Made our way to the Osaka Bay area after breakfast. As walked from the train station to the aquarium, the ferris wheel dominated the view. This thing was absolutely huge, and is only a few meters short of being the tallest ferris wheel in the world. But first the aquarium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osaka_Aqu arium_Kaiyukan). After reading the reviews and information packs about it, I was really looking forward to it. I'll admit up front though, I was disappoin...

I am tired. Actually I'm beyond tired. I have no idea how or why I'm sitting here writing this blog, but I am. But today was a great day. Today was Universal Studios Osaka, and it has been another day that I would estimate that we have walked 12km+. Started off with the usual routine. Veronica goes downstairs with Charlotte for weird rice balls and miso soup, while Angela and I stay in the room. Angela watches (and now sings along with) the Japanese kids shows on...

Leaving Himeji this morning. Apart from the castle, there is very little worth mentioning in this town. Although I did learn this morning that the majority of the film The Last Samurai was shot on location in this town, at the castle, and all of the Samurai village scenes were shot in a mountain monestary called Mount Shosha, which is about 15 minutes to the North. If we had an extra day here with nothing to do I would make the trip up there to see it, as apparen...

Took our time to get ready in the morning, as Himeji castle was the only thing on the agenda for today. According to everything I've read, tourist wise the city of Himeji is quite an unremarkable city, with the exception of Himeji castle. From what I've seen so far I would have to agree. The town itself seems fairly small, well laid out and relatively uncrowded. Veronica and Charlotte went downstairs for the typical Toyoko Inn breakfast of rice balls, miso soup a...

Awoken at 7am by a couple of young girls who seemed to have little interest in the fact that we were awake packing bags until after 2am. Oh well, 5 hours sleep is more than enough. I walked down to the mall to get us some breakfast, while Veronica finalised things in the room. One other thing I have noticed in Sasebo is they have some world class bakeries. All of the different types of bread and pastries you could imagine, and many that I have never seen before (...