Yokahama Arrive around 3pm. The hotel was 5 mins walk from the station. We passed the tallest observatory landmark tower going to the hotel. We checked in then decided to walk around the wharf area using a route map that Tom had got from the station. Very hot day, we didn't manage to see all of the wharf, but the views of the harbour we really good. We also came across a couple having wedding photos taken on the wharf. There were various shops and other land marks. Returning to the hotel we had a quick shower and met the others for the walk to Japan's biggest China town. On the way we saw a boxing match going on inside a building and a lovely Chinese temple. The meal was suppose to be a all ... read more

Kurashiki After checking into the hotel (more western style hence bigger rooms etc.) most of us opted for the cycle tour. Kay, Nicole & Izi decided to explore the town. We caught the train to BizenIchinomiya. The cycle rental shop was near the station. Once we'd all got the correct bike we were off. We stopped for lunch in a cafe, where I think I had red bean ice cream. The 15km ride was mostly flat through the countryside, along lush green rice fields. The temperature was 94. Tom stopped at various locations so we could see the Temple, shrine and burial mould. We also stopped off at a farm and saw horses and ponies. We rode through a town where we gave the bikes back and all had an ice cold soft drink from ... read more

28.08.10 Kanazawa The hotel was a short walk from the station. Outside the station, the water fountain was like a billboard switching from the "time" to "Welcome to Kanazawa" in both English and Japanese. After we checked in, we all visit the Myoryuji (Ninja Temple). The guide explained the history and showed us some of the rooms and secret exits from them. Outside as we waited for the rest of the gang, Kay and I decided to have a green tea ice cream; again an acquired taste. From here we walked to the Normura Samurai house. From here some of us walked to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. The main attraction (expalined by Ian) was to see the swimming pool which from above you could observe the people looking up from below. We ... read more

Masumoto Checked into our hotel, then Kay and I walked to the 16th Century castle see pics. The castle is in really nice surroundings. Inside, the narrow corridors with wooden beam floors was quite dark. The views through the narrow windows into the gardens and across the moat were good. The stairs were quite high as I recall with no provisions for wheelchairs etc. On the walk back to the hotel we had a mocha ice cream. Other flavours we will try are green tea, red bean. Other flavours available are all types of fish, beef, garlic, salt and others. We returned to the hotel from the back entrance next to the car park. I spent 10 minutes or so watching people putting their cars into a lift, then getting a ticket from the warden ... read more

Tokyo Landed at Narita airport at 6pm. Collected the bags and we were out of immigration by 6:30pm. Went to validate our JR rail passes (can only be bought outside the country) for the two weeks we were travelling, including getting us back to the airport for our departure on Monday the 6th. Staff at the counter were very helpful. We also got a metro pass for Y2000 each. The railway station is two minutes walk from the ticket office. You have to stand exactly at the right carriage markings on the platform, which are on the ticket. We caught the 7:20pm (bang on time) train (journey time 1.5hr) to Ikebukuro where our hotel was booked. The train was very spacious, clean and had monitors with the current world news, adverts and next station information. ... read more