http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/WildBillJackson/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from WildBillJackson en-us Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:27:37 +0000 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:27:37 +0000 Well this weekend I spent saturday and sunday in Kyoto it was really beautiful this time of year. The Koyou has begun which is the change in color of the leaves. Saturday night i went to Kiomizudera which i have already posted pics of from a day time trip there some time ago but right now it is lit up at night so I went with my friends to check it out. I will appologize in advance for the blurrin http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Kyoto/blog-28161.html Today I went to Fushimi Inari near Kyoto it was only about 30 minutes from Hirakata and was really beautiful. Fushimi is famous for the thousands of Orange Torii or gates that line its paths leading up the mountain. The amount of torii is unimaginable I walked for nearly 2 and a half hours and didnt find the end of the paths or the torii Also along the trail there are a few areas to stop and ta http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Kyoto/blog-26097.html Today I went to USJ Universal Studios Japan in Osaka with some friends from Kansai Gaidai and my host brother Tomoki. Now I have been to the Universal in Florida probably nearing 30 times now but the one in Japan was still a blast The park is great it is really similar to the US with rides like Spiderman Jurassic Park Back to the future and Jaws but it also has a Backdraft ride which was pr http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Osaka/blog-24854.html Today I went to the ancient capital of Japan Nara. Nara served as Japanrsquos capital around the 8th century. Nara does not have the number of shrines and temples of Kyoto and is not a large city but has its own charm all the same and was one of my favorite places I have visited yet. Nara is filled with parks and these parks and the surrounding city are filled and I mean filled with deer. I w http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Nara/Nara/blog-21879.html Today I went to Kaiyukan which is the Osaka Aquarium it was really great about 8 floors of fish tanks which begin on the top floor and you walk down a slowly decending spiral which leads through many different enviroments such as the Artic The Great Barrier reef the Japan forest and many other aquatic enviroments It all finally leads to an exhibt simply called the Pacific Ocean which is about http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Osaka/blog-20269.html Today I went to the Eisa festival in the Taisho district of Osaka. It was a really great festival. It was a field trip of sorts but once we arrived we were free to roam and leave on our own. I only stayed maybe 3 hours but during the time I saw a lot of really great dancing and a lot of great music. There were a few different group of sanshin players which is a native instrument to Okinawa and re http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Osaka/blog-20219.html After all the excitement of yesterday getting the energy together for a tour of a new district of Kyoto wasnrsquot easy but it is a beautiful city and shortly after arriving I was good to go. This trip I was guided by my home stay brother Tomoki who is the nicest guy you could ever meet. We went to the Gion district in Kyoto which is a very old and famous area where maiko or geisha in training o http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Kyoto/blog-19466.html Today with a group of guys I met from Union college which may be in New York I toured Himejijo or for the laymen Himeji Castle. Ok Ill stop being a prick but It was a beautiful castle. Originally A fort was built in its present location in 1333 but the castle in its current form was completed in 1609. It has been lived in by many famous Japanese such as Tokugawa Ieyasu. The castle was amazing fro http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/blog-19464.html Ok So I havnt exactly been as up to date on posting to this site as I promised but this one should be good. Japan has been awesome to say the least. The first week I spent in the seminar houses on campus which are basically like apartments and I lucky and had some really good roommates and have hung out with the guys I met there a few times since and also have made other friends a long the way. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Kyoto/blog-19098.html Well its a few days late but last weekend my brother Keith and I made a short trip to Fort Desoto down in south St. Pete. It was a good trip hot and humid but good other than sleeping in the heat. The park is really cool campsites right on the water and the beach is less than a mile down the road. Lots of trails for running biking and skating etc.... but overall my favorite park is the lack o http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Clearwater/blog-16461.html Well most people who read this know that in August I will be leaving for Japan for the fall semester Ausgust 18th to be exact. I know there are also many who having seen my success at keeping up with my last webpage will doubt me well I might get lazy so get over it. However I will do my best too kepp you informed on what I am up to and what is going on In Japan. I will leave it at that for no http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Tampa/blog-12955.html