Hello hello, writing this from Matsuyama in Shikoku. We caught the Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Okayama and then changed to a limited express train (the exterior covered in cartoons!) for the 2.5 hour journey to Matsuyama. Once again I slept through most of the journey with my ipod on (just realised how much I miss music).

It's been a pretty uneventful day to be honest. We found our hostel, which is at the top of a freakin hill - so knackered by the time we made it to the top. We're right near one of Japan's best onsens (natural springs) so that's our plan for tomorrow. Though I'm a little apprehensive about getting starkers in front of a load of strangers...

We went back into town to get lunch but as we're in more of a backwater town there's a lot less English signage so choosing lunch in the restaurant was like that scene in Lost in Translation where every picture on the menu looks the same - we just pointed and hoped. Trekked to a supermarket to get saki for tonight and then came back to the hostel. See, I bet you wish you were having the crazy fun we are! No, but we're going to try and do lots of interesting things tomorrow so this blog won't be so incredibly dull.

I've been separated from the boys because lots of the hostels here won't allow mixed dorms. Seem to have the whole 4 bed dorm to myself though and I won't be subjected to the rotten stench of Jim's feet for the first time in 11 days so it's not all bad.

Hope you're all well, keep me updated on your news.

Love you and miss you all x x x