I love the Shinkansen, aka the bullet train. I bought a rail pass before coming to Japan so I could ride all the trains freely. Today I did the math and I saved almost $100 in train tickets. Plus, the pass has the Great Wave on it, so I instantly love it.
Yesterday I got my hot spring experience. It wasn't the sit in the spring type that I was hoping for, but it was still great. I waited till the hostel guy came in and he told me to go to this peninsula that was full of spring towns. I ended up going to Shimoda at the end. The train ride there was along the coast and really nice. The inn I stayed in was real cool. Real traditional. My room had woven mat floors, sliding paper screen doors, and they served me tea at a low table. The bath was cool, a little tub built into the floor that was scalding hot. Even though it was a milling degrees outside it was relaxing. It turns out that Shimoda was the town that Commodore Perry landed in and opened up trade with Japan. Also, Perry was from Rhode Island. They have a little street alley on the river called Perry Road. I was there during a festival called "Candle Cafe" where the whole street was lit up with candles and colored lights. There were musicians, couples in their kimonos, food vendors...kind of like a Japanese Waterfire.
Today I came to Tokyo. What an awesome city so far. I'm staying at another capsule hotel right near the Asahi brewry. Tomorrow I'm moving to a real hostel so hopefully I can go out with some people. Up until now I've mainly been meeting people just as they were on their way out so most of my vacation has been on my own. Tomorrow I'm also going to this place where all the people that you think of when you think of Japan go. Yeah the ones wearing all the crazy costumes. That'll be...interesting.
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