OSAKA

Arriving in Osaka. The heat was the first encountered. Trying to find our hotel in the sticky Japanese summer with a heavy suitcase and a new language with no English subtitles, as I've been accustomed to in other travels. Finally, with a local map, asking strangers, and running into a pair we'd met on the ferry over, we find our lost hotel which we'd been circling around clueless and confused. The doors glide open for us and the air conditioning folds around our skin like cool ocean water. Its's too early, can't check in yet, so drop the bags off. We're in Japan, tired, starving, and on a lean budget; the remedy? SUSHI!

We found out that Japanese people like sushi as much as we do as we finally made it and sat down. And the sushi was laid out in endless supply. No, I'm serious. The typical type of resturant consists of sitting at a bar and sushi delivered on a (literal) conveyer belt coming in endless quantities from the kitchen. 20 minutes later was a desperate scene. 40 empty plates stacked high in front of us. We didn't even pay much regard for the leather wearing, tattooed men who sat next to us. One of them started talking to us in a friendly manner, enthusiasticly speaking about sushi as a traditional Japanese food, as we slowly realized that Lonely Planet had indeed lied when it said "interacting with yakuza is highly unlikely when visiting Japan." We smiled generously to the tattoo sleeved men and as we left he waved us goodbye, one thumb unnaturally missing, wishing us a good travel. For those who don't know: Yakuza (click the link) for full explanation. Naturally, as we wondered around Osaka for the rest of the day, I checked behind, paranoid of friendly Japanese gangsters.

I'm not sure what it is about Japan that provokes such fascination. Japan is a very unique place. Its culture and art has always astonished me, as well as its disgusting military history has disgusted me beyond words. But I think its far to say that the majority of countries are passed that kind of history. Though maybe America has a way to go.

Day 2, we visited Kyoto. I wouldn't mind living in Kyoto at all, making the acception of being surrounded by tourists my entire life. It was a beautiful city. We accidently came on the day of a major festival (which the name slips my mind at the moment). We were there July 18, I believe if you care to do the research. Anyway, we came out of the subway to be right in the middle of the festival. An American man told me he came from Tokyo to the see. Its a Shinto tradition that has been going on for thousands of years. We were confused. We just wanted to see the temples so we did and it was pleasantly uncrowded.

I always knew that I loved Zen temples, even though this was the first time I visited any. Anything man made that leaves room for nature, I can respect. It was beautiful and so simple. Theres no way to describe it. Japan has always did that for me. Its emphasis on simplicity I love very much.