Well June 14th was certainly a memorable one. The weather in Otaru, placed about 43 degrees north of the equator, is understandably cool and mild at this time of year. I have so far been fortunate with good traveling conditions, especially when carting a pack about up and down train platforms and getting all hot and sweaty at times (such as in the wet season in Kyuushuu or Shikoku), doing it is not fun! A small city of ~140,000 people, with map in hand, it is easy to explore on foot, and well known for music boxes, glassware and canals (unga). [View Full Entry]

---

---

Abashiri certainly turned the weather on the following day. After my body demanding a lie in, I just made it to the Okhotsk sea to the east of town, before having to head to back and be ready for a 10.01am train to Kushiro. The city of Abashiri was not the bustling metropolis of Wakkanai (!!), but the weather similar and fresh in a northerly/ southerly climate kind of way. The morning walk took in the pier, ther river, the rubbish truck playing, of all things, 'chopsticks', and some smelly seaside fishermen working on a retaining wall for the Okhotsk sea. [View Full Entry]

---

---

Hakodate's Aqua garden hotel proved another sterile nights sleep, and the dawn brighter and warmer than the night before, in fact almost mistless! I got up early and went to the fish markets, catching some interesting locals selling crabs and anything thst lives in the briney. The whole of Hakodate along the pier stank, and was frequented by large crows and seagulls, obviously in seagull heaven! I had visions of a Rockhampton experience all over again where, in September or spring for us southern hemispehere'ers, they get a little amorous, and try it on with anything black or shiney, like a [View Full Entry]

---

---

The Naniwa hotel was a comfy nights rest, and the hosts as helpful as ever, despite their limited english and yesterdays misunderstanding! I am certainly glad I speak some lingo - several people I have met have had no or limited ability, and even in the major cities like Tokyo, have struggled to get their needs met or point across. A bit of charades always comes in handy, but anything slightly complicated can get mixed up, even if you do speak Japanese!! A gorgeous, clear warm mornning dawned, and I decided after my early waking habit to get the earlier train [View Full Entry]

---

---

My night in the smokey business hotel was fairly good and the reception staff tolerant of my internet use, requests for ice for my failing Achilles, and where to find a chemist! Like clockwork I woke at 4 or 5am, to a very bright morning, no rain, and calm weather. The early sunrise has been the case ever since my arrival and time spent in Kyuushuu farther south. I cannot, however, get my head around how a country similar in latitude to New Zealand can have such an early dawn. Kanazawa has several districts that provide evidence of it's once fame [View Full Entry]

---

---

The shrill of the station voice over of Matsu motooooooo, Matsu motoooooooo woke me up after a chatty but sleepy trip northwards into Nagano prefecture from fuji go ko. This is THE Japan alps, the reason so many Aussies, particularly, come for snow boarding, skiing, and teaching english it seems. Matsumoto was my base for the past 2 nights, staying with the Yasuyado family at Kaze no yasuyado, about 2.5km on the outskirts of town, and besides the rushing water of the Susuki river. That was a lovely way to be lulled to sleep after some hard yards up Fuji, and [View Full Entry]

---

---

The last I left it it 'twas a grey but dry morning in Mt Fuji area, called Fuji go ko, or lake district. Ks house in Kawaguchiko was a cheap but styley bed for the night, tatami matted dorm rooms, and at this time of year very quiet! It all happens in July and August evidently, and every place is booked out and overrun with weekender holiday makers in the limited Japanese holiday periods! They never seem to break from toiling the fields, the hotel front desks, the cleaning of the ryokans.....indeed a strong work ethic they have! So after getting [View Full Entry]

---

---

Not only is there piped music in the lobby of my smokey business hotel for the night, but to be heard at Kenrokuen park was the most serene and beautiful music befitting of the location.....a japanese harp player. My arrival in Kanazawa by train, 2 changes via naoetsu and nagano, was earlier than usual, and a great chance to see the city before bedding down in a smokey business hotel..........my reservation at the Garden hotel opposite the station was not on file, despite an internet reservation done 2 months earlier (I will be watching my credit card account closely as they [View Full Entry]

---

---

Cool start to Thursday morning but clearer than last night. ]At least its not raining! [View Full Entry]

---

---

Okayama this morning was every bit as hot as they claim to be....the most sunshine hrs in Japan, and I would have to say the most cash machines that rejected my Westpac ATM card. So I took the lonely planet's advice of accessing money from a yuubinkyoku ATM (that is a post office, 20, 000 over japan that evidently accept foreign cards like mine)............that did not work, sorry, sumimasen, try the major bank of Chuugoku around the corner. Of which I did...........sorry, again that did not work. Why not try innocent bystander in desperation............perhaps I would have success go [View Full Entry]

---

---