th, I attended a taiko drumming ceremony at a temple for the fire god. (it was like that recent Mitsubishi Eclipse ad, except the drummers were monks in robes instead of attractive women)


New Years celebrations are imminent, where I will likely get uncleansed by drinking a healthy amount of Sake & Shochu.

Stereotypical Japan photos

Lanterns in Kyoto


More torii! This is in Kyoto.

Engrish!

It was a pulpy orange drink.


Asse was a shopping area in Hiroshima filled with restaurants. Delicious!


These were warnings on the bathroom ceiling.


This was our toilet in Toyoko Inn.

Christmas!!

Adam & me acting like locals in Kyoto!


Me being a tourist.


This was sparrow on a stick. You got 2 per stick. They were small & crunchy.


Yum?


Even "Makku-donaludo" here is in the holiday spirit.


Merry Christmas!

Hiroshima & Its famous things

These are noodles.


Some old building.

From Hiroshima With Love

It's Friday and I'm heading back to Tokyo in a few hours. It's 4 hours & 45 minutes of travel on the bullet trains w. a brief stop (layover??) in Osaka. Osaka makes good octopus dumplings (takoyaki) so I'll try to pick some up in the station.
I saw the bomb dome and the peace museum. Those places were kind of terrifying.
Otherwise, the Hiroshima style noodles were delicious and I took a photo of them so you'll all know what I'm talking about. In order to continue my crazy eating habits, we also shared a side of squid strips with the meal.
Last night I did some last drinking with Adam & Tony. If any of you see 'Yebisu' beer anywhere (there's a fat man holding a fishing rod and a fat red snapper on the label) you should buy it. It's the best one I've had over here.
Some huge photo updates will be forthcoming once I'm back on my own computer and not using the Toyoko Inn lobby ones.
Otherwise, good wishes to all!! I may be soaking in a hot spring and pounding sake as early as this evening, so "cheers" (or kanpai)!!

Another non-photo update

It's Wednesday evening & Adam, Tony, and I will soon be going to an 'all you can eat & drink' establishment somewhere in Osaka. We visited a ninja museum today, and it was totally sweet. It was actually an old building where ninjas used to live, so there were various trap doors, etc.

Tomorrow I'll be heading out to Hiroshima. That city is very famous for some unique noodles, among other things...

In Osaka

It's raining pretty hard, but I saw Osaka castle.
Probably no whale on the menu tonight, but all is well.
Also, I checked throughout the Eagles game & am very happy w. the result!! I hope everyone was pumped up!!

Go West, Young Man....

Today (the 24th) I'm heading out of Tokyo for a few days. First stop is Kyoto where I'll be tonight & tomorrow.

Next is Osaka for the nights of the 26th & 27th.
The 28th is an unknown, but probably either Hiroshima or another night in Osaka.

Then, back to Tokyo briefly before a visit to hot springs in the mountains (fairly near, but a little west, I think) where I'll be soaking in the steam & drinking lots of sake.

Then, back to Tokyo for New Year's and another crowd-waving by the emperor for the New Year....he takes his time though, so it won't be until the 3rd or so.

So, Merry Christmas to all!! I'll be w/o computer during this jaunt, so it's unlikely to find any updates (but I might pull off one...we'll see).

Lastly, to my fantasy football opponents in this week's Championships: BRING IT!!!

Friday - Photos part II

Eiji & me drinking Friday night at an exotic bar in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. It was called "TGI Friday's"



Here's a t-shirt I saw in Harajuku, Tokyo.


The lights & scene around Shibuya station in Tokyo at night. This is only Tokyo's 3rd busiest station (which means it's two behind the busiest, which I was at during rush hour, but I couldn't move my arms enough to take any photos there then)


Tokyo Metropolitan Government Tower.


Snoopy Town in Harajuku.


Hello Kitty (golden, in the style of the 'Lucky Cats')


Here's a Westward view from Tokyo Tower.


Me w. the Tokyo Tower Mascot!


Tokyo Tower, as seen behind some Buddhist Temple's grounds.


Main Street of Harajuku.


This is the 'Senso-ji' Temple in Asakusa. The symbol you may mistake for something out of German history is the icon that denotes temples here.


Adam Travis & myself under the "Kaminarimon". This is Japan's most famous lantern and the gate to a huge Shinto shrine.


The flying poo. This is the Asahi Brewing Co.'s HQ. So, everyone in HT should drink an Asahi for this pilgrimage. They should be under the tree.

Events - Part I

My Arrival. I was on Keisei Skyliner from Narita Airport to Nippori Station. I hadn't slept for about 32 hours at this point. Fortunately, the vending machine on the train offered a vitimin-C-packed beverage!!


At Tokyo Disney on Thursday. The smoked turkey leg was delicious!


Just in case you're afraid I've become an infidel, Santa still came to see me. Granted, he was a bit skinnier!


And, here's a tree (at Disney).

Friday, the 22nd

Photos will come from Tokyo Disney & it's Christmas Parade. The Holiday Spirit was all over the place!

Today I'll be touring lots of Tokyo. Probably drinking later on after visiting shrines & famous areas. I'll let you all know if I see the emperor (his b-day is the 23rd), but I might hit the palace grounds today. That is all.

My computer says it's 6AM

But it's 8 PM. I'm in Eiji's house now. We're going to eat soon. Probably some rice will be in the meal.