Kanazawa Station had been completely rebuilt since my home stay in 2002. What had been a large, rundown stop on the line was now a work of art in its own right.
Just look at this Shinto gate!
Continue reading Heaths Come to Japan – Day 12 – To Tokyo We Go
Friday, Day 6 began bright and early as we caught a morning train back to Beppu to give us time to take a breather before we boarded the overnight ferry for Osaka that evening. I took advantage of the low number of passengers to grab another hour or so of sleep as we quietly zoomed through the beautiful Kyushu countryside.
The weather remained unchanged with it’s slight drizzle and low-hanging clouds, but I’ve always felt that sort of stuff lends an extra bit of beauty to a lush countryside panorama.
Continue reading Heaths Come to Japan – Day 6 – Shamisen Surprise, Overnight Ferry
Today was a travel day, the final destination being the city of Kagoshima at the southern tip of Kyushu. All we had to actually accomplish today was get down to Kagoshima, which takes just over four hours altogether on the train… …and consequently would be my parents’ first experience of the absolutely marvelous Japanese rail transportation system.
Continue reading Heaths Come to Japan – Day 4 – On the Train
Tuesday the 12th was a sort of “off day” after the action packed introduction to Beppu that was Monday. I didn’t have any concrete plans for my parents, although some sort of scheme with Choki-san was penciled into the afternoon timeslot. In short, my parents got to enjoy the charming luxuries of their ryokan while I slept in.
I wasn’t kidding when I said I had set them up in one kickass little place – check out this spanking awesome breakfast promptly laid out at 7:30am for my mother in the adjoining room.
Continue reading Heaths Come to Japan – Day 3 – Marine Life and Monkey Sex
