Trip to Japan

[StarLane]

I'm in Japan at the moment and just bought an LVW for 16,900 yen, what a bargain, around $180 AUD. I should buy some more but I am space limited on the way back, bag is already full of goodies. Purchased from Seihosha in Tokyo, their web-site price is 19,300 but when I got there it was 16,900. Must have an in-store special at the moment?? XW's were also cheap.

This is my third time to Japan and I just love it. The people are so kind and generous and always go out of their way to make you feel comfortable. The mountains and natural environment is beautiful, especially this time of year, all the cherry blossums are out and there is still snow on the mountain tops. First day visited temples and shrines in Kyoto, then travelled by Shinkansen (bullet train) to my base for two weeks in Nagano city. The trains are amazing but that is a whole other story. From Nagano drove to a town festival in Takayama, beautiful town in the mountains, still cool this time of year. Yesterday went to see Mt Fuji but is was raining and the mountain was covered in cloud. Also went to Gotemba last week to see Fuji san and it was also covered in cloud, maybe next time. Been travelling to Tokyo almost every second day to see other stuff and to go shopping of course. All travel was via the Shinkansen accept when I went to Takayama and Kawaguchi-ko near Fuji.

Taken lots and lots of photos and will post some when I get back to Oz. As far as the star watching goes, well the sky has not been kind to me since I've been here. Usually high level thin cloud, no transparency, or too much light pollution. Had one opportunity to see the sky away from light pollution but it was raining. I made out Orion one night here in Nagano, alot lower in the sky than at home at the moment.

Leaving in two days, don't really want to come home, two weeks is not enough in this place. If you have never been to Japan I highly recommend it. Good people, good food, convenient transport system (with english signage, most of the time), excellent shopping (especially astro gear), beautiful scenery, the old and the new side by side, cool cars, have I missed anything?? probably, it really is an eye opener.

[Dennis]

Hey Paul

An excellent travelogue - reads like you had a fabulous time, thanks for the write up, I enjoyed the read!

Cheers

Dennis

[Kevnool]

But paul are you doing some observing over there whilst in the land of the rising sun?

[koputai]

Well done Paul.
I love Japan, it's my favourite country in the world. I lived there for a year and was very sad to leave.
A mate and I were stranded near Takayama in 2004 when there was a typhoon coming through, then the big earthquake hit. The roads and train lines were all out. We were taking a bus from Takayama to Matsumoto and the 90 minute trip ended up taking six hours due to hold ups. We were the only foreigners on the bus, with about six Japanese. One was a school girl who did some basic translation for us with the other passengers and driver, we were all good friends by the time we got there.
Anyhow, it was 11pm when we got to Matsumoto, and because of all the disruptions, there was absolutely nowhere with a vacancy. We even tried crashing in a hotel foyer, but that just wasn't on. We ended up going to Matsumoto railway station to sleep there, and it was full of others with the same idea. We bumped in to the school girl again, and she said her parents were coming to pick her up and take her home (2Hr drive). She said "You stay at my place, my parents won't mind". So, her parents and brother arrived around 1am, and they were so nice and friendly, and insisted that we go to their place for the night. We all had a quick bite to eat, then drove back to their house, getting there about 3:30am. Bed time we thought. WRONG! The mother made us some hot snacks, and the father asked her to bring us some beers as well. The father was a doctor, and had a huge guitar collection on the walls of his sitting room (they had a pretty big house, in a bushy setting).
The next morning they asked us what we had previously planned for the day, so we told them the village we were intending to visit. They all took the day off and took us out there! We bought them lunch, they bought us presents, we bought them presents, there was lots of bowing.......
At the end of the day they drove us to a main line railway station so we could get on our way. About a week later a box arrived at our place in Ropponghi with a lovely letter and more gifts!
It was a couple of days I will never forget.
Sorry, that turned out a bit longer than I had expected, but it's worth telling. People see whaling and such on the tele and paint all Japanese people with the same brush, but the vast majority are truly wonderful people.

Cheers,
Jason.

[StarLane]

Hi Jason, Thanks for that, it's great to hear about other peoples experiences in this country. Yep, that sounds like the Japan I know and love. Everyone is so welcoming and kind hearted. I've visited other countries in my time but no other country matches the hospitality of the Japanese.
Oh, I forgot to mention before about the beer, it's really good, and a HUGE variety. Last time I was here in 2002 there were not so many types of beers or styles, now Japan has had a beer explosion. I have tried 23 different beers in the last 12 days and still not even half way through the selection, it's all good, Aussies will love it here.

[StarLane]

Tried to do some observing, but the sky here won't allow it at the moment.....what makes it worse is the moon is approaching full.

[koputai]

And you can buy it in 1.5 litre cans,.... at the 7/11 !!

Cheers,
Jason.

[Omaroo]

Great stuff Paul :)

I, too, lived in Japan for 18 months or so - split into two stints during the 70's and early 80's. I love the place. If I could go back to stay I would. I agree with Koputai - it's my favourite place in the world as well. I lived in Yokohama, near Yamate-Cho and just up the street from the famous Motomachi. From there we regularly took trips to Kamakura - my favourite place in Japan.

Another "fave" is Akihabara - the suburb of Tokyo (2 stations out) which is one giant suburb-wide electronics store. Fantastic! :thumbsup:

Have a great stay - it'll get to you, too, when you have to leave.

[StarLane]

That's right, every convenience store and supermarket and even the chemist sells beer. Was in a chemist yesterday and in the drink section, health drinks, energy drinks etc there was beer, hadn't seen that in my previous trips. (I have tried a couple of 1.5 litre cans, although I did share)

[StarLane]

Hi Chris, Kamakura is a great place. Not far from the big smoke but it feels like you're on an island somewhere. My favourite spots in Kamakura are Tsurugoka Hachimangu shrine (spelling???) and Kenchoji temple. I climbed to the top of the mountain behind Kenchoji where there is another sub-temple, reminded me of scenes from Monkey Magic. Amazing view, one side back to Yokohama/Tokyo, the other side over Kamakura and it's beach and the ocean. I did Kamakura last time in 2002.