Day 12. Blogging from the Prince hotel in Shinagawa, Tokyo, sun has just set and the lights are on bright. The mother of all big citites has lived up to its hype and then some. Its my last night in japan and tomorrow morning ill be catching a 09.40 flight to Beijing, China!

Since my last blog in Hiroshima, me and the GAP group have finished our tour with stops in Kyoto & Hakone (site of Mt Fuji). First day in Kyoto, we went to the site of the famous Ten Thousand Gates. cllimbed about 10.000 stairs! In the evening we had a good bbq dinner in the Gion district which is famous for its rare Geisha girls. Day 2 in Kyoto we had a busy day with 3 trips planned. First we went to Niji Castle, famous for Nightinggale floorboards (squeeky floorboards to prevent ninja intruders!). Next was the Golden Temple, pictures will tell the story. (had wasabi peanuts!). Last was a famous Zen Temple called the Daisen Inn. Meditated for 20 minutes and learned alot. Back to hotel after a funny song and dance show in Kyoto station where we also went on a sky-walk (maassive station) went back to the hotel and watched Sumo on tv.

Monday morning, arrived in Tokyo City, overwhelmed by the sheer size of the place! Lots and lots and lots and lots of people (12.5mill to be precise). Rainy day so umbrellas dominated most of the streets. Split from group with Simon & Michael, had lunch in Harajuku, visited the famous big crossing area in Shibyua, got some great photos and just played around. Got sllightly lost and confused (normal for Tokyo believe me!) between Ginza (the Rodeo drive of Asia) and Tokyo station, ended up finding a great Samurai antique shop (****** expensive!), wish i could have bought something!

Second day in Tokyo, got up at 06.30 to go to the infamous Tsujiki fish market, best breakfast ever! Saw vast amounts of exotic fresh fish and other seafood, felt the hustle and bustle full on! Best breakfast ever! (must see photo). Next we took the JR line to the main Anime and video game part of Tokyo called Akihabara. Really interesting place with colourful people and tons of great shops, anything you need withing comics, dvds etc, they got it. Great manga museum. Had a very memorable lunch at themed restaurant where all the girls were dressed up as rabbits hehe. Got some cool souveniers and had our last dinner as a group in Japan.

Last day in Japan, spent very well indeed. Visited the Metropolitain Government Building, best high-point veiw of Tokyo City. Next was my big thing and that was to visit the Tokyo Dome, home to the Tokyo Giants. To visit Japans Madison Square Garden has been a dream of mine for a while and it was just brilliant. There were some unexpected surprises when we got there and that was basically the most incredible "hyper-rollercoaster" called Thunder Dolphin. Went on it twice! Back to Akihabara for some more browsing and a tempura lunch and back to hotel to rest feet and do this blog!

Summing up Japan in a few lines is really hard. Its the most efficiant, clean and friendly country ive ever been in and its also the most creative, CRAZY and rich place for culture and historie ive been to in my almost 21 years. I might have planned it differently now knowing how expensive and ridicoulus Japan is, but ive had an amazing time here with the group, freestyling and exploring, and i can see myself coming back here one day for sure. DOMO ARIGATO GOZAIMAS JAPAN!