blonde poker forum

So i guess Boshi is the man here, but anyone else just chime in.

I'm booked up for 12 days in Japland, reckon its going to be great but different.

My only 2 definates are Tokyo and Kyoto, probs 3 days each.

So where else should I go?

Seems to be so many places that are possible.

Hiroshima? Is that just a tick box or is there lots to see other than where the bomb was dropped?

Okninawa  rotflmfao Yeah I know but I love the Karate kid! Plus the beaches look nice and I don't want to do just cities...

Hakone/Fuji? Apparently you can't see the mountain 95% of the time anyway? Worth it?

Osaka- Sounds like small tokyo but good for a night out on the ales but cheaper than Tokyo?

Any suggestions for a mixed up trip with a bit of variation are welcome please?

The bullet train is so expensive that travelling a different way from Tokyo to Kyoto on the way back i.e. via Okinawa is an attractive option rather than just retracing my steps for the same price.

how the fuck have you managed to mistype Japan as 'Japland'. It's two letters longer and infinitely more offensive ffs.

Whatever, I can't see anything offensive about it, honestly if there is a nit to pick it will be picked on here FAF  rotflmfao rotflmfao rotflmfao

you don't get to decide what other people are offended by. but whatever.

Yeah but i get to decide if people are big girls blouses or not   :P

i also dont get how thats offensive

Jap is offensive, hence Japland must be offensive? 

is Brit Offensive then?  :dontask:

No, don't take my word for it, read a dictionary, or Wikipedia, or maybe just go to Japan and try shouting it out in a few places?

Well this is the first time I've heard anyone say this in 44 years, so my experience is different to yours...

Anyway, I'd like to know about Japan, a place I am really looking forward to visiting, do you have any info?

I would say comparing Katie Hopkins on Twitter to people about to be killed by ISIS is probably worse, but some people are so easily offended these days, what do I know.......

Alright, I don't want this thread to end up in a big what's acceptable v what isn't thread, if you want to do that start another thread please. Let's stick to travel info here and I'll help you lads out when you are going places I can help with thanks...

Will be back with more info, but definitely have a look at this:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361.html

Not something I could use when I was out there as it's only for those on a tourist visa, but it means you can jump on and off trains and get across the country without worrying about the cost of each journey.

Tokyo is massive. I'd argue that three days isn't enough.

You want to go to places like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku and Ueno to see the standard Tokyo sights and sounds. Like London, each area is different and offers a different experience. It's a busy place, but other than the size and the number of people it's easy to get round. All the signs at the stations are in English as well as Japanese, even out in the sticks. The trains are amazing there, and even though you have heard about how on time they are and how well run it is, it still surprises you!

If you're into your electronics, a trip to Akihabara is a must. Saying that, it could be a lot different now as it was fifteen years since I was there. But it used to be the place to go for the latest consumer electronics stuff and it was an amazing place, especially in the evening when it's all lit up.

When are you going? The best time is Spring or Autumn as the weather is fantastic then and the scenery looks the best. Autumn probably my favourite time there.

Kyoto is a great place to go for the temples and shrines, some of the gardens are amazing. Nara is also good, but you probably don't need to do both.

Osaka is also worth seeing, and more interesting as Japan's second city than Birmingham is here :D

Hiroshima is definitely worth a visit. The Peace Memorial Park and museum is an experience I'd recommend. There's lots more to Hiroshima as well, and again wherever you go there's amazing scenery to enjoy.

Depends exactly what you're after. I was out there for a few years and didn't see all the places I wanted to see, the same as in the UK I guess. I'd say make time to go to an onsen (hot spring baths), ideally one in a mountain area, possibly near Fuji. Even better if you go when there's snow on the ground.

Try and stay in some traditional ryokan as well as western style hotels. I know you like your food, and the food there is amazing. Obviously sushi and sashimi should be on the menu, but there's a massive range of food available.

Never went to Okinawa, but it looks amazing. Quite a journey out to Naha though if you're only there for twelve nights. It's like a different country I've been told.

It's also worth looking at visiting some of the other main islands of Japan. Honshu is the main one where Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima are. But Hokkaido in the north is breathtaking in terms of the scenery, as are Kyushu and Shikoku. But as your time's limited you might want to stuck to Honshu.

I was just trying to explain why Japland may be offensive.  I have only been to Tokyo and as Kiniboshi says, it is bloody massive.  Not sure I'd say that is a reason to spend more time there though, but I haven't seen the other side!

Cheers Dan will read it all properly later.  :)up

Ok sorted and have a rough plan, going end of Aug, not booked my outbound flight from japan back to Bangkok yet so may actually stay up to 14 days. I'm basically gonna get a 14 day rail pass and just wing it when I'm there, not going to plan specific numbers of days in each city just go with the flow and see what happens, which what I normally do on my trips. Will go through Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima and depending on time either just keep going south to Kyushu or divert to Shikoku en route to Hiroshima depending on time and which way the wind is blowing on the day I need to make a decision. Will look for flights back from either Osaka or one of the other cities down there back to bangkok in the meantime so I can make a quick dash to the airport when time runs out. Gonna bin Okinawa this trip, not really practical for a first trip there, wax on wax off lol.

Couple of Q's

Driving in japan....might rent a car the odd day to get out into the rural and scenic areas as i really don't want to spend all my time in the cities. I assume driving is easy enough there? I know I need an international permit to drive...

Signs....I know English isn't spoken by most there, that is not a problem used to that. But I assume for trains and renting a car etc there are some English signs to help me out?

Best area for a night on the piss in the cities I've mentioned? lol (gonna be expensive for that so might have to limit my nights out doh!)

Any other money saving tips so I don't blow the bank? Is the street food food ok? Pretty sure I can do it for £100 a day including hotel when there as I'll have paid for train etc in advance.

Driving is dead easy. Right hand drive cars, they drive on the left like us. Driving in the busy parts of Tokyo isn't fun, definitely stick to the trains. Petrol stations are serviced. You just pull up (you'll enjoy the welcome) and ask "man-tan ni shi-te kudasai" which means "fill her up!" They'll ask if you've got any rubbish and they'll clean your windscreen for you. Then come to get the money from you so you don't have to move a muscle.

Toll roads are expensive, but empty. Probably because they're expensive. But use your rail pass for long journeys anyway.

Signs at the stations are in English as well as Japanese, even in the sticks. You can ask people at the station if you're not sure which train or platform, and people will be very helpful. The rail pass is for JR trains and trains running on JR lines (I think), so be aware that there are other operators. Again, just ask, and the staff at the stations are most helpful. If you go to Shinjuku station expect to get lost. It's massive. There's also more than one. Think there are over a dozen platforms just for the shinkansen (bullet train) never mind all the normal trains.

Most have rudimentary English, they all study it at school.

Larger road signs are in English as well, but in more rural areas, some of the signs won't be. There's always sat-nav I guess.

Roppongi in Tokyo is the ex-pat area for bars and stuff. I avoided it on the whole. Much better to find some isakaya instead (Japanese pub) elsewhere in Tokyo. They tend to be eating and drinking establishments though, but I'm sure you'll cope :D

A quick search on the web will probably serve up more places than I could recommend, and the places I went to might not exist anymore!

Not sure what it's like now, but some good bars and other places (apparently) in Kabukicho in Shinjuku.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabukich%C5%8D,_Tokyo

Oh and the best thing in the world are Japanese vending machines. They have them for virtually anything. I had one outside my house that sold beer and whisky. Was well used.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=jidohanbaiki

Not much in the easy of street food, but any stalls or shops on the streets will be perfectly fine.

I'd probably avoid "fugu" sashimi from anyone other than a licensed restaurant though!

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugu

Cheers for all that. Strange as it sounds the food is the thing I'm least excited about, not gonna be eating any raw fish (I'm pretty picky about cooked fish even) and I've never been grabbed by it when seeing it, hence have tried very little of their food. Anyway, at least this trip will force me to have a go with it and maybe have my opinion swayed somewhat...

£2.50 for a hot dog and £1.50 for a big can of beer, think I'll be ok  :D

http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/24-things-you-can-buy-from-a-Japanese-vending-machine

The food is immense. So much variety, and even if you're not into cooked fish don't rule out sashimi.  But you don't need to touch it and there are so many other things to choose from.

No mention of porn there, maybe there aren't (m)any around any more because of the internet?

Wouldn't mind going to see some sumo, I'm aware of the big tournaments which aren't on when I'm there and I can't seem to find any local fights to go and watch, is there anything or is it confined to the big tournaments? I'm guessing there must be stuff for the up and coming fighters but can't seem to find any info about it online.

Jealous. Love Japan. Spent 7 weeks in Tokyo a few years back. Just a few quick bullet points, will try to write more later.

- train pass is essential, you need to get it before you go
- Much more to Japanese food than sushi. Try Ramen, Okonomiyaki (spelling?!), Japanese curry - it's different from Indian
- You can go to an 'izakaya' for cheap drinks and cheap food
- I really enjoyed the sumo. You can also go to see a sumo training centre (like a boxing gym) if you plan in advance
- If you go to the Onsen (sauna) and you have tattoos, there are gonna be scenes!
- Kamakura and Nara are really nice day trips
- My favourite bar in Tokyo. It is about the size of a wardrobe, I made some great friends there. https://www.facebook.com/beatcafe
- Japanese people mega polite. The bowing is out of control and you will do it too after a while. most speak some English but you really have to coax it out of them
- taxis are ridic expensive

Cheers for all that. I've read about the training centre but it's nearly 100 quid to go from what I've seen online, do know anything to the contrary? Not sure I am willing to pay 100 quid...

Deffo doing the Izakayas, some of the drinking areas seem a bit sketchy for a first timer who doesn't know where they should or shouldn't be going, I don't want to get massively ripped off or worse.

Deffo don't have tattoos, I'm not Mafia  8)

It's highly unlikely you'll get fleeced, you might end up somewhere more expensive than you thought, but I didn't get ripped off once whilst I was there.

The kare raisu (curry) is excellent, and a great fall-back option where food is concerned. The ramen/soba/udon noodles are good snacks, and you'll soon find a variety that's your favourite.  But as bergeroo said, there's loads of choice in terms of food.  Teppanyaki, okonomiyaki, tempura, shabu-shabu, yakitori, tonkatsu (and of course, the ubiquitous katsu-curry), there's loads.  But the sashimi and sushi are the highlights for me.  There's also the Kobe beef, and you don't have to go to Kobe to get it, although you could as it's on the way to Hiroshima and enjoyed the week I spent in the Kobe area (but it was an expenses-paid trip :)).

Paiiiiiiiiii them Woodsey!

When in Rome etc. :)

I was like yourself with Sushi, but since being coaxed into trying it about 6 years back, I love it.

I went to the sumo bout as it was on when I was there. So sorry I don't have an insider tip for the training centres. There is this Australian guy who does commentary in English. You hire a headset and he does all the matches, tells you about the fighters, styles, rivalries and techniques. It was really great.

One  of my favourite books about Japan

Angry White Pyjamas - three out of shape Westerners train for a year with the Tokyo Riot Police
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Angry-White-Pyjamas-Oxford-Trains/dp/0753808587

Actually I've since read it might be possible to go to a couple of the camps for free, you just need to phone ahead and book an appointment, so we will see.

I was a big fan of sumo when I was out there. Went twice in Tokyo and once in Osaka, but watched every honbasho on TV and a group of us even got a mention by the commentators as being a group of gaijin who knew their sumo! Makes a big difference if you are following it, and know which sumo favours which technique, who's favourite to win each bout, and when there's a giant-killing on the cards (a kinboshi!).

But even without that it's a great spectacle.

Although you're not there for a honbasho, there might be an exhibition event on somewhere?

Awesome thread guys! Going to Japan in March. Can you bet on the sumo? Where's best to go skiing from Tokyo base?

Not sure about March, but for skiing I'd guess Nagano or possibly further up north maybe even up in Hokkaido. They're all a quick flight from Tokyo. I only went to a resort near Sendai, as it was only a few hours drive from where I lived. Probably not the best skiing in Japan though.

As for betting on the sumo, you can and you can't. It's not legal, but of course there are ways. Not easy for a gaijin though, you'll need someone to help you get a bet on.

So I'm weighing up my options here. Deffo doing Tokyo for 3/4 days, deffo Kyoto 3 days, will have a day at the end in Hiroshima before flying out the following morning.

The question is...I quite fancy getting of the main tourist rat run and into the countryside and smaller villages for a few days to mix up the trip a bit, I'm toying with renting a car and mooching around Shikoku island for 3 or 4 days. To make that worthwhile and not rushed I would either need to totally skip Osaka or maybe just have a day there...

I'm thinking between Tokyo and Kyoto I'll have had a decent flavour of old and new Japan, so is Osaka worth bothering with or just another big city that wouldn't add much beyond Tokyo/Kyoto? And with that in mind would a few days around Shikoku be worth skipping Osaka for?

This could be a way of seeing a different side to Japan - stay at someone's house.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/magazine/meet-the-unlikely-airbnb-hosts-of-japan.html?_r=0

Yeah might do something like that.

What about Osaka then? After doing two other cities, do you reckon doing a few days on Shikoku would be better than another city? Or is there some must see stuff in Osaka?

It's up to you really. If someone was visiting the UK and had spent some time in London and Scotland, would you say to them to go to Wales or visit Manchester/Liverpool?

That NY Times article made me a bit annoyed and sad. When I first started travelling I couchsurfed a lot. I had some great experiences meeting loads of different people and stayed on their couches and in their spare rooms all for free, as well as hosting people too. Now you can stay on someone's sofa for $42 a night. People's generosity and goodwill has been monetised by airbnb.

I had some great couchsurfing experiences in Japan. I stayed with two hosts. One were a couple ,Polish/Japanese in Yokohama. They had a traditional Japanese home complete with bamboo mats and the sliding doors and all that jazz. I got to go to a few places with them, the best being a tiny bar which was basically someone's garage with no sign, where you could do two things, drink sake and eat food. It was ran by two old ladies who may have been 80. It was sitting on the floor only and the rules are thus, you can have food, but you don't get to choose, you just get a plate of what they are serving that day, and you can have up to three drinks maximum of sake, which is poured from a big teapot thing. After that, no more alcohol. It was brilliant.

The second was an American naval officer who lives in a smallish town near the big navy base outside Tokyo. He basically had all of his possessions shipped over and had a little piece of the US in Japan. He took me on a tour of all these old naval ships and gave me a great insight into being in the American military that I would never had gotten otherwise.

Before I went I watched loads of these video blogs about different things in Japan. They are generally pretty funny
https://www.youtube.com/user/tokyocooney

I would say that Osaka would not feel dramatically different from Tokyo, ie a big city. You will get to experience the Kansai region by spending a few days in Kyoto. They are only about 40 miles apart so perhaps you can just do an afternoon trip if there is something you wanted to particularly see in Osaka?

I am not sure about driving in Japan though, how do you plan to deal with following the roadsigns and stuff like that?

Cheers mate, I had already half made my mind up but was interested in the opinion of someone who had been to Osaka, and yes if we have done what we want to in 2 days in Kyoto a day trip is possible.

From the research I've done it sounds like signs are mostly in English also apart from in the smallest places. Road numbers are easy to follow even if I can't read the signs, and a few of the car rental companies give you GPS for free that operate in English as well as Japanese. I'm not especially worried about any of that, I'm just trying to suss out driving times/distances around the Island and one way rental costs v backtracking a bit just to plan a bit better as I'm pretty bad for just winging it on my travels, but as time is tight this trip I need to be more organised really.

Driving in Japan is dead easy,especially on the bigger roads. I drove from Tokyo to Hiroshima, over a handful of days stopping off at various places on the way. That was without sat-nav.

Sidenote: I'd lived over there for a few years and can read and write Japanese :D

Well here finally after a bit of time in Thailand. Will stick up some pics here as and when.

A few initial impressions....

-The Locals are very friendly if a little formal and rigid, been out for a few beers tonight and had groups of friends chatting to me on a couple of occasions without me trying chat with them.
-The transport system here in Tokyo is great, there was a bit of head scratching to start off with but after that the underground has been easy to get around on
-Food seems to be the hardest thing to sort out, very few places have English menus. I'm a picky eater so if I'm forced into ordering random Jap food I'm probably going to dip out and go western.
-There is surprisingly few cars on the roads, can't believe how few in fact right in the middle of Tokyo, maybe their public transport is so good they don't need cars?
-Every man and their dog told me how expensive Japan was going to be before I came, what a load of nonsense, I'm sure it can be but I reckon it's cheaper than London for equivalent stuff for the most part. Hotel £60, 1 day underground ticket £5, bottle of coke from corner shop 75p, plate of food and beer in restaurant £10, half litre of beer £2-3, sandwich for lunch in coffee shop £1.50 and free water that I was expecting to pay for.

Out for now....

A few pics from Tokyo, will keep posting from out here if people are interested.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/6C58C158-8615-4915-8578-1754944CC946_zpslog7zget.jpg)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/21B3F701-B040-4550-9A88-5DC95ADDE26C_zpsswljsm2d.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/21B3F701-B040-4550-9A88-5DC95ADDE26C_zpsswljsm2d.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/0CE828E0-A4B4-43B3-8EE4-15EBE0A3B4E6_zpsbicubksj.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/0CE828E0-A4B4-43B3-8EE4-15EBE0A3B4E6_zpsbicubksj.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/E102514A-C563-40B8-9C8E-BCB8FBB7A9BA_zps0zhomatx.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/E102514A-C563-40B8-9C8E-BCB8FBB7A9BA_zps0zhomatx.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/813CF7D7-6ECA-40A1-B065-F7E93A0C85B0_zpsel6n5fdg.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/813CF7D7-6ECA-40A1-B065-F7E93A0C85B0_zpsel6n5fdg.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/E6D779E2-B6C6-4491-BFBE-EFC7D83F3588_zpsxcmdxwrq.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/E6D779E2-B6C6-4491-BFBE-EFC7D83F3588_zpsxcmdxwrq.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/FA879C2E-E8E2-4A95-A484-47F6CD124AB0_zpsyzrzpnmq.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/FA879C2E-E8E2-4A95-A484-47F6CD124AB0_zpsyzrzpnmq.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/D716A4B0-F19B-4D26-AD3B-5869FF52E13F_zpsgqpvmvio.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/D716A4B0-F19B-4D26-AD3B-5869FF52E13F_zpsgqpvmvio.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/39816E7E-FA3F-46B0-B117-6C323D468F97_zpsmwzhgu1f.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/39816E7E-FA3F-46B0-B117-6C323D468F97_zpsmwzhgu1f.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/C763FC2D-107C-411A-8F91-CA1E013B94D0_zpsyhsudqvv.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/C763FC2D-107C-411A-8F91-CA1E013B94D0_zpsyhsudqvv.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/13414C3D-138C-450D-ACD2-AD6438D7EA71_zpshqkdeklp.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/13414C3D-138C-450D-ACD2-AD6438D7EA71_zpshqkdeklp.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/F1499F6A-2226-4CE6-A35F-757B63006ED0_zpsnio1f4qt.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/F1499F6A-2226-4CE6-A35F-757B63006ED0_zpsnio1f4qt.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/D9059177-D363-4DA8-9C4E-0F5C76AFB8C1_zps7voxdfql.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/D9059177-D363-4DA8-9C4E-0F5C76AFB8C1_zps7voxdfql.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/2BE5D179-658D-4C39-89F6-DC199DA9CB6C_zpsoobja4yr.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/2BE5D179-658D-4C39-89F6-DC199DA9CB6C_zpsoobja4yr.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/3BC4437A-2A22-4CFD-9E9C-5F1A1B6EC7C4_zpsm8koqck0.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/3BC4437A-2A22-4CFD-9E9C-5F1A1B6EC7C4_zpsm8koqck0.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/8142EA73-660E-43AA-8D3E-2B807685FE11_zpsp3sx1iw4.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/8142EA73-660E-43AA-8D3E-2B807685FE11_zpsp3sx1iw4.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/0E4EF0B8-5161-4E34-820A-B6411674F7EB_zpsauupixyv.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/0E4EF0B8-5161-4E34-820A-B6411674F7EB_zpsauupixyv.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/2BDD8B7A-EE1D-42D9-ACF2-037770DB7757_zpsxgyxvzvz.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/2BDD8B7A-EE1D-42D9-ACF2-037770DB7757_zpsxgyxvzvz.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/FBA77E3E-E5BD-484A-8351-B810DF494FCA_zpsyhe0uo5t.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/FBA77E3E-E5BD-484A-8351-B810DF494FCA_zpsyhe0uo5t.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/1A9B6E2E-6615-49A1-8A4E-2FFB116B1F9A_zpselwwrqqd.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/1A9B6E2E-6615-49A1-8A4E-2FFB116B1F9A_zpselwwrqqd.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/F18B7B06-0461-4474-B049-D30F4016A1DE_zps0keiznpv.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/F18B7B06-0461-4474-B049-D30F4016A1DE_zps0keiznpv.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/39786EEC-B781-4AC4-81D2-8B2B39466FDA_zpsqoutnz1v.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/39786EEC-B781-4AC4-81D2-8B2B39466FDA_zpsqoutnz1v.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/27A5E68D-AFBD-4E6A-9D81-B84AEDC12485_zpsoxvnq5ba.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/27A5E68D-AFBD-4E6A-9D81-B84AEDC12485_zpsoxvnq5ba.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/4204ED86-3C2D-4A48-B6A8-B01E05F89A9E_zpshf6snhwx.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/4204ED86-3C2D-4A48-B6A8-B01E05F89A9E_zpshf6snhwx.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/99C49553-CF92-470F-80FF-86B1ED144491_zpsynsxk7ay.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/99C49553-CF92-470F-80FF-86B1ED144491_zpsynsxk7ay.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/9688D954-16F7-41F0-B49E-5AF292AA1158_zps1rwbwgdp.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/9688D954-16F7-41F0-B49E-5AF292AA1158_zps1rwbwgdp.jpg.html)

Yes please, especially the every day street scene stuff.

Great photos Woodsey , keep posting please

Interested in food and girls pls. More pics of those needed ty!

Taking food pics every day so will add when I get a few, no bird pics but they are incred, I feel like a traitor saying this but Tokyo might just knock Bangkok off my number number 1 spot for eye candy!!

Had a spin on this thing today to Kyoto...

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/380921D0-14FE-4692-9F57-A2E9A9DFB998_zpsemxlrxua.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/380921D0-14FE-4692-9F57-A2E9A9DFB998_zpsemxlrxua.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/EBFEE957-BF69-4FEA-90A5-7D669511D173_zps5dz63ppz.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/EBFEE957-BF69-4FEA-90A5-7D669511D173_zps5dz63ppz.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/E28B13FA-69A1-4996-BF79-7612F7402AC8_zpssfkbagdh.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/E28B13FA-69A1-4996-BF79-7612F7402AC8_zpssfkbagdh.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/D7C6C7FC-961A-4B57-AE5B-D2E52AACAD48_zpskro4peem.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/D7C6C7FC-961A-4B57-AE5B-D2E52AACAD48_zpskro4peem.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/826C53A2-B809-4E13-9418-E3C14B01E339_zpsajpy4spp.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/826C53A2-B809-4E13-9418-E3C14B01E339_zpsajpy4spp.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/15468476-117D-4C20-9E4D-9D29A2D5D281_zps2gnwhra0.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/15468476-117D-4C20-9E4D-9D29A2D5D281_zps2gnwhra0.jpg.html)

You could have swung about 3 cats in there.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/2F545373-5C95-4981-8350-9020E08FC044_zpssfznhob7.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/2F545373-5C95-4981-8350-9020E08FC044_zpssfznhob7.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/5D3B762B-F65A-447B-9ACA-510DA6969B5F_zpsjpdgb3y9.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/5D3B762B-F65A-447B-9ACA-510DA6969B5F_zpsjpdgb3y9.jpg.html)

I did consider delaying a day or two to see what the typhoon was doing, appears to be heading the other way now.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/172CB46F-D4C3-4F04-8B48-D0A0E26CFA0C_zpse8dlryzq.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/172CB46F-D4C3-4F04-8B48-D0A0E26CFA0C_zpse8dlryzq.jpg.html)

Ok so a few food pics. I have only been eating local for dinner really and forgot to get pics every time but here's a start.

Teppenyaki- you have a griddle on your table and you order the ingredients and cook it yourself, fucking ingenious, if it's shite its your fault because you cooked it  rotflmfao

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/24A36E68-B7D5-4B9A-831F-90203525A012_zpsahufoj4u.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/24A36E68-B7D5-4B9A-831F-90203525A012_zpsahufoj4u.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/6E4480C8-5798-474D-B40F-FCE20EF2B3A6_zpsnhdkmrop.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/6E4480C8-5798-474D-B40F-FCE20EF2B3A6_zpsnhdkmrop.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/BCF3C3AA-856E-4E8A-9FE2-5B1A0078C5D7_zpsrpqa3uka.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/BCF3C3AA-856E-4E8A-9FE2-5B1A0078C5D7_zpsrpqa3uka.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/1F6F4B30-E427-4741-A008-88C0210CB7EB_zpsujbyspfq.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/1F6F4B30-E427-4741-A008-88C0210CB7EB_zpsujbyspfq.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/26819BDD-4954-45D9-A02C-599E6CFBDD54_zps8opsiqk0.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/26819BDD-4954-45D9-A02C-599E6CFBDD54_zps8opsiqk0.jpg.html)

And you dip it in one of the various sauces etc, actually it was very good.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/93EFF42B-2FE7-4984-BC10-5C323D75DD90_zpsrde4mcjn.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/93EFF42B-2FE7-4984-BC10-5C323D75DD90_zpsrde4mcjn.jpg.html)

When you go you one of the small bars/food places here they will often present you with a snack like this, is it any wonder the Japs are slim and we are fat fucks?  rotflmfao

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/1457CC0F-599A-40A1-962D-BA805E69B31D_zpsvqnkmuhc.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/1457CC0F-599A-40A1-962D-BA805E69B31D_zpsvqnkmuhc.jpg.html)

Many areas are littered with these small bars/food places, they are called Izakayas, great for a couple of beers and some food if they let you in.......that's another story.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/EC5CCDD4-5F42-4986-8E6B-4FB3BB06D753_zpsmbyy0vwg.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/EC5CCDD4-5F42-4986-8E6B-4FB3BB06D753_zpsmbyy0vwg.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/F15F663D-8777-4445-BE67-CBE16C0CD776_zpspycxdtgv.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/F15F663D-8777-4445-BE67-CBE16C0CD776_zpspycxdtgv.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/F1499F6A-2226-4CE6-A35F-757B63006ED0_zpsnio1f4qt.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/F1499F6A-2226-4CE6-A35F-757B63006ED0_zpsnio1f4qt.jpg.html)

This particular one there was no English anywhere, the girl just wrote something into her phone and played it to me which said 'hungry' and I gave her the thumbs up. She pointed to the menu and the only thing I understood was the number 10, so I assumed that was 10 skewers of BBQ food as this was a BBQ joint, thumbs up once again with fingers crossed it wasn't a load of offel or some other shite.

Anyway the food came....

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/7327A247-7508-4C4E-91B0-B13771DA819F_zpsu185ij2b.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/7327A247-7508-4C4E-91B0-B13771DA819F_zpsu185ij2b.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/ECC66806-BDD2-4D0D-9829-C72DD060B076_zps6hi0wtxk.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/ECC66806-BDD2-4D0D-9829-C72DD060B076_zps6hi0wtxk.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/D27C505C-C2A2-49C8-A5DD-417A5220BB98_zpsqatcta01.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/D27C505C-C2A2-49C8-A5DD-417A5220BB98_zpsqatcta01.jpg.html)

Phew it was chicken!!  ;danafish;

Then I bit into the ones on the left on the last pic urrrggghh, nearly vommed on the spot, had to hold it down and it really wanted to come back up. Not sure what it was, not liver or kidney, heart maybe? Anyway not good, the rest was great so np. Also when you go to these places the whole team give you a team chorus communal welcome and goodbye, no idea wtf the they are saying but it's fun nonetheless.  :)up

Went in this place another night, had been walking around for a couple of hours stopping for the odd beer where there was no English so had to bite the bullet at some point, bit of a spit and sawdust place but I'm cool with that. This place had a limited menu in English with basic description so I had the fried Chicken and omelette soba, turns out the soba bit is fried noodles in the omelette.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/95862796-A5F3-4ACC-8D49-83A2863ED2B8_zpsotcdvxoo.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/95862796-A5F3-4ACC-8D49-83A2863ED2B8_zpsotcdvxoo.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/B9119C02-92EC-4E4E-A263-5ADF29000D44_zpsmj4btllc.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/B9119C02-92EC-4E4E-A263-5ADF29000D44_zpsmj4btllc.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/0ED5F9E1-636C-41AE-B03D-3E4687B07EA1_zpsuppwmmde.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/0ED5F9E1-636C-41AE-B03D-3E4687B07EA1_zpsuppwmmde.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/78E6719C-1EFE-42CF-9E85-C35291FDC447_zpsjgil2olk.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/78E6719C-1EFE-42CF-9E85-C35291FDC447_zpsjgil2olk.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/914F4A90-48D0-4045-ADC0-1683920EB475_zpsee3nsmer.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/914F4A90-48D0-4045-ADC0-1683920EB475_zpsee3nsmer.jpg.html)

Tonight I did the BBQ thing again, now this place was quality. I've now Sussed how to order properly in here and the food was great, I know I should try other things but wtf else on this planet is better that BBQ beef right?  ;cupcake;

They prepare all the food in front of you.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/1BF3EEAF-D719-4A5E-90DA-2A89D730BB01_zpsnllbzhxs.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/1BF3EEAF-D719-4A5E-90DA-2A89D730BB01_zpsnllbzhxs.jpg.html)

Once again BBQ dude is doing it all at the window so people passing can see.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/6EB057EC-F5AF-4CCD-9005-919D2E8BF031_zpsnabbbmm8.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/6EB057EC-F5AF-4CCD-9005-919D2E8BF031_zpsnabbbmm8.jpg.html)

Only toke this one pic of local beef and scallops, but had some wyagu beef and it was amazing!

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/15B9FB85-CEF4-489F-9AE6-5CC0008008C4_zpsz3mqw7fp.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/15B9FB85-CEF4-489F-9AE6-5CC0008008C4_zpsz3mqw7fp.jpg.html)

The care they take when ordering the more expensive cuts is second to none. Never seen this before, they cut off all the excess fat around the outside as the beef is so well marbled throughout, that defies most cooking logic we have, if you cut the fat off the meat will be dry right? In fact it's only because we don't really get beef this well marbled unless we go through a specialist buyer, simple as that really.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/8DF7CBF9-E667-4B50-A296-C7DC691FAD80_zpsmsshkmte.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/8DF7CBF9-E667-4B50-A296-C7DC691FAD80_zpsmsshkmte.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/2E3473E8-0B79-4486-9D95-A0957929F3C9_zpsbwhjjk9l.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/2E3473E8-0B79-4486-9D95-A0957929F3C9_zpsbwhjjk9l.jpg.html)

Out for now, want to try the local pancakes tomorrow lunch as they look nice, let's see if I can stay off the beef!!

how expensive or not is Japan?

for example how much would the teppanyaki (which i love) cost you?

That cost me a tenner including a beer Richard. Japan being expensive is an absolute myth mate, ABSOLUTE MYTH.  I'm sure it can be expensive if people want but I have not found that at all. I have not paid more that a fiver for a pint anywhere, I have not paid more than 60 quid for a hotel anywhere, a fiver bus/subway for a days ticket. I was told in no uncertain terms don't use taxis as they are horrendously expensive, I took 2 today, 10-15mins journeys each time 6-7 quid each lol. At WORST it is London prices but that is stretching it, I would say no different Nottingham prices.

Now I have one theory developing.......The nightlife in the degen tourist areas has a reputation for being very expensive, nightclubs, girls etc. now it might be that people who come here are factoring that in and reporting that back, I can't say for sure, (I've been pubbing it most nights but nothing beyond that). Or maybe times have just changed? Maybe Japan just isn't the powerhouse economy it once was? Maybe it was expensive a few years back but stuff has evened out now? I was very surprised when I came here at the prices, in fact most recent stuff I researched on the net agreed with what I found on the ground here.

I googled average salaries here yesterday after I was thinking about this, from a quick glance we are about on a par with them so that seems to hold up. So there ya go, don't let the 'it's expensive' tag that everyone told me before I came stop anyone coming here...

Just been to the corner shop this sec and paid 360 yen for coke, crisps and some chocolate, less than 2 quid nuff said....

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/5813C0DF-01DD-4F3E-8035-78FFB72CBA0E_zpsiuxlzf4w.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/5813C0DF-01DD-4F3E-8035-78FFB72CBA0E_zpsiuxlzf4w.jpg.html)

This was dinner today, gyozo? Or something like that, basically fried dumplings with various fillings in, mostly quite nice. A fiver including a beer.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/EC58AE76-1B12-4E24-B3C6-65EF20A0AD31_zpsxwczb09j.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/EC58AE76-1B12-4E24-B3C6-65EF20A0AD31_zpsxwczb09j.jpg.html)

These little shops seem to be the my staple when I eat local.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/A82B112A-91A7-4E49-A6AB-0E4BEEC1EDFC_zpsmveurnia.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/A82B112A-91A7-4E49-A6AB-0E4BEEC1EDFC_zpsmveurnia.jpg.html)

Also did some laundry today, pretty cool machine it does everything for you including put powder in and dries your clothes, that's Jap efficiency for ya.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/A5DFD984-D1C5-4828-8E93-A2D2EF7C4D2C_zpsgkylunks.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/A5DFD984-D1C5-4828-8E93-A2D2EF7C4D2C_zpsgkylunks.jpg.html)

There was the usual bit of head scratching working everything out though....

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/A169A00A-F821-418A-B57C-92752D26D90A_zpstfbw8loy.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/A169A00A-F821-418A-B57C-92752D26D90A_zpstfbw8loy.jpg.html)

Gyoza!*

Nice pics tho Woodsey.

One of my favourite restaurants is a particularly obscurely located Japanese Barbeque down a random backstreet in Macau. It's open til 2am, expensive and always full.

Looks like I got the midgets room tonight :)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/image.jpg1_zpsxo0zmigz.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/image.jpg1_zpsxo0zmigz.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/image.jpg2_zpsogxzpb8j.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/image.jpg2_zpsogxzpb8j.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/image.jpg1_zpsbnzk0kew.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/image.jpg1_zpsbnzk0kew.jpg.html)

Excellent pics Woodsey.

How do you plan your itinerary, did you decide before you went or are you making it up as you go?

Pretty much have a rough itinerary which is flexible as needed, if I'm bored with a place I move on and I'll stay longer in places I like. My only commitment is a flight out of Hiroshima at the back end of next week, so as long as I make it there for then with at least a day to see the sights there I'm not bothered what happens between now and then. Think I'll head to Osaka in the morning, but I'll see which way the winds blowing when I wake up.

Disappointing dinner today, omonomiyaki or something like that, basically a thick pancake with meat and veg on it, was sure I'd like it. Might just be a crap restaurant so might try it again elsewhere.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/586FB5ED-D9BC-4BBD-9889-07AC84B155BA_zps8frpkjb1.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/586FB5ED-D9BC-4BBD-9889-07AC84B155BA_zps8frpkjb1.jpg.html)

Tempura for lunch

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/10FFC9AA-F0EB-47A1-B555-8408F75BF24B_zpsfrtmun40.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/10FFC9AA-F0EB-47A1-B555-8408F75BF24B_zpsfrtmun40.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/5E8AAECE-2FE7-4435-BA7A-6354090637D4_zpsutkxwrmh.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/5E8AAECE-2FE7-4435-BA7A-6354090637D4_zpsutkxwrmh.jpg.html)

Found quite a nice food market today, quite a contrast to the stinky old markets I'm used to finding around the rest of SEA lol.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/CE7507BA-8290-4612-AE76-4CC2B8A742F9_zpsq5yfpzaz.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/CE7507BA-8290-4612-AE76-4CC2B8A742F9_zpsq5yfpzaz.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/125FF9D2-8207-4AF3-B875-B0CE39A19AF8_zpsa8nr2avw.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/125FF9D2-8207-4AF3-B875-B0CE39A19AF8_zpsa8nr2avw.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/9964A1D5-A784-4FE2-82D2-1C7A703A8FA9_zpsv7qnyuck.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/9964A1D5-A784-4FE2-82D2-1C7A703A8FA9_zpsv7qnyuck.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/4336C3B7-E6A1-48CE-BBA4-331D1082C904_zpsy349myjl.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/4336C3B7-E6A1-48CE-BBA4-331D1082C904_zpsy349myjl.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/D4CD5334-280C-4BA8-A872-F4FA14FBE1F7_zpszhmsuzfc.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/D4CD5334-280C-4BA8-A872-F4FA14FBE1F7_zpszhmsuzfc.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/25480EE4-4236-41C2-9D06-F17E3F27D800_zpsbmtyz7p6.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/25480EE4-4236-41C2-9D06-F17E3F27D800_zpsbmtyz7p6.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/C3467DFB-A508-4B75-928F-71A671718B0A_zpsoqx3pilx.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/C3467DFB-A508-4B75-928F-71A671718B0A_zpsoqx3pilx.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/FF134B45-B4D3-4BA9-AF01-14499A1534A9_zpsdsfvr5sa.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/FF134B45-B4D3-4BA9-AF01-14499A1534A9_zpsdsfvr5sa.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/C346091D-AD70-4CC5-9D66-861B651A999F_zpsuw05vpqb.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/C346091D-AD70-4CC5-9D66-861B651A999F_zpsuw05vpqb.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/4D9818A7-0EAD-4B95-B1CC-2FD40BEB5C35_zpsak1p9ymd.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/4D9818A7-0EAD-4B95-B1CC-2FD40BEB5C35_zpsak1p9ymd.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/047DAB29-5404-4A6F-9C5F-3A99BC955184_zps7qq6nzfn.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/047DAB29-5404-4A6F-9C5F-3A99BC955184_zps7qq6nzfn.jpg.html)

So how do you find places to stay, do you just rock up somewhere and look for lodgings?

What are you doing for phone / wifi?

Great pictures please keep them coming. Unfortunately I cant bring myself to even look at food at the moment due to recent surgery so had to flick through a lot. More , views/people and like Tom said street scenes  etc please. Fussy me I know.

Kyoto

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/442D1CE5-D3F2-4075-B17D-7EBF9FA173B7_zpspqsbpqys.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/442D1CE5-D3F2-4075-B17D-7EBF9FA173B7_zpspqsbpqys.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/64FBBEF4-C36F-4BEC-812B-B01F17070EE1_zpsymvhjh65.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/64FBBEF4-C36F-4BEC-812B-B01F17070EE1_zpsymvhjh65.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/065FF426-FFF9-4FDE-B49A-4A727F61E648_zpsrs0rkv2x.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/065FF426-FFF9-4FDE-B49A-4A727F61E648_zpsrs0rkv2x.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/B3253394-73C1-46AC-A10C-8F921012E874_zps1jq5koxq.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/B3253394-73C1-46AC-A10C-8F921012E874_zps1jq5koxq.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/D8ED3675-3D7F-444F-8E1E-7E35357F996B_zpsdsxotoyh.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/D8ED3675-3D7F-444F-8E1E-7E35357F996B_zpsdsxotoyh.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/1AB8BBF0-4B5D-421B-A147-7DB749C8E83C_zpshe10re4j.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/1AB8BBF0-4B5D-421B-A147-7DB749C8E83C_zpshe10re4j.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/CB3292B6-D6F6-4630-9307-4414000A1DD7_zps9marrtyx.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/CB3292B6-D6F6-4630-9307-4414000A1DD7_zps9marrtyx.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/F1696809-E141-4E30-8725-CFD239CB286F_zps6rxxyymn.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/F1696809-E141-4E30-8725-CFD239CB286F_zps6rxxyymn.jpg.html)

The taxis drivers are really smart here, often in full suit, driving gloves and hat.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/932698BF-D579-48F2-8109-1D9BBA2607A6_zpsnqo3ycic.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/932698BF-D579-48F2-8109-1D9BBA2607A6_zpsnqo3ycic.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/8808ADBE-08D9-4BAD-AF8F-F625A4250DEF_zpsca95oytw.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/8808ADBE-08D9-4BAD-AF8F-F625A4250DEF_zpsca95oytw.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/214208C9-E22B-40BB-881F-51288C6C2CCA_zpsvifbe5fr.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/214208C9-E22B-40BB-881F-51288C6C2CCA_zpsvifbe5fr.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/F4111EC3-138B-4D9B-8840-F4F16079066E_zpsxtsptmf3.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/F4111EC3-138B-4D9B-8840-F4F16079066E_zpsxtsptmf3.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/E1CD82F3-FC2B-46DF-B643-E3829313944A_zpsptetulo7.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/E1CD82F3-FC2B-46DF-B643-E3829313944A_zpsptetulo7.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/C05CC672-6E31-47D3-8E68-794A51C973A8_zpsqfugx9wl.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/C05CC672-6E31-47D3-8E68-794A51C973A8_zpsqfugx9wl.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/09003218-5C2B-4CCB-B8C7-03ECBADDE779_zpsv5rcmrom.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/09003218-5C2B-4CCB-B8C7-03ECBADDE779_zpsv5rcmrom.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/B0DB2B5E-68AD-4A7B-BADF-FC9B43B8F9A0_zpsivnp5hyu.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/B0DB2B5E-68AD-4A7B-BADF-FC9B43B8F9A0_zpsivnp5hyu.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/D64722AF-88B7-4D97-AC9C-A636A5D30D57_zpstwq4ud78.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/D64722AF-88B7-4D97-AC9C-A636A5D30D57_zpstwq4ud78.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/09B1F151-6726-4B40-8963-09094AB15E39_zpsnfihxgax.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/09B1F151-6726-4B40-8963-09094AB15E39_zpsnfihxgax.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/85993B32-DE41-4E36-9A5C-A87B17F1EBBE_zpsxxvkeybn.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/85993B32-DE41-4E36-9A5C-A87B17F1EBBE_zpsxxvkeybn.jpg.html)

They always wash their hands before praying

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/7C6E5D53-A1E4-44C2-B75A-427D6040D84F_zpswoxoxvj4.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/7C6E5D53-A1E4-44C2-B75A-427D6040D84F_zpswoxoxvj4.jpg.html)

A lot of restaurant have plastic food displays outside lol

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/D507FF61-49F1-423C-B998-F14D79695A17_zpsnsmt8lso.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/D507FF61-49F1-423C-B998-F14D79695A17_zpsnsmt8lso.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/29013EE1-1481-4278-80C8-EE56C5D5826F_zpsnm8htlsq.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/29013EE1-1481-4278-80C8-EE56C5D5826F_zpsnm8htlsq.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/B9404EDF-141C-4E49-A88A-EC2DBFC93EB1_zpsztmvj2vy.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/B9404EDF-141C-4E49-A88A-EC2DBFC93EB1_zpsztmvj2vy.jpg.html)

Selfie crews out in full force here everywhere...

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/05873201-5A90-4F5B-BA97-B1A90CC2C974_zpsmq7amkg7.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/05873201-5A90-4F5B-BA97-B1A90CC2C974_zpsmq7amkg7.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/CED49733-D0D6-45CE-A8DC-E166FA7B656A_zpsor0dinb9.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/CED49733-D0D6-45CE-A8DC-E166FA7B656A_zpsor0dinb9.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/8071640E-A92A-4757-BF49-0B7F2A063922_zpszdmxtdqk.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/8071640E-A92A-4757-BF49-0B7F2A063922_zpszdmxtdqk.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/CD967CDD-E601-4118-B40A-D29257314DD0_zpsmq6exj1a.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/CD967CDD-E601-4118-B40A-D29257314DD0_zpsmq6exj1a.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/AE1EFBA3-B0E0-4350-8D53-8BA0E12DB4FA_zpsycj1vzan.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/AE1EFBA3-B0E0-4350-8D53-8BA0E12DB4FA_zpsycj1vzan.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/F45AD11F-D13D-4DAF-81CC-CDD68F8C34EE_zpsrledzmw2.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/F45AD11F-D13D-4DAF-81CC-CDD68F8C34EE_zpsrledzmw2.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/3FC59ED5-17C6-4EE3-A96A-AA5280D0160A_zpsljvm4ikg.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/3FC59ED5-17C6-4EE3-A96A-AA5280D0160A_zpsljvm4ikg.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/67D29FE7-149D-452B-9851-06638DC3235E_zpsdvqsl4zv.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/67D29FE7-149D-452B-9851-06638DC3235E_zpsdvqsl4zv.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/369367A9-3F4C-4B00-96F7-5C0C69F9992A_zps5uzcyz99.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/369367A9-3F4C-4B00-96F7-5C0C69F9992A_zps5uzcyz99.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/0A105733-9CB5-4D62-B3E3-AB2740FD3460_zpsjzw8fqix.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/0A105733-9CB5-4D62-B3E3-AB2740FD3460_zpsjzw8fqix.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/D91008FD-FAC8-4AA9-B1D1-BF6852CACEB7_zpsixcnq8rp.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/D91008FD-FAC8-4AA9-B1D1-BF6852CACEB7_zpsixcnq8rp.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/DB4E824A-70F4-4155-BDEE-B1CA23454B60_zpsr21g3vbq.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/DB4E824A-70F4-4155-BDEE-B1CA23454B60_zpsr21g3vbq.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/C0EE867F-E874-43B8-8E2A-461EC133546A_zps9tmyozqi.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/C0EE867F-E874-43B8-8E2A-461EC133546A_zps9tmyozqi.jpg.html)

A lot of places yes, not done that here as much though as it's more expensive than other Asian countries I've been to so don't want to be left stuck paying a lump if stuff is sold out.

Wifi is basically available everywhere so don't need a local sim or anything.

So clean.

Great thread Woodsey

Yeah really enjoyed the thread thanks Woodrow Wilson keep em coming

Got absolutely pissed off my face the other night in Osaka, totally wasted day yesterday sigh.....seemed a good night I think from the bits I remember, later on was a bit of a blurr though lol. As the only foreigner in this karaoke joint, singing the odd song was good for breaking the ice with the locals.  ;danafish; ;djinn;

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/3839E640-19F3-408D-B36D-27C274A6E854_zpse9qq36um.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/3839E640-19F3-408D-B36D-27C274A6E854_zpse9qq36um.jpg.html)

Got stuck into the sake, that was what fucked me up.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/8F4AFD85-4B8E-4CA8-A970-66D6B29FF190_zps00omt8t4.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/8F4AFD85-4B8E-4CA8-A970-66D6B29FF190_zps00omt8t4.jpg.html)

Cool karaoke machine making it easy for me to pick English songs.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/030786A2-A1B4-41D9-88C0-23F44CEE85CB_zpsuxhnya9t.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/030786A2-A1B4-41D9-88C0-23F44CEE85CB_zpsuxhnya9t.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/E530CE87-B8B6-44E3-AAA2-77D83D5523A0_zpsmya0fbvm.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/E530CE87-B8B6-44E3-AAA2-77D83D5523A0_zpsmya0fbvm.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/4EDBCFCD-C05A-4621-87BC-EA87EF675D44_zpsqbbsydel.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/4EDBCFCD-C05A-4621-87BC-EA87EF675D44_zpsqbbsydel.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/12985F77-AE50-4252-B1E6-FF5617FC4B7B_zps0v23vbx9.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/12985F77-AE50-4252-B1E6-FF5617FC4B7B_zps0v23vbx9.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/89AFDC0D-D6C3-48D3-AC97-386FC8448F6F_zpsx0atxutt.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/89AFDC0D-D6C3-48D3-AC97-386FC8448F6F_zpsx0atxutt.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/86A41FD1-E466-486C-9E0F-4FA5BE262135_zpsxpaaqen6.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/86A41FD1-E466-486C-9E0F-4FA5BE262135_zpsxpaaqen6.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/BB4106BD-F377-4375-BB81-8DA85AFC1C6C_zpsnorz7sr2.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/BB4106BD-F377-4375-BB81-8DA85AFC1C6C_zpsnorz7sr2.jpg.html)

So something for the history buffs today, in Hiroshima now and went and saw all the war museums/memorials and stuff.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/A0BF9655-28F6-4C62-80DE-40D81A34B0E7_zpsaftcvwp1.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/A0BF9655-28F6-4C62-80DE-40D81A34B0E7_zpsaftcvwp1.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/3F139554-3C42-43A2-B730-A66CB866CBE4_zpsrdnmmcvt.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/3F139554-3C42-43A2-B730-A66CB866CBE4_zpsrdnmmcvt.jpg.html)

I didn't know the bomb exploded 600m above the ground, this is a visual representation of it, it basically flattened everything within a 2km radius bar a couple of buildings.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/D656B590-3CEC-4B9A-B8BA-E049B4A93136_zpswtbalbt6.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/D656B590-3CEC-4B9A-B8BA-E049B4A93136_zpswtbalbt6.jpg.html)

It was a bomb this size maybe 6ft?, actually I didn't think it would be this small. You see those huge nuclear warheads they have these days, I assumed it would be big also.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/42A6627B-1869-4A01-BF4E-4A6D60DB4A54_zps5eqipgvg.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/42A6627B-1869-4A01-BF4E-4A6D60DB4A54_zps5eqipgvg.jpg.html)

Memorial for the 140,000 dead.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/57768A9F-430A-4377-A29F-C4BD6E7C88EE_zpsx161bycd.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/57768A9F-430A-4377-A29F-C4BD6E7C88EE_zpsx161bycd.jpg.html)

Separate memorial for the children who died.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/51428956-0F2E-4D69-98A6-2BEDD1143CB7_zpspqvfsocs.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/51428956-0F2E-4D69-98A6-2BEDD1143CB7_zpspqvfsocs.jpg.html)

This was one of the few buildings to survive the blast, remember there was a lot of wooden buildings back then.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/64D62AB9-2F76-4224-9332-B0911A75C9D5_zpst0r4kcsw.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/64D62AB9-2F76-4224-9332-B0911A75C9D5_zpst0r4kcsw.jpg.html)

Pic of that building and surrounds in the immediate aftermath.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/8398D524-9CBB-4EDD-A9A1-5CB47E09DCD1_zps55hb2hns.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/8398D524-9CBB-4EDD-A9A1-5CB47E09DCD1_zps55hb2hns.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/22B8A9C1-6136-4AC7-A8FF-ADDCD686F867_zpseduhrh4m.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/22B8A9C1-6136-4AC7-A8FF-ADDCD686F867_zpseduhrh4m.jpg.html)

One of the big differences between Hiroshima and other cities I've noticed is the big wide American style streets, other cities don't have that quite as much. Well because everything was flattened I guess they started again basically.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/BE9B40FA-4DBD-4996-9331-7B6466AB86ED_zpsrxuu7frc.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/BE9B40FA-4DBD-4996-9331-7B6466AB86ED_zpsrxuu7frc.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/B2976DCA-D05F-4B56-9975-04026A127757_zpslf4jmy0x.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/B2976DCA-D05F-4B56-9975-04026A127757_zpslf4jmy0x.jpg.html)

this one in particluar is fascinating

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/D656B590-3CEC-4B9A-B8BA-E049B4A93136_zpswtbalbt6.jpg)

Few other pics from around town.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/4B5D49B0-28B4-45F5-8F4C-43D595B1CC31_zpsimbszhzg.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/4B5D49B0-28B4-45F5-8F4C-43D595B1CC31_zpsimbszhzg.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/76ECE785-9D37-49A4-912B-36FA95F142FA_zpsuco7widb.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/76ECE785-9D37-49A4-912B-36FA95F142FA_zpsuco7widb.jpg.html)

And a couple from the top of that castle

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/0EB0AFBF-6762-46AC-B85C-9FFAD81BC212_zpsnnb6fmqr.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/0EB0AFBF-6762-46AC-B85C-9FFAD81BC212_zpsnnb6fmqr.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/99D4DFF7-0A7D-4429-9EB0-44C3E245AA30_zps7budxjbx.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/99D4DFF7-0A7D-4429-9EB0-44C3E245AA30_zps7budxjbx.jpg.html)

Japanese garden

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/6A188733-0002-4982-871B-B0C7869B7427_zpslxulfavd.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/6A188733-0002-4982-871B-B0C7869B7427_zpslxulfavd.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/DCCA23A2-3C71-4B12-9EEA-1D3BC1A6D3E1_zpschtxqddu.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/DCCA23A2-3C71-4B12-9EEA-1D3BC1A6D3E1_zpschtxqddu.jpg.html)

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/7A333094-37A1-4110-BA95-25EC1FC51333_zpsnrkamqti.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/7A333094-37A1-4110-BA95-25EC1FC51333_zpsnrkamqti.jpg.html)

Interesting about the bomb, I assumed they explode on the ground too.  Wonder if nuc's are designed like that?

Thanks for taking time to post.

You are missing a beautiful summers hail storm back home. Pff.

'fraid so :(

Spreads the horror over a much wider area if you don't go diluting it with that pesky earth stuff.

Cool photo diary.

Most impressive thing? Thing that's given you most culture shock?

Well I should be asleep now it's nearly 7am and I've slept 3 hours I reckon, my pattern is totally fucked up because of different sleep times everyday.

Anyway as you have my attention....

Most impressive thing.....I've loved the old Japan, the wooden streets of Kyoto and the small food/beer places, seeing the girls dressed old school in Kimono's, THAT is what asia is about for me, old school. Tokyo was enjoyable, but it could be London, New York etc with its local slant obviously.....ohhhhhh and the girls, well I'm not single these days but if I was.......
(http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj178/MissConstrue_2008/Photos%202/Emoticans/Smileys/hearts1-1.gif) (http://media.photobucket.com/user/MissConstrue_2008/media/Photos%202/Emoticans/Smileys/hearts1-1.gif.html)

Because of that the more modern places in Asia like South Korea etc have dropped off the radar for me now, I'm Deffo an old Asia guy, would much rather visit places like Myanmar again than trawl around big new shiny cities in Asia, hence I hate soulless places like Singapore.

Cultural surprises? Nothing really as I was pretty well read up, but there are some things that would surprise others coming here if they weren't.

The food can be hard work, there aren't many English menus and just going into a random restaurant is a challenge as little English is spoken. Also you will get turned away from some restaurantss/bars, don't know why, maybe because they don't speak English they can't be arsed having us in there or maybe they don't want foreigners, no idea. No skin off my nose, would rather spend my money where I'm wanted so no sweat. Reckon I've been turned away from at least 20 places in the time I've been here.

Rules- they follow every fucking rule to a tee, now that's fine for the most part but when you are standing at a red light crossing and there isn't a car to be seen and there are 20 people waiting to cross the road all standing there like lemmings for it to go green I sometimes wonder the common sense lol, but hey how it's probably why crime is so low because they all follow the rules......

Also no bins anywhere, yet the place is spotless!! We need to learn some of that shit for sure....

Formality-Yep it's part of it here for sure but no doubt it would tilt me up if I was doing that shit day in and day out. I mean the poor conductors on the train have to bow every time they enter and leave a car. I was on a 90 minute train journey the other day and the poor drink/food lady must have come through our car 20 times, that's 20 bows on the way in and 20 on the way out lol, and that was only our car, there were 7 other cars!!! lol

That's just off the top of my head for now  :)

I was thinking about this last night and I'm not sure why I'm even surprised.  In the movies you see bombs on timers all the time and when there's talk of nukes exploding, they say "over such and such city".   I can't think why I thought they explode on impact.