The "wasted" day

So like I told you in the last post, we were out the night before so we slept until twelve today. We went straight to eat at a Sukiya chain restaurant. So donburi again :) hahaha It's just too good and simple to resist. Today we went to do some shopping in the nearby Askusa station shopping mall. We spent quite a lot of time there even though we were supposed to go straight to Akihabaras electric town. Well after we shopped, we went to drop of the items at our hostel and then we were finally on our way. We were supposed to meet few of our friends to go and sing karaoke with a bit later so we only had an hour to see around.
I had totally misunderstood where we would be going to for karaoke so they thought that we knew a place and vice versa. After stating that we couldn't find one there, we went to Shibuya. There we found a place and went there. The system was a bit complex since they had all these charges ,it wasn't so expensive though, but it was one of those moments I thank myself for studying Japanese.

After the Karaoke we ate sushi and went to a English pub. Just generally speaking a awesome night tho nothing in particular was done. Next up will be KYOTO! Can't wait.


Cheers
Robert

Walking from Harajuku to Shibuya

So today went to Harajukus Meiji shrine. During breakfast I had struck up a conversation with a couple of Americans and they wanted to tag along until they would do their check in. So we all went all the way to JR Harajuku station and from there it is just a short walk to the Meiji shrine.
The roads were humongous and there were a few big Torii gates. Todays weather started out chilly but it soon became very warm because of the sun, so it was perfect for my intentions of the day.
After leaving the Meji shrine we went looking around the shopping areas and stores.
The Americans had to leave after we had eaten since they hadn't yet made their check in to the hostel.
We went to the Kiddy-land store there because I knew that A: They would love it, B: I knew I liked it. ;)

Well we found a new funny mascot that they had come up with. A egg that was lazy and a bit disgruntled. It is so funny!

From there we started to walk to Shibuya which is known for it's Shibuya 109 building and for it's crossing where just everyone goes mad ones it becomes green. There are a lot of amusement type of shops and restaurants and vendors etc. It is just the best place to go and have a good time and to eat and drink. And it's hella crowded! :) hhahah but hey that's Japan.

So when we had seen enough we returned back to Asakusa and ate at a Donburi restaurant. I just LOVE donburi, it's all you need in life. It's quick, it's warm, it's plentiful and above all it is DELICIOUS. I had the rice with beef! So good!

There after we went to our hostel. we wanted to drink with our friends but since it was so late, we decided that we would drink by ourselves, but luckily we made new acquaintances at the hostel. A German girl joined us in our drinking :)
We had a blast and that's also part of the reason why I am writing all of this after hand

Cheers!

Taking in the urban scenery of Tokyo

Today we didn't do anything extraordinary, not even anything particularly exciting.
After we woke up we just went to the Tokyo station and from there to the Imperial palace grounds. It was very sunny and windy out side, yet it was a bit cold.
After that we went to Hamatsucho station to meet my friend  and to have lunch with him.
We went to my favorite curry chain restaurant: CoCoIchibaya!!! I took my usual Chicken katsu curry, and as always, it was SOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOD!
After a filling meal we walked to a Park nearby and strolled around talking. Later we walked to the Tokyo Tower.It's an old broadcasting tower that reminds you of the Eiffel tower in France, though this was only 333 meters tall.
We walked from there to the metro station and took our subway train with one change to Asakusa.
There we went to the super and by the PAKU PAKU bento shop and bought ourselves some dinner.
This was our pretty regular day today but tomorrow we will have more excitement!

Cheers!
Robert

Already alone !? My trip to Nikko

Today we woke up a bit drowsy from last nights drinking. We were out in Asakusa and went to a street bar where I struck up a conversation with a few Japanese people. we had fun and they even bought me a beer and complimented me on my Japanese which always makes the little egomaniac inside of me pleased.
But back to today! I decided early on that, since the girls wanted to go and shop together in Harajuku,  I would travel by myself. I thought about where to go for a while and decided that Nikko would be a good place to spend one day by myself.
Nikko of course is famous for its UNESCO world heritage temples and is the grave sight for the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate and Edo (what Tokyo was called back then), Tokugawa Ieyasu.

I must emphasize the fact that spring in Japan is so cool and beautiful. Coming from cold Finland it really feels nice to be walking around without a jacket.
The cherry trees are soon going to blossom so can't wait to see it!

In Nikko I took a stroll through the town towards the park where the temple complex lied. It was war, but quite windy outside. Thanks to the JRPass I could just simply walk and reserve the tickets and just go as I pleased.

I ate an Ekiben or a boxed lunch from the station on the train, it was delicious as always. After climbing stairs up to the temple and grave I took my time there and just absorbed all of the scenery in, bit by bit.

Finally as the clock was nearing half five I started to return to the station and took my trains back to Ueno. There I met up with my girlfriend and her sister to go and eat.
There is a quite good ramen shop at the station, so we went there.
After we had eaten we went by our hostel and rested a bit but then we wanted to still go out for a little walk, so I took them to see the nearby Tokyo Sky Tree.

Tomorrow we will probably do some intercity sightseeing.
'Till then!
Robert

A journey man on the road again

Waking up to the surreal feeling that you are going to leave behind the dusts of your own country, and fly to the land of the rising sun. It is always as accelerating to make the first step out of bed, knowing that you will see it first after many weeks.
This time I'm not alone in my travels. I have my girlfriend, her sister and three other friends with me. Though it will be mainly me, my girlfriend and her sister that travel together.

Today we didn't have the best start on our travels since, as it well happens sometimes, the flight was over booked and we didn't exactly have seats reserved, just the flight.
Finnair tried to give us monetary compensation to get us to take a later flight if we could. But for us it was a definite no go on that option. Why? well Hilda, my girlfriends sister had booked her flights after me and Wilhelmiina, and for some weird reason they had booked a seat for her...
Oh well We got seats thanks to the effort of the attendants at the airport and Finnair and we are now glad to say we're here!!!
It is my first time here during the cherry blossom season and I have already seen some promising buds on the trees.

Today, since we are a bit Jet lagged, we have been touring around Asakusa where our hostel is. Asakusa (for those who didn't know) for its temples, Incl. : the sensoji temple. Also this is where you find the picturesque thunder gate, or more properly known as "KAMINARI MON".

We ate some bentos we got from the paku paku lunch box shop just near by our hostel. they sell good quality food for a low budget prize, every Obento is about 250 yen each. It's INSANE.

We will go drinking tonight at the beautiful Asakusa bar street!!

Many cheers!
Robert

13 days to liftoff !

Hi guys!
So only 13 days until we leave to Japanand :)
I have been keeping myself busy by brewing beer etc. in order not to go MAD from the wait.
Japan has truly so much to offer and I am freaking out by the mere thought of the cherry blossom season that will great us when we arrive!
I will be filming my trip on my GoPro again but I am going to have some tough decisions to make regarding the editing of the videos. I am not satisfied with my older videos thanks to their crappy editing. Tho I have to say, I published one video a day so.... it was to be expected?

Anyhow just wanted you to know what's going on.

Cheers!
Robert

New year, New trip!

It's been a While since the last post and now I am all fired up for my next trip. Where you ask, well Japan of course!

Though I have been there allready 3 times I got to say that it is a country that you can hardly get tired of. I will be going with a bit bigger gang this time, including my girlfriend :)
We will be hanging around Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima mainly, but knowing ME there will be some stops in other places as well.
Best part will be that we will be going there while the Sakuras are blooming (cherry trees)!!!!!!!!
Holy smokes it will be awesome. It has long been on my to do list to visit Japan during blosom season! 

So I wish a late Happy new year to all the readers and wish it to be a prosperous one on everyones part!

Cheers and happy trails!
Robert