Day 120 - 28th of December

6:27am　Denny’s
天気：雨天
We’ve just dropped into Denny’s again; the same one! We’re going to have some breakfast and hang around for a bit. Gonna order now… I’m getting omurice, and Alex is getting the lasagne. Karaoke was so much fun; we managed to keep singing right up till 6. They actually rung to tell us our time was up in the middle of a song; that was annoying. It was so cheap though; totally makes up for the other nights mistake. Our voices are completely shot but so very satisfied. After breakfast, we’re going to go find an ATM, get some money out, and then go back to the hostel and get me checked out, lolz. Then onto Sweets Paradise!!!

7:41am　名城線
We’re on the subway, loop line, and when people get up, we’re going to sit, and sleep; go around the loop for a few hours.

7:51am　名城線
Still standing; well, Alex is sitting on the floor. We’ve ended up on the 名港線 (Meiko line), bound for Nagoya port. So now, we’ve officially been on every subway line in Nagoya bar one, which only has one stop anyway; Not bad for 4 days work…Yay, sitting down now; time to sleep!

10:27am　Hostel Ann
Showered, packed, and ready to go; Alex has crashed on the lounge. We ended up going around the loop over 1 and a half times, before getting off at Kanayama. I was thinking about getting a DS today, but decided it can wait; I want to find a second hand one. We’re still go to Sweets Paradise though; I found exactly where it is. Still got half an hour before I have to check out; watching a really old Bruce Lee movie on TV called “game of death”.

3:29pm　新幹線
Just got on the Shinkansen, and I’m speeding back to Kyoto; sitting on my suitcase again, but I don’t mind. I’m just really, really tired; as soon as I get home I just want to crash on the futon. The sun’s already low in the sky, so the day will be over when I return. I have no idea what I’m going to going to have for dinner; I have nothing in the fridge. Maybe I’ll just make rice. I’m nowhere near hungry now anyway… After checking out of the hostel (which served its purpose most adequately), we took the subway to 矢場町 (Yabacho) where Sweets Paradise is. It was a little hard to find, since the complex it is situated in (Parco) was actually made up of three interconnected buildings (south, east, and west). We went into the south building first, unaware of the others at the time. It took as a bit before we actually realised it was in the east building; it was easy to find it after that.

We reserved a table, and had a 30 minute wait. I decided to do some exploring; Alex stayed put. So many clothes; all so expensive… I did find a great music shop though, which had heaps of sheet music. I found some Studio Ghibli stuff first, and almost died when I found the Final Fantasy books; Finally!!! I bought 2 and then made it back just in time for us to be seated. I think I did a lot better than last time; in the 70 minutes I had two plates of cake, two bowls of ice cream, bowl of fruit, and a plate of spaghetti. I think Alex really enjoyed it too. I was smaller than the one in Shinsaibashi, but still really great. On that floor (the 8th), there was also a cooking studio for workshops, which looked really cool. After getting stuffed, we went back to the music store, and I played some more piano for Alex, sight reading from one of my new books; she had to help me hold it open. After spending about an hour there, we went back to Sakae, and then look the Higashiyama line to Nagoya. Then it was time to say goodbye; miss Alex already. Anyways, time to rest a bit…

4:00pm　京都
Just made it to Kyoto, now onto Kintestu line, then Keihan, then bus home…

4:51pm　バス
Just got on the bus at Hirakata station; almost home. Coming out of the loudspeaker in the station is a koto piece I recognise from koto club; I think it’s rokudan. So cool… so there you have it, the end of my Nagoya trip; I can’t believe it’s over already; it really was an amazing trip, but went so fast. Probably has something to do with the fact that we turned 4 days into 2! I think I’ll just have a lazy day tomorrow; probably do my laundry.

Day 119 - 27th of December

11:36am　名城線
天気：晴れ
On the subway to Sakae; I only woke up an hour ago; I must have really needed the sleep. Alex only just got also, so it’ll take her a while to get to Sakae. In the mean time I’m going to get some brunch. Today is warm, and fine, and I’m feeling ready to pull another all nighter; at karaoke.

11:07am　栄
Still waiting for Alex; I’m in the station. Just got a text… I got food at a bakery (called Steiner) in Oasis 21 (that’s the name of the plaza in Sakae station). Gosh, I love Japan’s bakeries; so good. I spent the rest of the time exploring; went in the NHK character store (had a lot of Ghibli merchandise too), the Jump shop (anime paraphernalia), and the Pokémon centre, then the park, and aqua spaceship again; very different in the day… Found Alex; she’s getting food from Makkas now. It’s so crazy here; in this Makkas, you actually have to separate the straw and lid from the cup, and then put them in separate bins. The line is way out the door, but the service is excellent (as it is everywhere); Alex will be out in no time…

1:47pm　名城線
We’re on the subway to 市役所 (shiyakusho – city hall), and from there walking to the castle.

4:00pm　名城線
On the train back to Sakae. Just came from the castle…

4:03pm　東山線
Just made the train; going to Nagoya station. Almost there already…

6:07pm　桜通線
We’re making our way to 大曽根 (Ozone), just because of the name. I think we’re going to eat dinner there. We joked that someone should have a place there called “The Ozone Layer”; that would be epic. We were just at Nagoya station, watching this amazing light display; got it on film.

6:17pm 名城線
This is so random, and so much fun. We’re only 4 stops away, on the Meijo line. The subway system here is so cool, and the fact that you can get a whole day pass for such a low price makes it all the more awesome. There’s so many different ways to get where you want to go, and everything connects to the loop line; Meijo.

9:01pm　名城線
Alex loves watching the guy work (aka, watching the conductor opening and closing the train doors). We are conducting a little experiment here; how long it takes to get all the way round the Meijo loop line. This is so awesome, and it’s a good time to update my journal. Mmm… just finished a Milky Way; thanks Alex… today has been so random. I really enjoyed the castle. We wandered around the gardens before entering the main grounds. There was a group of guys dressed as samurai for people to take photos with; they were very popular among the girls in particular. There was also a lot of construction going on; we found out that they are reconstructing the 本丸御殿 (Honmaru Goten – Hommaru Palace), next to the castle; it was burnt down during the WWII. They’re estimating it won’t be completed until 2018; I’ll have to come back then to see it. Oh yeah, and 2010 marks the 400th anniversary of the incorporation of Nagoya city; that’s pretty awesome.

Anyway, we explored the 天守閣 (tenshukaku – keep) for a while, and took in the views from the top, before making our way back down and out. I stopped at the gift shop outside and I bought myself another pin for my bag. After that, we went to Big Camera near Nagoya station, and I had a lot of enjoyment playing the piano there, while Alex listened. Then, we both had a lot of fun playing with Lego on a little kids table (it had four seats and boards incorporated into it). I built a tower and Alex a spaceship, and then we both wrote our names in Lego; that was so cool. After that, we went to Ozone and had an amazing dinner at this ramen place while watching the ice skating on TV.

I noticed that today was 仏滅 (Butstumetsu – Buddha’s Death), which is supposed to be a very unlucky day in the six day Buddhist cycle ~ 赤口 (shakku – unlucky for all activities, with only the period around noon being auspicious), 先勝 (sensho – lucky for the morning, but not the afternoon), 友引 (tomobiki – good day for business and lawsuits), 先負 (senbu – lucky day, but not in the morning), bustumetsu then, 大安 (taian – auspicious day); then it repeats. These days are displayed on many calendars, and that’s how I noticed it. Well, it certainly wasn’t an unlucky day for us. We joked that everyone elses bad luck left surplus good luck for us. Seriously though, the number of times we just made the train…

After dinner, we went to another electronic shop nearby, and I convinced myself I wanted a DS lite; didn’t have enough money to buy anything then though. We then got on the train and started our experiment; we’re only one stop away from Ozone again now. After this, we’re going to jump on as many of the other lines as we can… And we’re done; it took almost 49 minutes! Alex said doing this experiment makes everything feel closer. Okay so now we’re moving onto our second experiment; transfer time and train times on other lines inside the loop. We’re going to end up in Motoyama, then take the subway to Hongo, and then bus it to where Alex lives and find Karaoke…

10:46pm　鶴見線
Alex just realised that the last bus is at 11; we won’t make it in time. We’re on the 鶴見線 (Tsurumi line) now, doing our crazy subway experiment…

11:05pm　名城線
Mission aborted… we were worried we wouldn’t make it to Sakae before the last train, so we’re going now there now…

11:44pm　栄
We’re in Karaoke now; got till 6 am. See you tomorrow…

Day 118 - 26th of December

12:57am　Denny’s
天気：曇り
Hanging out with Alex in Denny’s 24 hour café; we’ve been here since 11. Had some dinner here, and dessert, and we’ve just been chatting about everything. We’re in Sakae, which is just 4 stops down from Kanayama on the subway. We explored the station first, which is really beautiful. There are dinosaur statues all lit up, a skating rink, heaps of shops, and the Pokémon centre; we even got some ice cream from Baskin and Robins. The roof is especially amazing. It’s a glass structure with large pool on top; so you can see the water above from the ground floor; it’s aptly named the 水の宇宙船 (mizu no uchuusen – aqua spaceship). After taking some video of that, and the Nagoya TV Tower, we walked over, and rode the Sky Boat; a Ferris wheel on the side of a building. After that, we went to Karaoke for 3 hours, and payed quite a bit more that we wanted, but oh well, it was fun; that’s what matters… I think we’re going to end up spending the whole night here.

2:41am　Denny’s
Still here; just finished the lateral thinking puzzles. We got 28 out of 50 correct. This is so much fun. Randomest night ever…

3:05am　Denny’s
Just finished the trivia question; they weren’t as fun as the lateral thinking puzzles.

3:49am　Denny’s
I love the glasses here. They have indents where you put your thumb and third finger; ingenious, but simple innovation. Anyway, I think we’re going to head out now. We’ve been here for almost 5 hours; crazy!!! Oh wow, there are two police men in here; a guy’s at a table and he’s not responding, so they’re talking with him now… It looks like it’s all been sorted out; I think the manager’s just apologised to the guy; so weird.

5:23am　地下鉄
We’re in the subway, waiting for the first train to Kanayama; I’m going to go back to the hostel, and shower and change. Bought an all day ticket, which can be used on all buses and trains linked to the 名城線 (Meijo line) for just 600円. We just spent the last hour and a half wandering around the outside of Sakae station, and park, taking pictures of cats. We’re going to go back to Alex’s dorm and chill there for most of the day.

6:05am　Hostel Ann
Just chilling in the hostel. I had a shower and gave Alex her Christmas present; kimono obi and yatsuhashi.

8:12am　Vie de France
Just ate a breakfast consisting of spinach and fetta pastry, and an apple cake at Vie de France in 本郷駅 (Hongo station). Going to catch the bus to Alex’s dorm…

12:21pm　I-house
Just had a couple of hours sleep here on the lounge, and feel a lot better now. I’m just about to steal some of Alex’s cereal for “breakfast”. I’ve been introduced to a few people here; they all seem very lively. Don’t know what we’ll be doing for the rest of the day… The “I-house”, as it’s called is pretty nice. Unfortunately for me as a guest, I don’t get to see most of it. I’m only allowed in the lounge, 玄関 (genkan - entrance) and 中庭 (nakaniwa – courtyard); I can’t even go up stairs to see Alex’s room; oh well, rules are rules I guess.

3:21pm　I-house
I here in the lounge, and typing this in real time! I’ve been working on my blog for the past few hours, while Alex has been helping Rosy record her singing voice for a friend’s Christmas present; she has an amazing voice. They’ve had to do it in the hall in front of the guest toilet’s, since guests aren’t allowed in the library, or anywhere they could find that was quiet for that matter; Rosy has just moved out of I-house so she’s technically a guest. Oh, and technically, I’m supposed to be with Alex at all times. I tried sitting with them on the floor for a little while, but then my battery was about to die on my laptop so I come back in here. This lounge is really cool. They have to TV’s and a multitude of consoles; PS2, PS3, Wii, two Nintendo. They even have two of those step pads for a dancing game. I’m starving, so hopefully Alex will be done soon so we can go out and eat…

9:45pm　Hostel Ann
I’m in my bed, in my room, in the hostel and, on second inspection, it’s actually a lot nicer than I thought. Yes it’s small, but the beds are a decent size; I fit in the top bunk comfortably. All the bedding is supplied, and although the mattress is thin, I’m sure I’ll sleep like a log regardless; so tired. And we even have an air conditioner; I’m actually really warm now… Alex and I went for dinner at an okonomiyaki place down the road at about 5, which was really nice. Walking there and back wasn’t very pleasant though; it was cold and windy. Getting back, we chilled out at the I-house a bit longer, watching a guy play this really cool game on the PS3. At about 8:50, we caught the bus back to Hongo station, and then trained it to Sakae to get an Oreo McFlurry with fries to dip at Makkas. We went to the Pokémon centre again, and I got something for Ben. Alex informed me that there are actually 5 Pokémon centres in Japan, the newest being in Sapporo. I can’t believe we didn’t go there; but I have a feeling I might have actually have seen it, I just can’t remember where. Anyway, we split ways after that, ready to meet up again tomorrow in Sakae; we’re going to go to Big Camera (electronics store) and Nagoya castle. I’m going to get some sleep now…

Day 117 - 25th of December

1:23pm　特急
天気：曇り
I’m on the rapid express to Tambabashi, where I’ll change over for Kyoto station on the Kinsetsu line. I won’t write much since I’m standing. Gosh it’s hot today though; I’m disappointed…

1:26pm　特急
Okay, now I’m sitting down, just left Kuzuha. So yeah, I put my huge warm coat on and feel disgusting. I think I’ll put it in my suitcase. I realise it’s a bit of a late start, but I should make it there a little after 3; it’ll be fine. This morning was really nice. Seeing everyone and the smiles on their faces as they opened the presents we spoke for about two hours. The two boxes arrived on time, but I forgot to ask them about the postcards; hopefully they made it. I gave everyone in the dorm I could find a candy cane, and left one for my roommate. When I got to Hirakata station, I wanted to go to the ATM; that didn’t happen. The line was coming out the door. I was also really surprised that the bank was even open; Christmas really isn’t that important here. Not much else to say… oh just wanted to add that the train is relatively quiet; the fact that I’m sitting down is a rarity. I guess most people aren’t travelling, but I guess that makes sense.

1:44pm　丹波橋
I’m in Tambabashi, and I thought I was lucky, getting here for the limited express, but when it came in, I realised that you needed a different ticket, which is more expensive…

1:52pm　急行
Oh well, now I’m on the express and I even get to sit down. I’ll get to Kyoto, soon enough…

2:16pm　新幹線
Phew, just made it on in time. Going to take some video…

2:35pm　新幹線
I’m sitting on my suitcase, right in front of the door, watching the world rapidly speed past; it’s spectacular. So many Shinkansen have gone past already; and you can feel it every time one goes past. Since I got a non-reserved ticket, there aren’t any seats, so although the suitcase isn’t comfortable, at least I can sit down, and get a great view. See you soon Alex…

2:47pm　新幹線
Wow, I’m already here; that took only 30 minutes!!!

3:20pm　名古屋駅
Out the front of the station, waiting for Alex. Just had Makkas for lunch; feeling great, xD. I’m in Nagoya; that’s so cool!!! 4th largest city in Japan, and uncharted territory for me; this is Alex’s town.

4:00pm　特急
On the limited express to 金山 (Kamayama) with Alex. It took us a while, but we finally found the right train…

5:04pm　名城線
On the train to 栄 (Sakae). Just came from my accommodation. I can see why it’s so cheap. The rooms are so tiny!!! 4 people are squished into a space half the size of my dorm; it’s probably even smaller than my room at home. Oh well, it’s only for sleeping. I’ve already met one of my bunkmates; a guy from Perth. Alex was having a good old conversation with him. Have to go…