A visit to Japan isn’t complete without a stop in Tokyo, even if its just 30 odd hours! I met Naomo and Sakomoto for dinner at GAYA, an organic vegetarian izakaya (we tried to go last year but it was all booked out around xmas time), and the next day met Aiko, Masa and Aoi chan, the new addition to the family! He’s very cute. We went to Tokyo Skytree to get a view over Tokyo from 350m up! You can go higher up to 450m. From this height, even Tokyo looks like a miniature town, or Sim City. It’s crazy.
It was quite funny walking around because at times I was holding Aoi or pushing the pram, and I think some people were a little confused about who’s baby it was lol. White uncle? haha
We found a vegan ramen place for dinner before I headed back to Singapore!
Singapore F1 »« Asahikawa Kekkon
I met Hiroko (Japanese) and Stefano (Italian) in London in 2010, and now they are getting married in Hokkaido! Asahikawa is Hiroko’s hometown, up in the North of Japan, a couple hours ride from Sapporo. It was a very traditional Japanese style wedding, and I think Stefano’s poor parents had a bit of a hard time, wondering what was going, as they don’t speak much English, let alone Japanese, and it was their first time out of Europe! So they had a bit culture shock to boot. Even Stefano needed some tips from Hiroko at parts of the wedding to know what to do haha but overall it went very well!
The ceremony was in a building in a Japanese temple/garden, but unfortunately it was raining very heavily! So no outside photos but it was still very nice. Then we went to a hotel for the reception where Hiroko changed dress about 3 times and they were both so busy they barely got to eat or drink anything! I was at a table with some of Hiroko’s friends including Keiko who I know from London, and we all went to a bar and izakaya after the wedding reception.
Anyways, just check out the photos 
Tokyo 2012 »« The Deer of Nara
Nara is one of those places that everyone goes to when they visit Japan, but I have never been! Everyone talks about how there are lots of deer there, but you still imagine its just like one closed park with a few deer walking around. Well, they are all over the freakin’ place! Its not just one park or area but basically the whole side of the town with parks and temples and even on the street! They are everywhere! Some of them seem to have had their horns cut and a few not looking in good condition 
but overall they seem pretty well looked after and are totally free to roam about the place. One even crossed the road when we did!
They do get a bit bitey at times and if you try to buy senbei to feed them they will all come up to you at once, I watched this happen to everyone who bought it and they all got a little freaked and just gave out the biscuits as quick as possible haha. But you can pat some of them, just choose wisely! There’s also a stack of temples in the area, many of which are free.
Asahikawa Kekkon »« Osaka
So my friends are getting married in Hokkaido, and I can’t resist an excuse to visit Japan! Especially to places I haven’t been before. So, here I am, first stop, Osaka!
I walked all around Osaka Castle (in scorching heat) and then up it for a good view. At night I met up with Chihiro, who I met in Mexico! We walked around Namba Street with all the shops, restaurants etc. We went to a Veggie Cafe and the next night to a Mexican place! My friends who are about to get married were also in town and joined us for a drink.
I took a trip to Nara (next post) and had a couple days in Sapporo before heading to the wedding in Asahikawa, Hokkaido (Northern Japan). Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido, held the Winter Olympics in 1972 & holds an ice festival each year… But… In summer, there really isn’t much to do! The tower has nothing on the similar looking Tokyo Tower (or even more so, Sky Tree), and one of the top noted ‘sights’ is the University? haha anyways I walked around in the sun, and tried some Hokkaido corn and potato, partly because it was the only veggie food in the park, but the hostel also suggested I try it, and it is honesly the best corn-cob I’ve ever had! All of Japan’s prefectures are “famous” for some kind of food, in Hokkaido, its their vegetables
I was sitting in the park eating it, with my back to a flower bed to get some shade, and around the corner of it there was a Japanese guy sitting there reading the whole time. When he got up and left, he threw his book down towards me. I opened it up, and the first page I realised it was hard-core comic porn hahaha. This guy had been reading it the whole time. I threw it back around the corner and walked off haha. Classic Japan.
The Deer of Nara »« Boracay Dive Trip
