Hiroshima...

Finally, I made it to Hiroshima! It's been the one place I've REALLY wanted to see, so I made sure of it this time. Shinkansen trip from Osaka, then a short ride on the Hiroshima Hiroden Tram system, I had arrived at the place I had wanted to see - Genbaku Dome-mae!

Everyone knows the story, and has read all about Hiroshima...

But nothing can prepare you for actually being there to take it in!

After walking around the Peace Park, I went to visit the Museum!

Perfect example, Model scale - Before and After the Atomic bomb!

...and an Aerial Photograph taken of the City Before and After!

A VERY touching and emotional place...Clocks stopped at 8.16am

No words can really explain the atomosphere or feeling of being here. It really is a VERY emotional place, that just gives you an overwhelming feeling. But I do hope the photos help explain more... Makes me realise and think many things. But lets think of the new Hiroshima...PEACE! Hopefully you can visit and experience here too!

Real Kyoto...

Update time with a few photos of another day spent enjoying Kyoto!

The whole idea for me was to relax and take in the REAL Kyoto!

Plenty of walking and talking, but then stopped here along the way!

...VERY famous Ochaya Tea House, to sample some of Kyoto's finest!

A little more walking and enjoying more things along the way...

Night time approached, a perfect time to be at Kiyomizudera!

After, it was time for a relaxing walk around Hanami-Koji, Gion

This is the perfect place to experience the REAL Kyoto culture!

Getting hungry, it was time to choose from the MANY restuarants!

Amazing food, atmosphere, hospitality...this is the REAL Kyoto!

Good Times...

Pictures can say a thousand words eh?! Good Times...

... Saki, Chris, Yukari, Mao ...

Kyushu...

Boarded the Shinkansen yet again, this time bound for Kyushu. I still had not made it to Kyushu before, so this time I made a promise, and well the rest is history! Arrived at Kokura and checked in to the Tomoko Inn haha, then got to hang out with Tomoko. I really didn't know what to expect from Kyushu, but I like it! Relaxed, with a very different atomosphere, compared to that of Kanto, Kansai etc, Its somewhere I can definetly imagine staying longer. Some photos...

First stop, 'Moko and me went to check out Kokura Castle!

Very beautiful place, with great history, and city view!

Small, but cosy, this is what I liked about Kokura, just nice!

Nice Japanese Garden nearby, Peace & Quiet within the City!

We took the train then to Shimonoseki haha, I mean Mojiko!

Relaxing, walking, talking...Everything just seems so right...

This was one of my most favourite times ever in Japan!

Nara...

No matter how many times I've visited Kansai, or how long I've stayed in Japan, I still had never been to Nara! So after many friends telling me to go, I made the long awaited trip via Kyoto! To be honest, I didn't know what to expect from Nara, but it definetly exceeded all of my expectations! Hopefully I can return to explore it more soon!

So I'll let the photos do the talking for now...Todaiji Temple!

Beautiful scenery, unspoiled, I really like it here...Relaxing!

Nice relaxed countryside atmosphere, where Deer run wild!

...and a nice atmospheric view over Nara at dusk time!

Kofukuji Temple...

Typhoons Suck...

But being used to rain and storms, It didn't stop me...

Kyoto...

Staying in Yokohama is always great, and close to Tokyo, and Fuji, but in reality, thats about it! Staying in Osaka opens up much more options to explore all of Kansai. Easy and close access to Kobe, Nagoya, Mie, Nara, Okayama, on to Hiroshima etc, and of course Kyoto! So next on my list was Kyoto... abusing the great JR Pass while I still can, Kyoto is only 15mins away on the Shinkansen!

Just a short train ride from Kyoto to Inari Station you will find this!

Fushimi Inari Shrine! VERY famous and I can see why...Beautiful

I have always wanted to go here for years and photograph the many Torii Gates that make up this shrine 'walkway' built on Inari-San! Unfortunatly it was raining alot with the typhoon closing in, so I had to make the most of it! Here's the view along the walking trail, inside the 'tunnel' still dry even if raining! Hopefully next time is sunshine!

Definetly somewhere I would recommend, and return to again!

After all that it was back to Osaka for some Kansai dinner and beer!

Osaka Castle...

Making plenty of free time, so thought I'd check out some more of Osaka, especially some of the cool places I hadn't been to before. So off with some friends to visit the recommended Osaka Castle!

Out of all, this has to be one best presented Castles I've seen!

Floors of history, take your time to study it all on the way up...

Then you get to see this great view of downtown Osaka, and towards the Port! Awsome! Of course I was standing at the top chattin' to lil Moko on the phone haha, this was the view I was explaining!

On the move...

After killin' a few days with friends in Yokohama, it was time to be on the move again. Catch the Shinkansen from Shin-Yokohama...

Next stop was Kansai . . . Osaka to be precise!

Then rolled into the new crib, just off the Midosuji Line...

10 mins from downtown Osaka, but still quiet enough to relax!

Random Snap...

After all the dramas, made it back to Tokyo...More updates soon!