Originally posted by cpubasic13

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The perfect time to crack a joke at someone and you make fun of yourself instead.

I am disappointed.

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Well, my initial reaction was to say "No we left him at home", targeting the brother of one of the two friends I came with, but since he doesn't visit this board and can hardly defend himself, I decided that was a no go, and of the three of us I'm definitely the ranter.

Originally posted by FirePhoenix

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I still would love to visit Japan sometime. I'm a bit jealous! Sounds like you're having fun. be sure to keep us updated!

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Did I mention this is my second trip to Japan? (The first time being Spring Break last year)

As for an update, here's what's occurred so far:

Day 1 (June 24th/25th):
3 hour flight to San Francisco
1 hour layover
10 or 11 hour flight to Japan
1 hour train ride
3 hour bullet train ride
About an hour getting lost
Finding hotel and crashing

Day 2 (June 26th):
Osaka Day!
Nipponbashi (Osaka's Akihabara)
Doutonbori (food)
Amerika Mura (clothing/youth culture) and Osaka castle were planned, but we got tired from all the walking, especially in Nipponbashi which we spent quite a long time in

Day 3 (June 27th):
Nara!
Various temples and shrines and stuff. This was the capital before Kyoto and Tokyo.
Also lots of deer. These deer are not afraid of people.
After that, party with other gaijin (particularly a friend of one of my tripmates' sister and his friends) was pretty fun. It reaffirmed my intention to come teach English here.
It also reaffirmed that I like Asahi Dry (the actual Japanese stuff, not the Canadian-brewed substitute they have in America).

Plan for day 4: Kyoto!

Originally posted by Reimu

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Ah yes, is Osaka really as crazy as usually portrayed? As in, with a lot of emphasis on the accent-stove-and-spa-like neon lights and food and whatnot and with lots of people and activity everywhere...

And Glicoman is awesome.

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Yes. Also, as advertised, they walk when the light is still red.

Originally posted by Anthony

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When you see a 40-foot Gundam statue, take a picture.

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Like I said, that's later.

(and it's 60 feet, and I'll take video)

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One of my friends is taking pictures. Besides, I'm taking video in 720p, so I can get some decent screenshot pictures

Day 4 (June 28th):
Kyoto!
Kiyomizu Temple (the one with the big stage)
Kyoto Animation
We were tired and it was late, so we came back to the hotel after that.

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Update time!

Day Five (June 29th):
Back to Nipponbashi!
The first time we went through Nipponbashi I didn't buy much (a few gatchapon, 7 volumes of manga for less than $5 total, a stuffed Gurren Lagann drill that fits over your hand, Game Center CX 2 for the DS)...
So I wanted to go back and really do some spending. The result?

15 more volumes of manga for $10 (total).
A (non-hentai) doujin by Kajishima Masaki (creator of Tenchi) about Tenchi (yes it's still doujin)
A Famicom.
Seven Famicom games:
Kid Dracula
Exed Exes
Clu Clu Land
Salamander
Devil World
Crisis Force
Air Fortress

We also intended to hang out with some of the gaijin from day 3, but were unable to get ahold of them.

Day Six (June 30th):
Last day in this part of the country...
Okayama!
Taro Jinja, the shrine that is the basis of the shrine from Tenchi Muyo. 3 mile walk from the station, uphill, in the rain, without an umbrella, but totally worth it (even though I almost killed myself like 5 times walking down those wet stone stairs)
We also wanted to go up Mount Washu and get a nice view of the Great Seto Bridge (which Ryoko crashes into early in the anime) but it was already so late and raining so hard that we settled for taking the train over the Great Seto Bridge and going next to/under Mount Washu.
We ALSO wanted to climb 5 miles up a mountain to get to the cave that's the basis for Ryoko's Cave in Tenchi Muyo, but that was basically impractical. Another time perhaps.
After returning to Osaka we went out and ate some Okonomiyaki, which was delicious, at a little mom-&-pop style okonomiyaki restaurant/bar with a few nice and friendly locals. Too bad we didn't find this place sooner, or we would have eaten there nearly every night.

Day Seven is set aside for getting checked out here and going to Tokyo, where we will be staying until we head home on July 8th. I don't know if I'll have internet access there, so this may be my last post for a while.

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Well, now that I've been back in the states for a while, I guess I should update you on my remaining adventures.

Day Seven (July 1st):
Bullet train to Tokyo
Getting lost finding hotel
Finding hotel
Sleep

Day Eight (July 2nd):
Met up with a friend from Saitama who is one of the exchange students at my college.
We all went to Akiba but didn't shop much because some of us were out of money, and we didn't bring our backpacks. Did go to a maid cafe, though. "Moe moe kyun~!" becomes a running joke.
Walked around Harajuku and really didn't buy anything there.
Spent about an hour on a crowded train to the friend's house, where we spent the night with his family. They were awesome.

Day Nine (July 3rd):
Spent most of this day hanging out at friend's house before heading to Kusatsu, a hot springs town.

Day Ten (July 4th):
Continuing time in Kusatsu, then heading back to friend's house, then heading back to Tokyo.

Day Eleven (July 5th):
The return to Akiba, and spending a whole day there! Shopping occurred, though not as much as during my trip last year or during the earlier part of the trip in Nipponbashi because funds and suitcase space were running low.

Day Twelve (July 6th):
IT'S A GUNDAM!
We went to Odaiba to marvel at the LIFE SIZE Gundam they've recently built there. It was awesome.
Took our picture in front of Big Sight while we were in the area.
Then we went to Nakano Broadway, where more otaku shopping occurred.

Day Thirteen (July 7th, Tanabata):
Jimbouchou was first up for this, our last proper day in Tokyo. It's the big bookstore district, and a favorite of one of the friends that went with me, as he's a big Read or Die fan.
Then we went to Daikanyama to make our annual stop at Baby the Stars Shine Bright to buy a hair ribbon for one of my friends' girlfriend (much less embarrassing than last year when we were charged with buying a dress for one of our female friends).
Finally, after a brief stop at the hotel, we headed back to Akiba for one last time, where we found a post office to ship some stuff back to America that wouldn't fit in one of my friends' suitcase, then to spend a couple hours at Karaoke Passera, an otaku-themed karaoke place (our room this year was Galaxy Express themed). We also ate a cake shaped like White Base.

Day Fourteen (July 8th, The Journey Home):
This day consisted entirely of us trying to get back to our homes in America.
Flight #1 (Narita to San Francisco) was delayed an hour.
Original Flight #2 (San Francisco to Dallas) took off about as we landed, so plans changed to...
New Flight #2 (San Francisco to Denver) which was also delayed
Flight #3 (Denver to Dallas) was also delayed.
By the time we arrived in Dallas it was around 11 or 12 at night, not the 4:30 in the afternoon that was originally planned.
Spent the night at my grandmother's before driving back to Oklahoma the next day.

End of Trip. See you later, space cowboy.

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