Nagoya.

Nagoya was nice.

It`s a little hard to say anything more. It turns out it is the fourth largest city in Japan and seeming as it is so big, it is surprising that there is so little to do. We stayed in a place called Kanayama which appeared to be the gaming centre of the entire city. There were pachinko parlours and arcade halls as far as the eye could see, or bear to stand. The matter of the fact is that some of these buildings have enough lights to illuminate a small country. But I thought that was kind of cool. As long as you don`t mind the lights and the noise, you`ll love Nagoya.

On the first day we ventured out to Nagoya castle. After a few discouraging opinions from some Australians in the hostel the expectations for Nagoya castle were low. It is nice to say however that the expectations did not become reality. I personally thought the castle was great. There was a lot of hands on stuff and even a 10 minutes 3D film about the history of the castle and how it was destroyed in WWII. All of this for a mere 500yen, which I guess is about 4 pounds. It`s a shame the weather gods started to sense our good time and opened up the heavens, especially on the only day we decided not to take an umbrella. Brilliant.

We found a place selling umbrellas after a short soaking and headed into the high end shopping part of the town, Sakae.  It was nice enough. We went into one building and after a few moments confusion the lady working there had explained that you were charged if you wanted to walk around the shop. That is right, just walk around, and that the charge was only for 30 minutes. Any longer, and you paid more. With both Hayley and my wallet wanting telling me to leave, I concluded I didn't want to browse anything in that shop if i had to pay for it.

The next day proved to be an improvement on the weather front, so me and Hayley decided we would head to Osu, after it was strongly recommended to us by the hostel owner. I loved it there. If I had to put it simply I would say Osu is to Japan as Camden is to Britain. It was insane. The variety of shops there are enough to entertain any person, of any age, of any culture. Osu was also home to the first tattoo parlour that I  had seen since arriving to Japan. And my heart yearned for a tattoo as a souvenir for this trip, however after finding out how much a tattoo would cost for no bigger than the size of a 50pence piece, I ran. Lesson learnt that tattoos in Japan are costly. Osu also seems to home a more erotic section of Japan`s taste. Me and Hayley were in an electric store and after blinking suddenly found ourselves surrounded by manga of naked women. No, not real women silly, that would be too normal. But drawn women, comic book characters with there breasts out and in strange poses. Well after 10 seconds had past I felt pretty awkward, and boomed for the exit, with Hayley close at my heels. From that point on we concentrated on where we were walking.

Now we are in Nara, another rainy day is under-way and the hostel seems very nice. We are here for four nights (this current hostel for one night and another down the road for three due) and I`m already thinking that this city will deliver.

Thanks for reading
The Adventure Continues.