Jackson Boyle

I had my wedding reception here!

I don’t like rollercoasters. I hate them. But I have it on good authority that the Big 3 at Fujikyu – the Do Donpa, the Fujiyama and the new one, the Eejanaika – totally rock as coasters go.

You wouldn’t get me on one though. Hate them.

Went here two days agp, stayed for two nights, happened across a street festival – dancing festival, took some videos (watchable at Youtube – number 1 is here and number 2 (taiko drummers) is here) and filled a heap of memory cards with some photos. I wrote a post for Sushimatic about the whole trip and you can enjoy the pix over at Flickr

Takayama is one of the most amazing places I’ve been to yet in Japan. All the frills of Kyoto without the snobbery.

Was last night. And I haven’t slept yet. 15 hours up one side and down the other.

Need bed.

edit – have now slept and you can read all about my adventure here: http://www.sushimatic.com/52-fujis-9-mount-fuji

Go at the end of March or beginning of April, just as the snows are melting. Its even more beautiful, and even better – there’s next to no-one there. Good times.

The biggest tanabata festival in the kanto region takes place at Hiratsuka. The festival itself celebrates the one day of the year the two stars, Vega and Altair (Princess Ori & Prince Hiko) were allowed to meet. On this day, kids make wishes and write them on strips of paper called tanzaku, which are then hung on bamboo, and burned or thrown in a river. Then your wish comes true.

Awwww.

And the streets are filled with wild and intriguing decorations.

Loved it.

There’s a whole gallery over at Sushimatic, one of my sites – Link.