Rest of Japan

Hi from New Zealand, my new year's resolution is to update the blog for the last few months. We are settled now in Christchurch and I can update you all on what we have been up to since we were at the Sumo in Japan, will do a few posts over the next few weeks so hopefully will be up-to-date shortly. Jeanette :)

Japan Continued....

After we went to see the sumo in Japan, we headed off to climb Mt. Fuji with Lena and her mates, it was a long slog up to our hut where we slept in the biggest bunkbed ever! about 30 people in the bottom bunk and 30 in the top, we got maybe 3 hours sleep and then up to climb the rest of the way for the sunrise. It was some traffic jam getting to the top!

Sunrise on Mt Fuji

The climbing gang

Me and Brian at the summit

traffic jam on the trek uphill

Brian travelling in style on the bullet train

Antoin my brother arrived out to Japan while we were there and we had a great time seeing all the sites around Shimane province where Lena was living. Lena was playing in a taiko drumming group and we got to see them in action at a few gigs! Some photos and a video of her drumming are posted.

Lena & Trixie in their Taiko uniforms

Lena drumming

Check out the size of the main drum!

One of Lena's fans

Somehow I didn't record the sound!!

Fireworks - this was a pretty spectular display for an hour

A little bit of Ireland in Matsue - where some Irish Olympians had their training base so plenty of Irish flags around the place.

Brian and Antoin belting out some songs at the karaoke

Tokyo

We visited the Shibuya Crossing, the busiest pedestrian junction in the world, it is pretty impressive!



Alcatras Bar in Tokyo - Brian gets locked in!
The gang at Alcatras Bar - our medicinal drinks!
The capsule beds at the hostel in Tokyo