Tokyo to Nagoya (My last day in Japan)

Today I am going back to Nagoya but before that I wanted to go and run an errand for my brother at the Brand-x record store in Higashi Ikebukuro so I set of after breakfast.

I got all the way to Ikebukuro station without any problems but from there on I feel like this day has just not gone my way. 

I tried to find the place for like 1 hour, first going to Sunshine city where they said that the place I was looking for was not there. 

So I asked the police that were walking by and they helped me a bit but then I finally found it after finally asking a local Family Mart convenience store and getting the right direction.

I went in and soon found out that it was a store only for Japanese metal music. No "foreign" metal bands were to be found so I went back to Asakusa to my hostel a bit annoyed.

I took my luggage and headed of to Tokyo station where I had to rush in to my Shinkansen to get on board before it left, and let me tell you that it was CLOSE to that I didn't make it. 

I arrived soon in Nagoya and went to find my hostel which was inside a Hotel, that caused a bit of confusion at the info and when I was searching for it.

Well at least I am here and that is all that matters. I went out and did a bit of shopping and now I will sleep and tomorrow after breakfast, I will finally be flying back to Finland. 

I want to extend my gratitude to all the Couch Surfing hosts that have hosted me, without you my trip would have been very lonely. Special thanks to Yoshimi and Yuko!!!! Love you guys! 

Also big thanks to you, the readers, who have followed me and read my earthly scribbles. 

THANK YOU!

Cheers
Robert (TravelersPOV)

Go check my Youtube channel for the Videos of my trip!
Link: http://www.youtube.com/user/TravelersPOV/videos

My day trip to lake Kawaguchiko (one of the fuji five lakes)

Mt. Fuji in the distance 

So today (15.8) I woke up and had a brunch at my hostel (I ate the breakfast at my hostel and a bento that I bought) and then left to go to Lake Kawaguchiko. I had originally wanted to climb Mt. Fuji but since I don't have the proper equipment needed (since it can get even below 0 at the top) I decided to just go see it from one of the many sightseeing spots near it.

 So it was 1 p.m. when I hopped on the train and I arrived around 3 p.m. at the Kawaguchiko station.
The weather was a bit cloudy and foggy so I could only observe Mt. Fuji from its silhouette. But man it was gorgeous and BIG! I will definitely come back to Japan and climb it !

I also wanted to go and visit the Aokigahara forest (known also as the suicide forest to foreigners thanks to VICE).
And once again I was disappointed to find out that there was one more bus going there but no more buses coming backwards from there so, typically, I could not go there either.
For Japanese people the Aokigahara forest is more known for the fact that it grows on top of lava rock and there are some lava rock caves there as well and hiking trails around certain places.

The suicides happen more deep in the woods in places where there is no trespassing allowed.
I'll put the link here for the Vice video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FDSdg09df8

So I just decided to take some photos and go to the lake and take a little round the lake with the boat that does regular turns around the lake.

View of Mt. Fuji from the lake

It was nice but I would have enjoyed it more if the weather would have been more clearer.

Well what can you do, so I tried  to enjoy myself the best that I could until I returned back to Tokyo.
This was my day today and tomorrow I'll be of to Nagoya but before that I'll be going to one record store in Tokyo's Ikebukuro.

Cheers.
Robert

Recap of the past 3 days, Takaoka travels!

I left Hakodate on the 10th at 3 p.m. because I didn't have any time for Sapporo and didn't want to stay in Hakodate anymore. So I hopped on the train and arrived to Takaoka at 11 p.m. where Yoshimi, my host, came to get me.
It was so hot outside even though it was already dark, I only now realize how much cooler Hokkaido region is.

The next day we didn't have anything planed so I slept late and waited for Yuko and Yoshimi to come home. When they both had arrived we ate and since Yoshimi still had work to do, she soon left back to work. Me and Yuko went to the supermarket to by some groceries, I had promised to make some simple food later on and to bake some cinnamon rolls. 

When we came back we started to make the dough so that it would have time to rise. I like to bake and to cook so this was a fun experience.
The cinnamon rolls turned out great and the pasta sauce also.
Later on Yoshimi returned home and we all ate with great appetite  before heading out to the Suiryuji temple where we had visited once before but now it was going to be illuminated.

I wore a Jinbei, Japanese clothes for men, which Yoshimi lent me and Yuko wore a gorgeous Kimono. 

We headed out and took a bus from the mall to the temple.
There were a lot of people going there and later on the reason stood clear in front of me. The temple was gorgeous!!! The illumination changed color every now and then and there were Japanese lanterns along the path to the temple. The wavy patterns of the rock garden was also spectacularly cool in the lighting. 

We hanged around for a while before returning back towards the home where we changed our clothes. Then we decided to go and buy some fireworks and go to a little beach where we lit them up and watch them until they died out. I decided to go and take a swim in the water and Yuko decided to follow my lead.
The water was super salty and there was apparently some jelly-fish in the sea as well and Yuko got stung by a couple while I was left almost untouched, only one sting! Hahah, poor Yuko. 

We then headed back home and showered and had a little drinking party. 

The next day was kind of a repetition of the day before, since we had no plans and we stayed home, made some food, rented some movies and drank.

I have been moving around so much and doing so much sight seeing lately that this was like a godsend to me, plus I had SO MUCH FUN! I will miss them all so much!!!!!

Today I left Takaoka after saying my goodbyes to both Yoshimi and Yuko. I then took the train to Tokyo where I just wanted to stay put for this day. So that is basically all that I have done today.
Tomorrow I will go and see a movie and go around town with my friend and the day after that, though I am not 100% sure, I will go to mt. Fuji. Whether I will climb it or not I am still not sure. 

Thanks for reading!
Cheers

Robert

Stuck in Hakodate

So today's blog is going to be a short one.
I woke up and had a great breakfast made to me by one of the owners of the place. It was truly delicious.
I thought that this must be a great start to a GOOD day.
I walked to the bank in the pouring rain to try to withdraw some money and after chatting with an employer there I understood that the banks can't help me if I have an foreign account and no card.
I was a bit discouraged by the news but decided to go and try one more time at the seven eleven.
It worked, I could lift the money I needed so I was getting more and more exited for today. Even the rain did not bring me down even though my shoes and socks got all drenched in the rain.

My good mood changed right at the moment I stepped to the station. The trains were late and the lines were incredible.
So as I asked around what had happened I found out that the wind and rain had blew some debris on to the rails and the trains were momentarily out of use.

I waited over 2 hours in the line and once I got to the ticket counter and showed my JR pass they said that I could ride the train leaving at 18.20 towards Sapporo.

I took their word and went to get something to eat inside the station. I was yet again struck with bad news, the trains were all CANCELLED!!!
So I did some thinking and decided that since I can not go to Sapporo I will take the train towards Takaoka tomorrow and stay for the night in Hakodate.

So I waited again the standard 1-2 hours in the new line to the ticket counter and got the tickets. Also I booked myself one more night to the B&B.

So I returned to the B&B and tought about going to the Jingiskan (mongolian BBQ) here in Hakodate but decided to just leave it be since I was not in the mood. So I got something else to eat and just stayed at my B&B and had a couple of beers.

Tomorrow there will be no Video and no blog but feel free to check out my other videos here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TravelersPOV
And remember to like, share and subscribe to my videos. Feel also free to comment my blog posts.

Cheers!
Robert

Hakodate; Devastation hits my wallet!?

Today I left Aomori around 12 a.m. after eating a very hearty breakfast at my hotel in Aomori and some shopping near the station.

My train ride took circa 2 hours and we passed a undersea tunnel to get to the island of Hokkaido.
So I might never have tried the to go by train from France to Great Britain but at least I have this.

After arriving I did the usual, ditched my stuff to my accommodation, this time I am staying in a Pension Bed&Breakfast. (don't really know why it has both namings but hey, it's Japan right?)

I then went to look around the redbrick house district. Hakodate is an old port town with a lot of influences from foreign countries and it goes a long way back in History.
This fact can best be seen in the buildings and in the existence of churches (roman catholic, Russian Orthodox, Episcopalian, etc.).

I walked around for a while, had a coffee and browsed the stores there.
I then went back to my B&B to take a shower and ask for directions to a good Kaitenzushi or Sushi-Go-Around restaurant and then headed out to do some more sightseeing.

I went and saw all of the famous above mentioned churches and I also wanted to see the old town hall but they were having some kind of world village type of festival there so I could not enter.

So as I walked on I was getting hungry and decided to go now to the sushi restaurant.
It was so DELICIOUS! I love sushi, though I am no fanatic. There are still a lot more delicious food in Japan than mere Sushi but still, it was great.

I wanted to end my night by going to the mountain observatory to see the night time city from high above. Before that I was to go and withdraw some money from the 7eleven nearby.
That is when things started going south. I must have punched in my PIN three times wrong since it was now saying that my card was invalid. Well .... Gee thanks.

So I then returned to my B&B after calling the 7eleven from the store and getting the news that there was nothing they could do.

So I am facing now a bit of a problem money wise. I will still be able to eat and sleep thanks to my budgeting and prior withdrawals. I will probably be just fine.

But tomorrow I am of to Sapporo so I don't mind that I could not see the night view, though it would surely have been amazing.

Cheers
Robert

Aomori and the famous Nebuta Matsuri !!!!

Today I am  of to Aomori to see the famous Nebuta festival or Nebuta Matsuri as it is called in Japanese, matsuri being the word for Festival. 

I went to board the train only to find that all the seats in the trains were reserved so I had to stand during the 2 hours train ride from Sendai to Shin-Aomori. It's not that bad as it might sound. 

So after I arrived and change trains to take the local train to the Aomori station something struck me. There was so many people on the platform!!! The train could not take all and we were squished in like sardines in a tin. I was fortunate enough to score myself a place in this tin by undercut methods. I cut the line!!! I feel bad for the other persons there of course but I didn't want to wait for 25 minutes for a new one.

After arriving I did what I had already become accustomed to, went and got myself a map and went to get some grub to fill my gut. I chose my favorite curry house CoCoIchibaya and ordered the usual chicken cutlet curry (chicken katsu curry). 

I left my luggage at the hotel and hurried out to the streets nearby where the festival was going to be held. 

During the festival there were displayed many carriages of huge, artistically made lantern floats.
There were people pulling the floats around and the phrase "Rasse-ra" was chanted constantly as the drums, flutes and small cymbal-like plates played in the background.

The air was ecstatic and people were really enjoying the floats as was I of course!! 

This is the last day of the festival so the floats were paraded on this day during the daytime, where as they would normally be pulled during nigh time since they are, as I said, big lanterns.  

After this stage of the festival had ended I went back to my hostel to take a brake and to eat.

I then later went back out to see the final stage. This was the fireworks at the port side that started at evening. 

There were a lot of people who were crowding the area and there were (of course) stalls selling food, beer, sweets, etc.

The fireworks were pretty but what I did not see coming, and had not heard about, was that the floats were now circulating the port in boats, fully lit! It was a magnificent sight together with the fireworks and the "rasse-ra" chanting and drums made it so spectacular! 

After a long while I started heading back to my hotel.
Today had been great and this day stands to prove that the Japanese festivals are truly amazing! I love them and they are definitely worth the side trip!
Tomorrow I am of to Hakodate in Hokkaido region of Japan. I am looking forward to my stay there but more I am looking forward to my stay in Sapporo since it is one of the biggest cites in Hokkaido.

Cheers.
Robert 

Sendai

My booth at the internet cafe

I had slept unbelievably comfortably in the internet cafe and I had put on the alarm to wake me up 30 minutes before my time was up so that I could grab a coffee since it was all included to the price.

I walked to the station and took the train to Sendain from there. I arrived at 12 a.m. so I went straight to eat something before walking to the hostel.

After leaving my stuff at the hostel I went back to the station to take the loop bus to go and see a bit of the town.

In Sendai they are holding their Tanabata festival or Star festival. You might remember that the "official" one already was in July but in Sendai they have their own during the 6-8 of august. There were a lot of decorations hanging everywhere as is the custom.

I took the loop bus to the Zuihoden mausoleum where one of the most powerful feudal lords, Date Masamune, is entombed. It was located on a steep hill and the main mausoleum was very picturesque and decorated. There are massive cedar trees surrounding the place and they look really majestic.

Zuihoden mausoleum

I then walked back and took the bus to go and see the decorated shopping arcades near the station.
The streets were bustling with people and vendors and stalls. The decorations are all hand made and hang on bamboo stalks.
The atmosphere was very comfortable and nice one despite it had started raining. People shopped happily in the stores and outside in the stalls. There were a lot of families and a lot of couples there dressed in the traditional Kimono.
I feel a bit sad that I had missed the fireworks that they had held the day before but since I got to see the Yamagata dance festival it does not really mater.

I spent a good couple of hours there before returning to my hostel to take a bath and to wash my clothes in the coin launderette near by.

I will be moving on to Aomori tomorrow to see the famous Nebuta lantern festival and the last day finale with fireworks.

Cheers
Robert

Midnight train to Yamagata and the Yamagata dance festival

Midnight train

So to just recap yesterdays happenings real quick, I took and went to the ferry in Yakushima to go towards Kagoshima where I was suposed to board my train towards Okayama where I would change trains to the night train towards Tokyo where I would once more change trains to the shinkansen taking me to Yamagata.

On the boat I met a (a bit drunken) young japanese guy who started talking to me. We got along and he seemed to be intrested in the stories I had about Finland and he actualy was intrested in the Winter war of Finland. He knew a inportant figure of the war which according to him was a popular person and hero on the japanese sight Ni-chan, simmilar to 4-chan. (google it).

He was also aparently once asosiated with the Yakuza and he had some pictures of the boss and some subordinates (some with fingers cut of!!!). So typical me right, getting all friendly with the mafia of Japan, just like in Tokyo. ahahah Here I want to point out that I have no actual afiliations and contacts to the Yakuza (japanese mafia), but have just happened to run into them.

That being said we took a cab together to the Kagishima-Chuo terminal and said our goodbyes there.
I boarded the train and that was it. I was on my way to Okayama.
The midnight train was 30 minutes late because of some accident somewhere and I had to of course wait for it which was so numbing to the sences.

Finally I was on the train and of towards Tokyo.
When I finally arrived to Yamagata I went straigth to leave my luggage to the coin locker and asked the station info if I could leave it there to the next morning. It is aparently possible but you have to pay a fee the next day to get your stuff out. Fine with me!

So I then had still 6 hours before the festival would start so I walked around a bit without a destination and went back to the station to a Starbucks and then I rented a bike and started my little search for the Internet cafe I was going to stay at tonight. There were suposedly 3 or more in Yamagata but later searches showed that only 2 verified ones existed.

I went to one of them to use the internet and after finishing I returned the rented bike to the station and continued to the festival area to wait.

It started raining, of course, but nobody cared. The dance started and it was amazing! The music was catchy, people were yelling along with the preformers and claping their hands to the beat of the Taiko drums.
The womens dresses were beautiful and the mens were handsome. There were over 4000 dancers forming from different gorups, performing in different collors and clothing.

It lasts around 4 hours but I only watched the first 2 and then left to eat and to get to the internet cafe by foot.
This is where I will end my day today and I am glad that I came to see this festival. In Aomori I will likewise be seing the Aomori Nebuta festival finale which will have fireworks .
The internet cafes are good last minute resorts for people who could not find accommodation in their city in time or it is too expencive there. Many internet cafes have even shovers and booths with bedlike sofas.
So that is a good tip for you guys who might find yourselves without a place to sleep in Japan.

Cheers
Robert

Yakushima, the UNESCO island of incredible beauty.

Jetfoil ticket

So today I woke up and said goodbyes to my host in Kagoshima and had to rush towards the ferry terminal to get my ticket which I was unable to purchase yesterday.
I had 40 minutes to get there and I walked very fast with a couple occasional run in between to the terminal.
I was sweating in the horribly hot morning sun but got there "in time". I was there 15-20 minutes before the ferry was going to leave but for my horror I saw that the line for the tickets was ridiculous and the ticket machine was out of order so I had to go to the line.

Long story short I didn't make it to that 8.30 ferry and ended up buying only the return ticket for tomorrows ferry. I was forced to got to the Jetfoil terminal for the speed boat towards Yakushima.
The ferry is the cheapest alternative, costing 7900 yen for the round-trip ticket. This ferry leaves once a day from both sides. 8.30 from Kagoshima, arriving at 12.30 in Yakushima, and 13.30 it departs from Yakushima towards Kagoshima.

The jetfoil operates more often and takes less time. I bought the one way ticket on the expensive jetfoil and had to wait for 3 hours at its terminal. I had time to read and eat before riding the jetfoil.

Once I had boarded the Jetfoil and arrived at Yakushima I had to go and walk to my Minshuku or a kind of a bed and breakfast style accommodation in Japan. I left my stuff there and asked if I had time to go and visit the famous Jomonsugi forest which takes the longest time to hike, but I did not apparently have time for it so they recommended visiting the almost equally amazing Shiratani Unsuikyo.
So I hopped on the buss that drove all the way up the mountain to that particular forest and was on my way.

It was incredibly beautiful out there, the old trees, the rivers, the path, everything. I had only a short time (in my opinion) there and suggest for any other traveler to stay in Yakushima at least 2 nights but if possible 3 nights.

This forest is known for its appearance in the animated movie of Hayao Miazaki called Mononoke hime.
There is a path that takes you to those particular moss floor woods with ancient trees.  I didn't have time for it since the last bus was to leave at 17.10. But it was still amazing non the less!
I walked and just gasped at the beauty.

Once I returned to the starting point I hopped on the bus and came back to my minshuku. I went and got myself some food at the supermarket for today and tomorrow.
Tomorrow I will have no blog nor video up since I will be in various transportations the whole time.

At 13.30 I will be in the boat until 17.30 from where I will go an take the train from Kagoshima Chuo terminal towards Yamagata. This stretch is 16 hours and I will be leaving at 18.18 and arriving at 10 a.m.

I wanted to do this so that I would get to experience the feeling of a night train.
Stupid... Maybe, but at least it will be an experience.

Cheers
Robert

Resting in Kagoshima

Pip pip cheerio my fine lads and lasses!

Today I left the hot spring town of Beppu towards one of the most southern towns in Ryushu. I had the traditional bento in the train again whilst on my way to Kagoshima.

Sakurajima volcano

A funny thing happened to me at Kagoshima Chuo station when I was changing my shinkansen to the local train. My host was taking the same train and she spotted me. She spoke excellent English which threw me of at first. She had been living in America for 17 years so that explains it.

On the way to her apartment I had to stop by a travel equipment store and buy myself a new suitcase since the one that I had had broke. It was an unexpected stab to my budget but I will try to recover! I will, I'm sure.

After arriving to her place I took and put my stuff to my new, bigger and better suitcase and we chatted for a while with my host.

Volcanic ash was everywhere on the island.  

She had work to do so I left at the same time out and went to by my tickets for tomorrows trip to Yakushima but with very poor result.
They don't sell tickets to that ferry in advance so I had to turn back.
My host had recommended me to visit sakurajima which was the "island" right outside of Kagoshima bay.
It has still an active volcano on it and it erupts everyday. As you can imagine the eruptions are not that dangerous since people still live there and around Kagoshima.

I got there quickly on the ferry from the port and was soon walking along the roads.
I ate a bento lunch that I had bought from the supermarket there and sat down in front of a breathtaking view of the mountain, ocean and the slowly setting sun.

I then walked to the free foot bath and sat there for a while as I enjoyed the warm water and the view.
There were a couple of stray cats meowing super loud in the distance.

I later walked on the little beach towards the boat terminal and took it back to the mainland.
I wanted this day only to restore my batteries for tomorrows trial. I know that it will surely be hot and humid and since it is a mountainous island full of trees, I know it will not be that easy. But hey at least I am going!


Cheers
Robert

Hot spring bath in Beppu

Today was a day to take off all the sightseeing. I wanted to relax and since it is a hot spring town, you can guess what was to come next. 

The view from the hill down to the port

We woke around 11 a.m. and skipped breakfast and just ate Lunch instead. My host had to go to work and I was of to my hostel that was near Beppu station.

So I took the train to Beppu station and walked 7 minutes to the Khaosan Beppu hostel. I left my luggage in the room and put my videos to upload and made myself ready to go out.

Today I only had 2 things planed. Nr.1 Go to Hyotan Onsen, hot spring and nr. 2 To meet up with my host at the You Me mall at the Port near the Beppu station.

I took the bus from Beppu station to the Onsen-jigoku mae stop where I went yesterday to walk to the hot spring hell's. From there I walked a short distance to the Hyotan Onsen. There was a supermarket nearby so I went and bought myself an Ice-cream and ate it before going in to the onsen.

This onsen was a great choice since it is cheap, but in price only not in anything else which is a big plus, and it has many different types of onsen inside that you can try. And let me tell you IT WAS GREAT!

I just love the hot springs here in Japan. It might be because of my love towards saunas and these are the next best thing around here.

I spent gladly a lot of time here until I finally got up and went to change. I sat in the cooled room for a while before moving since it is recommended to do so after the baths. 

Hopped on the bus and of to Beppu station I was. I walked to the nearby Starbucks to kill 30 minutes before going to meet my host there for some diner. 

We went to a restaurant that sold udon, soba and other noodle dishes. I had the Curry soba noodles served in a hot pot with extra meat topping.
<-Check out this mother 

It was DELICIOUS. I have probably made it clear but I just love the curry dishes here. They are not the typical Indian flavor but I'd say that they are of the Japanese flavor rather. 

After eating we walked around the shopping mall and then I returned to my hostel to wash my clothes and to make preparations for tomorrow.

Tomorrow I am of to Kagoshima from where I will take the ferry to Yakushima Island the day after tomorrow. Yakushima is a very famous Island known for its nature and it has been named as an UNESCO sight because of it.


Cheers
Robert