Day two feels like the Nagasaki weather has followed me, it’s drizzling initially so me and this Brazilian guy from the hostel head out on a 4k stroll towards Osaka castle. Sods law it absolutely starts pissing down as soon as we get there, yet despite this the queues to go inside the main castle are insane. I don’t even bother to take either my Nikon or Hassy out of the bag it’s raining so hard.
Japan | Nagasaki
I’ve arrived in Nagasaki from Kokura. A strange coincidence, Kokura was the primary target of the “fat man” atomic bomb, but due to cloud cover, Nagasaki, the alternative target was hit. The second of the disgusting and unnecessary attacks killing an combined estimated 210,000 including hundreds of American prisoners.
Japan Day 11: Sedai to Nagoya
Slice of pizza, red bean doughnut and coffee breakfast. Why not? I’m up early and want to crack on towards the south, my host gives me another burble as I depart. I wander down to station and grab a coffee which is the same price of a chicken curry in the station. Annoying.
Japan | Osaka
I’m sitting in a Lawson with my large black coffee. One thing I notice here is the volume of cyclists in comparison to everywhere so far. Everyone is on a bike, peddling down the little side streets and long narrow covered malls. I remember why I like this city so much, these narrow streets with tons of overhanging wires fascinate me, with quirky little shops selling all kinds of stuff.
Japan Day 10: Matsushima & Fukuura Island
Today I wanted a break and something outdoors, so headed off to Matsushima, getting off the train at Matsushima-Kaigan station that delivers you right to the waterfront where you can book boat tours, eat seafood and as I did, wander along ad walk over the pedestrian bridge (¥200) to Fukuura Island.
Japan Day 9: Sendai
I woke up early today, and as this is not the kind of hostel to hang out with, especially with my burbling host I went to the store next door and hot myself a couple of pastries and a coffee. I’d picked out a couple of places to check out…
Japan Day 8: Sapporo to Sendai
I get up early and cross the road from my hostel to pick up my now customary pastries and coffee, then gather my stuff and head to the main station in Sapporo for my 9:37 train to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, where I get 20 minutes to head over to the Shinkansen platform…
Japan Day 7: Sapporo – it’s all about the food
I picked the Lamb soup curry, when an extra sausage (a recommended extra in the menu), a small portion of rice and the standard soup (¥1800). You can also get versions with prawn based broth and even one with squid ink! It was nothing short of spectacular, and I’m now regretting not coming here on the first day, and not ordering a bigger bowl!
Japan Day 6: Otaru
The only downside to hostel life, is when you’re in a room full of people who snore! I was awake multiple times, and by around 5:30am I decided to grab a shower and head out for the day. I got the metro down to Sapporo central station and wandered around the business district until 8:30 as I wanted to make a reservation for a train to Sendai before I did anything else.
Japan Day 5: Sapporo
I’m sat in the communal area of my hostel, only one other person here having a japanese lesson on their laptop. I boil the kettle for my green tea, but surprise even myself by making a cup of instant coffee, that’s how much I craved a coffee! Nescafe! The absolute shame of it.