Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73133
You mean the one that said “触れないでください”? Of course!
15th Sep 2023 12:46 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73133
OK, it’s lunch time back home so good time for food pics!! On our last trip to Japan (May - Jun ‘19) we tended to avoid “local” restaurants, plus up to leaving Yokohama we were in international hotels with effectively full board through their lounges. Now we don’t have that crutch and have, like last trip, headed straight for Mickie Dees …… NOT.
Local restaurants are an intimidating sight.
Click image to enlarge
But we took a brave pill and dived in. This is one in a department store at the JR station. Food was really good and surprisingly cheap. This lot for 2 was ~£9.
Click image to enlarge
You can keep it really cheap with specials.
We also do a bit of a Google on restaurants so have a bit of intel on where is good. Plus take a snap of the menu of places which have a decent queue. Locals tend to know where to go and don’t hang around for sub-par nosh.
Where we’re thinking of going tomorrow in different department store.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Re what you are eating, it’s great to have menu with pics as above. Plus they have electronic ticket arrangements, well ours did, for queueing. Google Translate is absolutely fantastic and essential, even for something as simple as “sold out” along with what the dish is we’re missing out on.
Anyone that’s been to Japan will have seen the plastic food outside restaurants.
Click image to enlarge
Great for seeing what is available to eat. We haven’t used them in anger yet but our plan is to take a couple of pics and say “one of these and one of these” by pointing.
And finally, can’t forget breakie this morning. I’d forgotten re the dimpled plates and the massive choice in Japanese (as opposed to International) hotels. All scrummy!
Click image to enlarge
15th Sep 2023 1:10 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73133
And a few random pics from the last couple of days. We don’t have a rail pass this trip, just using “local” trains so no Shinkansen trains.
2 of yesterday’s 3 trains.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
On one there was a slight lack of leg room but the train was pretty empty so no playing kneesies with strangers. The other 2 trains were much better.
Click image to enlarge
Once in the hotel we had an urgent issue to attend to. Travelling light means we need to do laundry. Recycling can only go so far!!
Luckily a combo of dual language and GoogTrans came to the rescue and freshness is restored.
Click image to enlarge
And not a sign you se outside lifts back home. Also clocked tsunami evacuation route signs today.
Click image to enlarge
Finally some pics from Hamamatsu Castle, or as we thought of it, the nice looking sauna at the top of a hill. We were dripping like crazy.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Three handsome looking chaps, one a bit soggier than the other 2.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Yes, I’m jealous of the whiskers.
Click image to enlarge
And one serious Samurai.
Click image to enlarge
Fantastic views over the city and out to the air base, deffo called for a pano.
Click image to enlarge
15th Sep 2023 1:50 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73133
Been a bit lax at bunging up the old pics, will remedy that in a mo. Now in Kyoto, had a few days in Nagoya after Hamamatsu. Weather is pretty wet, but looking good for tomorrow.
Meanwhile, back in Blighty it’s got to be getting towards lunchtime so here’s a pic of tonight’s scoff. Pretty yummy, and even better as that was dinner sorted for £10, for both of us.
Click image to enlarge
21st Sep 2023 10:36 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73133
OK, pics time so upgrade yer broadband and clear our yer hard drives.
Click image to enlarge
Flower Garden near Hamamatsu.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
It’s a lot more subtle than this time last year in Canada but Halloween fever is gripping this part of Japan.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
And then on to Nagoya. Big(ish) city so back to lots of concrete and railways, well mostly. A fantastic little garden to flop in before we could check into our hotel. It was a bit hot & humid but lovely and cool here.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
SWEEEEEEEEEEET hut for the MowBot.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
And when in central Japan you obviously have to eat ………….. Indian!
Click image to enlarge
This is the menu from the eatery a few along, deffo a bit intimidating for us!
Click image to enlarge
From the Toyota museum in Nagoya
Click image to enlarge
Note the little hoola skirts the tyres have. Very strange!
Click image to enlarge
And finally had a good view of Mt Fuji from the train. We’ll train set at the JR train museum.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
AC is deffo a big plus in these temps but the Nagoya Science museum take it to a new level.
Click image to enlarge
Bit of ice from Antarctica.
Click image to enlarge
There was no windchill so not too bad, we had -10c for a few mins to acclimatise, then 10 mins in -30c and back to -10c again before we hit normal temps, well AC. It means we had a 65c temp range that day. And these school kids were having a bit of a contest to go through the 20 mins or so without resorting to the parka. Three did it but we’re looking relieved when it was finished.
Click image to enlarge
They also had a Tesla generator, will bung up the vid once I’ve uploaded it.
And finally some pics from Nagoya castle. The main tower isn’t open anymore but some reconstructed bits are open.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Tomorrow is off to look at temples NW of Kyoto, weather forecast is good if we could follow what was on the TV. We’ll see and take brollies with us anyway.
21st Sep 2023 10:50 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73133
PS Forgot the trip up N of Nagoya to a museum that showed Japan after the end of the Edo period, once it opened up.
We haven’t had a safety notice for a while but here’a catch-up. Top right, no Browning 9 mils nor cutlasses but Glocks, Magnums and sabres are allowed. Also what have Corgis done to get banned?
Click image to enlarge
Passed these, wasp type things that were mahoosive and one decided to buzz MrsDSL, not quite a girlie scream but not far off!
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
I know how they feel, diet is not going well!
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
It was a bit of a sweatfest walking round the museum, luckily for the good peeps of Nagoya the train back wasn’t busy.
21st Sep 2023 11:26 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73133
21st Sep 2023 11:30 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73133
OK, waaaaaaaay behind on pics but we’ve been a bit busy plus suffering from a little bit of a cold (MrsDSL) and ManFlu (moi). Lots of fantastic sights/pics from Kyoto and Nara but here’s a few deer pics from Nara. Once you get out into the temple & parks area they are everywhere and mega cute. You can buy packets of rice cookies for ¥200 (£1.10) to feed them and then the adventure begins. We made sure we decided who got fed, usually on the quieter routes and chose the deer that weren’t mobbing the tourists with a fistful of cookies.
But, in the interest of safety, the warnings! TBS we did see a bit of d2d head butting, one woman who got nerfed as she was getting shirty with a large male dear, plus MrsDSL had her shirt nibbled today! They are 99% cute and most like a little head pat or do reciprocal bowing when cookies are around (looks very Japanese), but watch out for the rogue 1%!
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Right, clear out yer buffers, much cute deerness incoming!
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Yes, it was a tad hot and humid!
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
MrsDSL eyeball to eyeball with a rather cheeky chappie!
Click image to enlarge
Who thought the map looked tastie!
Click image to enlarge
28th Sep 2023 8:04 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73133
And the rest of the pics.
We found out why the Corgi is banned in the above signs pics, he has a tendency to eat all the pies!!
Click image to enlarge
Couple more signs. No cheering footie fans here! Maybe they are cheering coz they got to the pies first!
Click image to enlarge
And watch out for rather cute snakes and creepy crawlies!
Click image to enlarge
Mind you, no warnings re this praying mantis.
Click image to enlarge
I put my foot in close for scale and he was off up my leg like a shot. Obviously thought a nice shady tree had just sprouted. No girlie screams were issues by me, was way beyond that. He got up to my knee before phone was used as an emergency flicking device, thanks to the gods I wasn’t wearing shorts!!
Click image to enlarge
Kyoto is kind of famous for its temples, there are lots of them. Here’s a few pics of some of the ones that can be visited.
The first one had hundreds, or is it thousand, of little carved Buddhas.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
My faves.
Click image to enlarge
SWEEEEEEET!
Click image to enlarge
And another just down the road.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
And the rest.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Prob a samurai would have no problem but no way was I able to budge it vertically.
Click image to enlarge
Bit of calculating and we think it was somewhere between 250 - 300kg so no way was that happening. I did manage the puny bar next to it.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
It was getting a bit busy but this is one of Japan’s most visited sites, and on a Sunday!
Click image to enlarge
And SWEEEEEEEET little sake barrels. One might just make it into our packs on the way back.
Click image to enlarge
Tasting the water that makes sake in Kyoto. Think of it as proto-sake, without the rice and yeast.
Click image to enlarge
And the world famous 15 islands rock garden. Perfectly manicured and not a bit of gravel out of place.
Click image to enlarge
All watched over by various dragons.
Click image to enlarge
More manicured gardens.
Click image to enlarge
This sand castle would have needed a big bucket!
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Where the “no footie fans” sign is, right in front of this temple. Maybe it’s too much like a footie cup.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Minor interruption from temples, this shows typical fuel prices. And the media is complaining it’s at it’s most expensive ever. Top is regular gas, then high octane then diesel. It’s ¥182/£.
Click image to enlarge
And the world famous fushimi-inari toris. Lots and lots of them, hiding the fact that you are climbing up a honking great mountain.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
We went up the back of the hill mountain. Much quieter.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Mind you, it was a hell of a hike to get up to the summit with no rest stops, icecream vendors or drinks machines, which we passed a-plenty on the way down!
And to finish, some food shots. It’s bound to be near lunchtime back home.
Chicken thigh roll and nuggets from a food market. Lovely!
Click image to enlarge
Hit the spot!
Click image to enlarge
Grilled chicken in egg on rice.
Click image to enlarge
Ordered from a machine, luckily that had an ENGLISH button!
Click image to enlarge
And Matcha icecream that was absolutely lovely.
Click image to enlarge
That led us to try matcha (green tea) in a proper restaurant/cafe.
Click image to enlarge
Let’s just say that it’s an acquired taste and the ice cream lead us into a false sense of security. That’s matcha (proper) ticked, won’t do that again.
28th Sep 2023 9:36 am
PROFSR G
Member Since: 06 Mar 2017
Location: Lost
Posts: 5069
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73133
Not sure the bears are that stupid! So far we have had no interaction with robots.
28th Sep 2023 11:25 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14487
Japanese toilets are pretty close to robots . The last hotel I was in in Tokyo could differentiate between male and female and prepare the seat accordingly as you approached! D4 HSE EU6 (Known as Jeeves)
New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!) Sold
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
28th Sep 2023 11:30 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73133
They are a bit scary when you walk into the bathroom and they start doing things. And gradually getting used to the short baths. I like a soak in the tub but these call for a bit of contortionism.
Click image to enlarge
And that’s a relatively long tub by Japanese standards!
28th Sep 2023 11:35 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73133
OK, we’re now in Osaka. Had a bit of a wander round the foodie area to the south of the hotel. Loved the 3d advertising.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
No idea what this is!
Click image to enlarge
Very fishy!
Click image to enlarge
And roast dragon?
Click image to enlarge
Lots of fugii (sp?) on show, some fresher than others. No way am I brave enough!
Click image to enlarge
Crab leg anyone?
Click image to enlarge
Settled for octopus balls. Could eat them once they cooled down that is, mush got a bit scorched after I dived in outside the shop!
Click image to enlarge
Getting busy again.
Click image to enlarge
And the onsie wearing Mario Cart peeps from Tokyo have arrived.
Click image to enlarge
On these jollies we have different(ish) rolls, one of mine is getting from A to B. Bit shocked today to find the absolutely fantastic transport planning app just shut up shop and decided it didn’t want to play any more!! This is not the web page I wanted to see!
Click image to enlarge
Seriously thrown a spanner in the works as the next best app is nowhere near as good.
Oh, and the bath in this hotel is even smaller!!
Click image to enlarge
And I can’t operate the AC without the help of GoogTranslate!
Click image to enlarge
29th Sep 2023 1:02 pm
kajtzu
Member Since: 10 Aug 2017
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 6771
Nice pictures. The octopus on the wall looks slightly sinister.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
