Trains and Scenery

Im planning a train trip around this side of japan for my last few days. I wanted to see some of the interior of japan, as well as just sort of see the scenery. This is the planned trip, starting from Kyoto, and ending in Osaka for my flight home on tuesday. Should be fun! The highlights are...

• Himeji Castle, which is one of the oldest and best castles in japan. It is one of the few that hasn't been destroyed by fire, war, or earthquake, so it should be interesting.
• Hiroshima, there is a large memorial for the A-bomb stuff.
• The train ride to Matsumoto, much of which is on a "wide viewing" train. I wanted to see some of the mountains, and the interior of the country.
• Tokyo... which should be awesome. Spending a few nights there, to see the morning fish market, as well as the current imperial palace.
• The last night will be in osaka again. They have one of the largest aquariums in the world (they have a whale shark usually...), then on too the airport.

Here is the map... ill leave tomorrow or the next day.


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Some Other Stuff

Just some more interesting pictures...

I liked the color coordinated fixed gear with a bell. I think they have brake laws here, so you need both front and rear.

Ive seen a number of people out on these bikes. They have super small wheels so look really funny. Here is a fixed and one with regular road drops, both with half sized wheels. they look so goofy!

i had something else at this place, but saw the spam cans on my way out.

cool overpasses. its a long indoor shopping mall all along underneath them.

There was a huge pokemon store in osaka, filled with moms and little kids. 

In the back of the pokemon store, there was a large crowd of kids. They all had DS's, and where battling pokemon with each other.

The hello kitty shop has really creepy mannequins

streets like these go on for ever. you can take any side street and its the same. This was in osaka in the evening. All the places are little bars and restaurants, with a few other shops. Later at night it becomes quite crowded, even with the rain. Oh and umbrellas are cool here. no one uses a rain jacket. also you want to have a simple umbrella, not a collapsable one. at the entrance to most/all store/bar/etc there is an umbrella stand, where you leave your umbrella while your inside, and pick it up on the way out.