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Nagoya. 1st April

I left Asakusa in the morning, checked out of my hotel and headed to the Subway, Erinn had helped me purchase my Shinkansen ticket earlier in the week, just to be sure, as with spring break we wanted to be sure I could get a reserved seat, specially with all my luggage. So I knew I needed to get to Tokyo station and id be right. I had a few options, but I chose to catch the taxi rather than the subway from Asakusa to Ueno. Here I was lucky for the most part to have elevators...one part was stairs, but only down, and with my luggage on wheels I was able to slowly push it down step by step. At Ueno I got a subway to Tokyo, and it was still the end of peak hour, so a little full and I contemplated waiting for the next one, but a nice Japanese man hopped off, lifted my luggage on and made it fit, so I jumped in shouting “Arigato...” to him as he disappeared into the sea of people jammed on the subway. I only had a few stops and was grateful to get off at Tokyo. Here I had to navigate my way around to the Shinkansen, which I managed fairly well, I found the right area, wasn’t so sure of the platform, so I asked. “Sumimasen....ahhhh...Shinkansen....Nagoya... (I thrust my tickets in his direction....platform????” “Ahhhhh Nagoya...oh, no 11:00, not ready yet....” oh yes, I’m early, I know, but what platform please? “Ah so, yes, platform 19 (something like that, can’t remember now).” “ahhh Arigato Gozaimasu!!” Smile, walk confidently to platform. Yep I was an hour early, but I made it, and I was in the right place, hard part over, now sit and wait for train, have a drink, a snack....oh wait....My jacket, my black jacket, big fur trim and hood, my only warm jacket..Yup, it’s at the hotel in Asakusa.  No time to go back.
Anyways I made it to Nagoya in a little over an hour, I found the subway line, I transferred to the station I needed, and I trundled my huge suitcase up the street to head office which I also found thanks to erinn's directions. Filled in some paperwork, and headed off in the car to my digs for the next ....almost week. I got settled, and checked out the place. Its two bedrooms and I am meant to have a roommate (I’ve been here 3 days and still no sign.)
I unpacked a little, set up my futon (this one is old and is not so thick, and I feel the floor. It’s not nice, and I’m glad it’s only a few days longer cos I’m getting sore)After that I checked out the area. So I’m in Nagoya, in a place called Hongo. I checked out the neighbouring area, called Fujigaoka, there are the internet cafe, and also a macca’s, some stores, and a 99yen shop, and a few grocery stores. I hit the internet ( I have now discovered if u pay slightly extra u can have a private room, and use your own laptop, so I can now, as u may have noticed, upload ) So anyway after the cafe I got some grocery’s as I plan to eat in as much as I can this week to save some dollars.

I came home with some goodies and did some Japanese studying then went to bed as I was exhausted!

30th March
Ok so next was Asakusa, those who know, I had planned to stay in a capsule hotel, well this plan was changed as I needed different nights because of the Utsonomiya and Nikko trip unexpectedly, so I tried to change the nights but the ones I need were fully booked, so I had to switch to a whole new hotel, one in asakusa. So I didn’t get to see Akihabara, again, and I never got to Harajuku either,
31st March
But I did get to Disneyland, and it was amazing. I can’t describe the amount of people there (Its spring break at the moment) but this may give you some idea: lines for rides were on average: 2HRS!!! Some even longer! Yep, crazy, needless to say I only went on 2 rides, and saw one show, and then just looked at everything else that wasn’t crazy, I went in the Swiss family Robinson tree house, I went on a raft across to tom Sawyers island and explored the bridges,, caves and forts, I drove a f1 car (sadly not really as exciting ads it sounds), I rode the pirates of the Caribbean boat ride, I saw a show called one man’s dream, a show of Disney through the years, I saw the daily parade, and the night time lights parade, both of which were the highlights. I had pizza in the shape of Mickey’s head, and a lunch box set which was toooo cute 

It was a super long day. Oh on the way I had to catch 2 subways then a JR train, well I got off the second subway and then I realised I had left my pre purchased ticket in my document wallet at the hotel, so 2 subways back, and off I went again, fortunately here in Japan, subways come every few minutes, so it wasn’t too bad.
The other things ill mention for anyone planning a trip to Japan, or Disney in general: Pre purchase your ticket, at a Disney store, or check other places on the Disneyland website for purchasing. Do this because if you don’t, the line up is a million people long and that’s hardly exaggerating, also if it gets too crowded you may have to either wait a bit or get refused entry, which would suck. I pre purchased and sailed right through the gate. Even if you are warm enough or worried about carrying too much, take a blanket or towel, and even a small cushion, or be prepared to buy them. The night time parade is by far the best past, but it gets quite cold, and u have to sit along the parade route, standing is not allowed, and u sit on concrete, its super cold. Thankfully I bought a winnie the pooh cushion fairly cheap and a cheap towel as I wasn’t prepared enough. I didn’t even take my coat as I forgot it would cool down at night. I just had my jumper.

So where am I up too....?

Ok so you have heard all about Mito.
28th March
Did I mention the trip to Utsunomiya?? Ok so we headed off to Utsonomiya which is about 1 and a half hours or so north of Mito on the express train. Erinn’s friend Phil, who is all a Peppy teacher, had some friends (some Peppy) who were having a 70’s party. So we went to the Family Mart where everything is 390Yen and found racks of clothing which actually fit the description of 70’s hippie. So for a cheap price we were all costumed up and we headed to Utsonomiya.

We arrived, manage to lug my now VERY heavy luggage (Just to give you an idea, my Guess carryon bag....well the strap has broken at the point where its sewn to the bag, and the suitcase, bulging!!!)Into a cab, then dropped it at Phil’s place. Then it was off to the party. I was a little unsure at first as I knew no one, but as I arrived I knew it would be fine. The party was in full swing, with about 17 people (I think we hit the 19 mark at some point) and the Martini’s were flowing. Those who know me well know its best I don’t martini it, and I had had the foresight to purchase some whiskey at the konbini (did u guess? Convenience store) before we arrived. Johnnie Red was the only option other than Suntory. So I stuck to that with coke. The party was likely, and noisy, with lots of crazy music, men at work, enter the dragon soundtrack, Abba, there were dance offs, and they were between 2 American guys, and they were both quite impressive busting some wonderful 70’s moves. Lots of afros, and peace signs, tie dye even. It was alot of fun. I actually think I’ve blogged on this subject already so ill move on now...but I felt I needed to write more, and if I haven’t, well now I have. (Reason I’m unsure, I’m writing back in my apartment, with no internet, and ill upload at the cafe tomorrow, so apologies for any repeats.
29th March
After the party the next day, we awoke, some not feeling so good, but not me thanks to only half a hip flask of Johnnie, we got a groggy phone call from some other party goers...Matt and his girlfriend and Andrew, and we all met at Dennys for a good old American/Japanese Breakfast/Lunch. It was decided we would head of to Nikko.

Here we saw Monkeys, real live ones who tried to eat our faces off, well it felt like it when he screeched at us and we all jumped away. And we saw a waterfall, I ate grasshopper, it was kind of weird, nut no real taste, just crunchy and sweet (It was covered in like Molasses) we saw some bridge with some historical meaning...ooh I have mentioned this