on my last trip to japan, i bought a J.R rail pass on the way to the airport. $276 for unlimited access to pretty much any train in japan. it was a great buy because i used almost triple of the cost.
there is a HIS travel agency right in the front of Don Quijote in town. it’s pretty easy to find, and pretty easy to buy.
just walk in the door and you will be greeted by the HIS lovely staff.
HIS is a japanese company so you can expect professional quality service.
10 minutes later, i was walking out with my unlimited japan rail pass. i got the 1 week pass but they also sell 2 or 3 week passes too. just take your passport and you can get one. something you won’t regret.
and go see Mika-san. she speaks perfect english and is very nice.
i logged my last trip and kind of freaked out after looking at all the places i went too in that short time. 8 hours to osaka, 7 hours back to hawaii.
this looks like a railway system in japan. but this is actually my tracks. airplane, car rides, taxi’s, ferries, and a lot of walking too. i still can’t believe i traveled that much in that 9 days. and if you asked me which was my favorite part, my answer would be “all.”
this time, we are more focused on west japan. no trains, just lots of car rides, long car rides.
H.I.S Rail Pass to Japan!
Japan Skin Diver Day 1
Ishidai and Suzuki, and many more…
Photo by Keiichi Kimura
Yakisakana is Grilled Fish
Hashimoto-san came to hawaii 2 days ago. i took him surfing the afternoon he arrived and the waves were pretty big. i’d say shoulder high with head high sets and that was the biggest surf he’s been in. then yesterday morning, the big south swell hit. the waves were way overhead, consistent, and very powerful. we paddled out anyway and Hashimoto-san did awesome. he caught some big waves and made it back out easily. 2 back to back days of the biggest waves in his surfing life. i was stoked to experience it with him. welcome to the big wave world Hashimoto-san!
Ryosuke asks me when he picks us up from the airport “what do you want to eat?” i told him, grilled fish! so we went to a izakaya called Kuroshio and had an awesome dinner. my first time eating a flounder like this. oishikatta!
and yaki sakana means grilled fish. we don’t have this back home in hawaii so that’s why i crave it so much. tasty, healthy, and good with a cold draft beer.
and another favorite. raw chicken liver. it melts in your mouth. yummy! thanks to Ryosuke, Naohiro, Naoka, Seigo, and Kyle for a wonderful izakaya night in wakayama.
well, since i slept over 4 hours on the flight, i only needed a few hours of sleep last night. i got up at 4am and was checking my email. i have 7 full days here so going to maximize every minute of it. once everybody gets up, the plan will be made, and we will move. stay tuned for a great culture experience in west japan!
