Julie in Japan

I find myself on the Pacific rim of fire!

Tuesday, 31 July 2007

Jo in Japan

We have had a couple of weeks having a good look around the South with Japanese rail passes that allowed us to get on and off the train as much as we liked: great value. (They need to be purchased before arriving in Japan.) Jo loved being whisked around by the famous Shinkansen bullet train at cool speeds of up to 270km/h.

Eating sushi he is in his element. Raw fish, seafood or vegetables top of vinegared rice with wasabi, dipped in soy sauce, you're supposed to eat each piece in one bite (quite a mouthful, even for us) or else it falls to bits. Our favourite sushi reataurants are where small plates of sushi circulate on a conveyer belt on the counter. We reach for the dishes we want and pay for the number taken. As you can see Jo has a sizeable stack in front of him.

We met this guy at the Korakuen Garden at Okayama, considered one of the three most beautifully landscaped gardens in Japan. (The Japanese love to rate everything!) Completed in 1700 after 14 years of work. Pond, running streams, pine trees, plum and cherry trees, azaleas and hydrangas, bamboo groves, tea houses and tea plantations. He was a volunteer guide who had his work cut out trying hard to speak English from his notes as it thundered and poured with rain. We ended up drinking coffee instead.

Jo pats a stone turtles head for good luck at this grave established in 1664. It is famous for midnight strolls that terrorised residents.

We stayed at a business hotel; miniscule rooms fitted with everything you need. This guest delighter was lollies and chips to dip in chocolate in the reception, mmm.

Great food at this family restaurant that has been running for 40 years, the girls and mum were delightful. The menu: yakizakana (grilled fish) vegetable, tofu, soup, rice and tea, $12 for both of us.