The over-riding message you take from all of Japan is one of food. There are restaurants, cafes, diners, quite literally everywhere. In rows. You never ever find just one, always 17. Most selling the same thing, sometimes they offer variety. In the spaces between the eateries you find food shops. Not just ‘yer basics’ kind’a – Read More-
I was standing on the platform this morning at Odawara station, getting the bullet train back to Tokyo. So this is what you do. You find the platform, it ain’t hard. Then along the platform are the numbers of the actual carriages on the train, once it arrives. So you go to the ‘4’ number – Read More-
You arrive at the Ryokan and the first thing that happens is that you take your shoes off. That’s a big thing in Japan anyway, but in the ‘old Japan’ ethos of a Ryokan, its a red line. At the door, off they come and they lend you some sandals. You get to choose. Small, – Read More-
When in Rome, as the saying goes, do like the Romans. But what do they mean? Eat an unborn baby? Shag a little boy? Fight a lion, kill a Christian or just eat pizza? And how does that help me when I’m in Hakone, which is where I’m headed. To Mount Fuji. To stay in – Read More-
What is art? Iss pitchers. Innit. Maybe skullptcha. Drawins. Nice. Pretty. Don’t’cha reckon? Well you’d be wrong. You Neanderthal, philistine, anachronistic know-nuffink. Renoir? Tosser. Picasso? Wanker. Beethoven? Nob. Ok, musician, but sort of arty. Because if you want ‘contemporary art’, you need ‘installations’. Tracey Emin does ‘em. Loads of people do them. And on the – Read More-
I wrote today’s blog last night. Due to Mel insisting that we sort of ‘catch trains’ and ‘eat dinner’ and ‘see things’, at all sorts of inconvenient times, you have to make hay whilst the rising sun. And its about art. I left a little space at the bottom just to put something like: shame – Read More-
I’d love to tell you that my knowledge of the Japanese language has improved and my mastery has led to deep, meaningful conversations with the indigenous little people. But alas it remains as opaque to me as… Greek. Which at least I can read a bit. Yet its actually worse. The longer we’re here the – Read More-
We’re on another burritt train. Looks like this one, pic of which I took this morning, but ours is going the other way. Just sayin’. And they’re fast. Though don’t really feel it. Not like you’re thrown back in your seat with your face pulled back with g-force. No. Feels nice. Smooth. Comfortable (not a – Read More-
Ya need a plan. You always need a plan. Cut and cover. Death or glory. Laurel and Hardy. Well we have a plan when walking round foreign cities in search of certain shops or where to eat. It’s called ‘wander and stumble’. And sometimes it even works. We booked this little trip through a Japan – Read More-
Kyoto used to be the capital of Japan. Until I arrived, then they moved it. Actually it was ages ago. But they couldn’t move the buildings. So they left them here. Mainly, shrines and temples. The former Shinto, the latter Buddhist. They swing both ways here. Shinto is great, they have no God, no prayers, – Read More-