Chris & Jenny's Ramblings: Japan 2011: Hakuba

Our second trip to Japan was shared with our friends Mike, Kez, Rob and Andrew. This time we were there essentially to ski but still had time to enjoy the hospitality and sights of some of one of Japan's largest cities, Osaka; and see some spectacular scenery on the way to, and in, the Japan Alps. This first edition of the Japan 2011 blog is a small edited version as I await for more pics from the rest of the crew.

In line for check-in at Cairns airport about to leave for Osaka.

Jenny and I in front of a small shrine in Osaka.

Osaka Castle surrounded by gardens.

Foraged for dinner in Osaka and came across an 'Aussie' bar. Naturally we were the only Aussies in the bar and after drinking far too much and having fish n chips for dinner we did embarassing things Aussies do when pissed in a bar in another country. "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi."

Had brecky in stand up cafe at the station. Food in the window was plastic to give you an idea of what you are eating. Bit difficult but just had to use your imagination and hope you didn't get any raw fish or fish entrails. This restaurant is very popular for Japanese office workers who eat and run. You even put your money in a vending machine, get a ticket, present to the counter, and hey presto! Your meal is made. Adventurous 6 awaiting to board their first Shinkansen that will be travelling at up to 300km/hr. All very excited.

With some newbies on board, Jenny and I were actually more adventurous (with the food sampling) and gained more confidence getting around Japan. We both had a lot of laughs watching our travelling companions marvel at the same things we liked and found interesting 12 months ago. Like: smoking stations, markers for the blind on all sidewalks, plastic food displays, narrow street malls, the politeness of the locals, the language, the lack of loud people and graffitti and the quietness of the traffic in a city with a population of over 2.6 million.