Some of the rides I went on were Back to the Future, Spidermans Adventure, Jurrasic Park The Ride, Jaws and Space Fantasy.
Sunday, 10 February 2013
Universal Studios Osaka - Friday 8th February
Some of the rides I went on were Back to the Future, Spidermans Adventure, Jurrasic Park The Ride, Jaws and Space Fantasy.
Osaka Adventure begins - Thursday 7th February
Off to Osaka on the Shinkansen at 9.30am sharp so I could get there for lunchtime and make the most of the few days I had.
The first stop was Tennoji park where I went to the Tennoji Zoo for a wander round for a few hours but have to say its not a patch on the Zoo in Ueno Tokyo.
Afterwards I headed to the Osaka Castle which was a beautiful place and spent an hour or so there.
Then it was time to head to Universal City to check into the Hotel Keihan Universal Tower.
I spent a few hours relaxing in the Spa on the 36th floor before heading to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner and a cocktail - then it was time for bed as an early start tomorrow to hit Universal Studios for the day.
Wednesday, 6 February 2013
Wednesday 6th February
Today I woke up to heavy rain which turned to light snow later in the day. So I decided it was not a good day for sightseeing. I had to head to Shinagawa soon to extend my visa so thought since it was a miserable day it was the best day to go and get it all sorted. I headed off to Shinagawa station jumped on the bus to the immigration office where I completed 3 long forms and handed over 4000 yen and extension was granted so they wont come looking for me to kick me out of Japan anytime soon.
Grabbed a bite to eat in Shinagawa before heading back to Ueno for a starbucks coffee and cookie yum yum!
It was only 5pm so decided to head to the cinema in Ikebukuro to see Jack Reacher with a wee coca cola and a box of popcorn - lovely wee night to myself out of the miserable weather.
Time to head home and pack as got an early start tomorrow to head to Osaka as it takes roughly 3 hours to get there so a wee picnic breakfast on the train I think.
Grabbed a bite to eat in Shinagawa before heading back to Ueno for a starbucks coffee and cookie yum yum!
It was only 5pm so decided to head to the cinema in Ikebukuro to see Jack Reacher with a wee coca cola and a box of popcorn - lovely wee night to myself out of the miserable weather.
Time to head home and pack as got an early start tomorrow to head to Osaka as it takes roughly 3 hours to get there so a wee picnic breakfast on the train I think.
Tuesday, 5 February 2013
Hakone Adventure Monday 4th & Tuesday 5th February
Grabbed an early lunch before heading off to Hakone. I had to catch the train to Odawara from Shinjuku then transfer train to head to Hakone after purchasing my 2 day free pass. (The two day free pass allows you on all modes of transportation in Hakone as often as you want in the two day period and very cost effective).On arrival at Hakone it was windy and wet so not the best conditions for sightseeing so I headed for a coffee to make a plan of action.
The plan was to wander around the Hakone Yumoto area grab a bite to eat and some snacks and beers from the local shop before heading to the hotel for the night and hope for better weather tomorrow. My evening in was basically me lying in the hot bath for hours on end drinking beer and grabbing an early night for the busy day that lay ahead the next day.
Early morning Japanese breakfast at 8 oclock to kick start the day and another soak in the hot bath before checking out.
I caught the bus at Hakone Yumoto station at 10.10am and took a 40 minute bus journey to Moto Hakone where the views at Lake Ashi were amazing so I wondered around for an hour before catching the sightseeing Pirate Ship to Togendai.
After the cruise ship I boarded the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani on route I had a terrific view of Mount Fuji and transfered onto another ropeway at Owakudani to take me to Sounzan where I caught the cable car to Gora. The views and sights along the way were beautiful.
At Gora I headed to the Hakone Gora Park for a wonder round the gardens before taking a 10 minute walk to the Hakone Open Air Musuem which was my favourite part of the day as it was pretty cool - and the Hot Foot Spring Bath immense.
I headed on the zig zag train back to Hakone Yumoto station which concluded the round trip and as it was only 3pm I had time to catch the bus (20 minute journey) to Hakone Kowaki-en Yunessen (Hot Springs). I am afraid I dont have photos of the baths but can tell you it was amazing I spent 2 hours relaxing in both indoor and outdoor hot spring baths such as coffee bath, waterfall bath, japanese sake bath, green tea bath, charcoal bath, outdoor wine bath and my favourite of all the chocolate bath. This is just some of the baths I had the pleasure of relaxing in.
Before heading off I was tempted by the Dragon Waterfall slide and the Turkish Hamam (Doctor Fish's Foot). The fish foot bath was a bit of a bizare feeling but enjoyable all the same.
It was time to shower and catch the bus back to the Station where I boarded the Romancecar back to Shinjuku.
Headed off for some Noodles on the way back and as I had been on the go since 7.30am I was very tired so arrived back to Nippori at 10pm and it was bedtime.
The plan was to wander around the Hakone Yumoto area grab a bite to eat and some snacks and beers from the local shop before heading to the hotel for the night and hope for better weather tomorrow. My evening in was basically me lying in the hot bath for hours on end drinking beer and grabbing an early night for the busy day that lay ahead the next day.
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| Tranditional Japanese Hotel Room |
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| Private Open Air Bath |
Early morning Japanese breakfast at 8 oclock to kick start the day and another soak in the hot bath before checking out.
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| Japanese Breakfast yum yum |
Lake Ashi
Pirate Ship
Steam rising from the Hot Springs
Ropeway
Cablecar
Hakone Gora Park
High five to the Open Air Museum
Foot Spa
How I felt by the end of the day
Before heading off I was tempted by the Dragon Waterfall slide and the Turkish Hamam (Doctor Fish's Foot). The fish foot bath was a bit of a bizare feeling but enjoyable all the same.
It was time to shower and catch the bus back to the Station where I boarded the Romancecar back to Shinjuku.
A beer on the Romance car on route home
Sunday, 3 February 2013
Nikko Adventure Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd February
Headed off to Nikko on Saturday morning first headed to Ueno where I had to catch the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Utsonomiya and then from there on the JR Nikko line to catch the train to Nikko.
It cost 1300 yen to enter into Tosho-Gu Shrine but at this moment I was not parting with any of the 2000 yen I had until I could find a bank so thought it best after a wonder round and getting my bearings to check into the hotel and see if I could rectify this cash issue.
I headed back towards the Hotel which was 1 minute walk from the Shinkyo Bridge and decided as a last resport to try the post office which was 5 minutes away thinking if the bank didnt work it was unlikely but worth a shot. It worked woop woop I had money again so I checked into my hotel at 3pm. The hotel was loveley beautiful Japanese Style room with private bathroom and the Public Bath was to die for.
I decided after my slightly stressful events of the previous two hours I should relax in my room and have a beer then head to the public bath for a soak in the hot bath before having a snooze and dinner the sightseeing could wait till tomorrow now.
Sunday morning was an early rise as it was breakfast at 7.30am followed by another visit to the public bath before getting ready to check out for 10am. I spent a few hours at The World Heritage Shrines and Temples in Nikko before a wander around the small shops on the main street heading back towards the JR Nikko Station.
I arrived at the Station around 1.30pm and decided to hop on the bus which took a trip through Hakone passing all the shrines and tourist spots heading up to Yumoto Onsen it took roughly one and half hours on the bus and sightseeing along the way was lovely as the views were tremendous. It was really cold and covered in snow when I got to the Yumoto Onsen but decide a wander round before heading back on the bus was enough for today.
I got back to the station at 5pm and jumped on the train to head back home after an enjoyable two days. I stopped off at Ueno for some Nachos and a cold beer before heading home to bed.
Although I did make sure I waited up to watching the TV show from the Teikyo University I was at the filming of two weeks ago. I was in it yes but only in the background and did not stand out like a sore thumb ha ha.
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| Shinkansen |
I arrived around 1pm and was ready for a few days sight seeing.
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| Nikko Station |
Things did not quite start out to plan as I had forgot to lift money from the bank before I left and only had 2000 yen on me (roughly £15). The problem with this is (for people who have been to Japan before will know) it is not easy to find a bank that will work with a foreign cashline card - in Tokyo its no problem as the Seven Eleven stores have ATM's that work no problem and there are loads of these shops everywhere in Tokyo. However, I could not find one here in Nikko!!!!!!!
I tried the ATM at the bank and the local convenience store but neither of them worked. So I headed out towards The World Heritage Shrines and Temples of Nikko hoping to find somewhere along the way. I passed the Shinkyo Bridge on the way which arches over the River Daiya on route. |
| Shinkyo Bridge |
It cost 1300 yen to enter into Tosho-Gu Shrine but at this moment I was not parting with any of the 2000 yen I had until I could find a bank so thought it best after a wonder round and getting my bearings to check into the hotel and see if I could rectify this cash issue.
I headed back towards the Hotel which was 1 minute walk from the Shinkyo Bridge and decided as a last resport to try the post office which was 5 minutes away thinking if the bank didnt work it was unlikely but worth a shot. It worked woop woop I had money again so I checked into my hotel at 3pm. The hotel was loveley beautiful Japanese Style room with private bathroom and the Public Bath was to die for.
My room
Public Bath
Sunday morning was an early rise as it was breakfast at 7.30am followed by another visit to the public bath before getting ready to check out for 10am. I spent a few hours at The World Heritage Shrines and Temples in Nikko before a wander around the small shops on the main street heading back towards the JR Nikko Station.
Entrance to Temple
Sacred Monkeys
Sleeping Cat
Friday, 1 February 2013
Friday 1st February
Cant believe it is February already and I only have 4 weeks left of my adventure - time is flying in.
I felt a little better today and fit enough to head to the dojo so it was a 10.30am session with Makita Sensei. We done a tube training class which is my favourite so a good one since I wasnt feeling so great still. First with the tube in our right hand we done a circular motion from behind up and over our head height and back to work on the shoulder and arm for the count of 30 each arm, then another set for 30 each arm finishing with a set of 20 each arm. We turned to face the other direction and worked on the same exercise but this time pulling backwards in the circular motion them forward we done this on each arm for 3 sets of 20. Next it was 50 gyakizukis each side with the tube and then facing the other direction the same 50 each side. (The first direction pulling the tube from the wall outwards and the second exercise the tube pulling arm towards wall and me pulling it backwards). Next facing forwards we done 50 maigeris each leg then facing the opposite direction another 50 maigeris each leg. We finished off the tube training with the tube around our waist throwing as many attacks going forward as we could to reach the side of the dojo for 10 sets to our own count. The class finished with kumite in three sets of one minute. The first set was arm attack only both sides attacking and defending, next minute was leg attacks only again both sides attacking and defending and the final set free style kumite (basically anything goes within reason).
I headed for some lunch and to relax for the nights session as felt pretty good after that session. I also started to get my stuff organised for heading off to Nikko tomorrow morning.
The evening session again was taught by Makita Sensei we started off with some stance working starting in front stance moving back leg forward then to the left side into kibi dach stance and then front leg returning to back position making front stance again next moving back leg forward then out to the left side into kibi dach stance and then returning back to original position. Each stance made slowly to the count for 40 each leg. Next we done knife hand block in back stance then changing into front stance making gyakizuki one technique one count for the count of 20 then both techniques one count for the count of 20 then switching to do gyakizuki then knife hand block for the count of 20 we again done this both sides. Next we made cat stance making gedanbari then pushing forward into gyakizuki for the count of 20 one technique one count then 20 both techniques one count then reverse it to make gyakizuki then gedanbari in cat stance for the count of 20 each side. The final basic exercise was cat stance making age uke then maigeri returning foot into cat stance postion then driving forward gyakizuki again we done 20 to the count each technique then 20 to the count both techniques one count and then reversing techniques again for the count of 20 each side. We finished the class of with Junro Shodan and Junro Neidan both katas twice slow to the count and one time full speed to the count.
I headed off for Fish and Chips at the Hub in Sudabashi where I met two guys who were on business from America so got chatting to then for a while turned out one of them was actually from Edinburgh. Its a small world.
Back home to bed as my weeks holiday starts tomorrow and I am quite excited!
I felt a little better today and fit enough to head to the dojo so it was a 10.30am session with Makita Sensei. We done a tube training class which is my favourite so a good one since I wasnt feeling so great still. First with the tube in our right hand we done a circular motion from behind up and over our head height and back to work on the shoulder and arm for the count of 30 each arm, then another set for 30 each arm finishing with a set of 20 each arm. We turned to face the other direction and worked on the same exercise but this time pulling backwards in the circular motion them forward we done this on each arm for 3 sets of 20. Next it was 50 gyakizukis each side with the tube and then facing the other direction the same 50 each side. (The first direction pulling the tube from the wall outwards and the second exercise the tube pulling arm towards wall and me pulling it backwards). Next facing forwards we done 50 maigeris each leg then facing the opposite direction another 50 maigeris each leg. We finished off the tube training with the tube around our waist throwing as many attacks going forward as we could to reach the side of the dojo for 10 sets to our own count. The class finished with kumite in three sets of one minute. The first set was arm attack only both sides attacking and defending, next minute was leg attacks only again both sides attacking and defending and the final set free style kumite (basically anything goes within reason).
I headed for some lunch and to relax for the nights session as felt pretty good after that session. I also started to get my stuff organised for heading off to Nikko tomorrow morning.
The evening session again was taught by Makita Sensei we started off with some stance working starting in front stance moving back leg forward then to the left side into kibi dach stance and then front leg returning to back position making front stance again next moving back leg forward then out to the left side into kibi dach stance and then returning back to original position. Each stance made slowly to the count for 40 each leg. Next we done knife hand block in back stance then changing into front stance making gyakizuki one technique one count for the count of 20 then both techniques one count for the count of 20 then switching to do gyakizuki then knife hand block for the count of 20 we again done this both sides. Next we made cat stance making gedanbari then pushing forward into gyakizuki for the count of 20 one technique one count then 20 both techniques one count then reverse it to make gyakizuki then gedanbari in cat stance for the count of 20 each side. The final basic exercise was cat stance making age uke then maigeri returning foot into cat stance postion then driving forward gyakizuki again we done 20 to the count each technique then 20 to the count both techniques one count and then reversing techniques again for the count of 20 each side. We finished the class of with Junro Shodan and Junro Neidan both katas twice slow to the count and one time full speed to the count.
I headed off for Fish and Chips at the Hub in Sudabashi where I met two guys who were on business from America so got chatting to then for a while turned out one of them was actually from Edinburgh. Its a small world.
Back home to bed as my weeks holiday starts tomorrow and I am quite excited!
Thursday 31st January
Well this cold has got the better of me I woke up this morning feeling awful and I have had to admit defeat and decide to let my body rest from training - not an easy decision for me I can tell you. I had a long lye and relaxed for the most of the morning. Then I decided to just tidy the apartment, do some laundry and relax in a hot bath.
In the late afternoon I decided to head out for some dinner before heading back to the apartment for an early night as I do not want to have to miss tomorrows training sessions.
In the late afternoon I decided to head out for some dinner before heading back to the apartment for an early night as I do not want to have to miss tomorrows training sessions.
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