TRIP OVERVIEW..

I can honestly say that this was the best trip I have ever taken. Japan is just wonderful. The food, the scenery, the cars, the girls, etc. We got to see a large variety of what Japan has to offer, and got to see a lot of things outside of the car stuff. I have a feeling that katsu curry, ramen, and especially sushi will not be the same anymore. The food in Japan was amazing, and it would be hard to find places as good here. The sushi was extremely fresh and just melts in your mouth. A little disappointed we didn't get to try Fugu or Kobe beef, but that's okay.

I took 910 pictures and 24 videos of scenary in Tokyo/Osaka. 194 pictures at the Tokyo Auto Salon, and 119 pictures and 3 videos at J's Racing. Grand total of 1223 pictures and 27 videos on this trip. Again, I am truly impressed and happy about the quality of the pictures that came out of my Canon SD990 camera. It is a great little point and shoot camera, a lot better than my old tired Canon SD300.

I purchased almost everything I was looking to purchase. However, there were a few items I wasn't able to find. I was disappointed that I couldn't find the rip cord instant bento box. I was looking forward to trying that. I was also disappointed that I couldn't find a shirt with Engrish on it, as well as a Tokyo Yakult Swallows shirt/jersey. I was able to find all the car parts I was looking for, as well as many souvenirs and weird candies/snacks. My favorite purchase of the whole trip has to be the finger pointer. I just wish I found it earlier in the trip..

Car goodies..



Other goodies and snacks..



The infamous pointer, as seen in DAY 9 photos..



I would like to thank Karin, Mallen, Joe, Jaime and John for putting up with me for 10 nights, and for sharing the experience. It was a great trip. I would also like to thank those of you who followed the blog. I tried to tell a story of each day in Japan, I hope you enjoyed it.

To finish off the blog, here are some random unposted photos taken throughout the trip. Enjoy.

Cool toilet seat in the hotel. I didn't get a picture of the one in Osaka, that has a seat warmer built in. Some of the toilets even have noise makers, such as flushing sounds, so people won't hear you making natural noises..



Beef bawl or beef bowl??



Packed subway..



Tuna heads..



Gas station with pull down gas pumps..



Tokyo is a candidate city for the 2016 Olympics..



Black EK9 at Up Garage..



Lights outside our hotel in Shinjuku..



They use Mal's car as taxis in Japan..



Jaime taking a picture of Mallen and Karin in Shibuya..



John taking a picture of Jaime at the Meiji Shrine..



A picture of Mallen taking a picture of us..



A picture of Jaime taking a picture of us..



It is illegal to stick your elbows out on the train..



Dotonbori..




Joe's Wall-E..



Cup Noodle vending machine..



"Ha-Chew.."



Real Swords, as much as 500,000 Yen..



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I took a picture of my computer screen for the walking directions to ASM. Worked wonders for all the shops we visited. We'd get public transit directions from Google Maps, and take a picture of the walking route, that way I can reference my camera once we get off the train station..



Creme wagon outside Super Autobacs Yokohama..



Don Quixote (Donki) store. Super variety store that has almost everything, packed into a small store. They have a lot of cool knick knacks, and that is primarily where I did most of my souvenir shopping from..

DAY 10.. FLIGHT HOME..

We are back from Japan!! Kinda happy, but kinda sad at the same time.

January 18, 2009 was a very long day. Joe, Mallen, Karin and I started the day at 9:45AM, on a mission to kill whatever Yen we had left. We did some souvenir shopping around our hotel, and ate Katsu Curry one last time, at C&C Curry Shop. We then took the airport limousine at 1PM to the Narita Airport. We did some last minute souvenir shopping at the airport, and ate a bowl of udon. Our flight departed from Narita Airport at 6:10PM, January 18. The 8.5 hour flight home went by pretty quick. We landed at SFO at 10:00AM, January 18. That's right, we went back in time, and therefore lived January 18, 2009 twice. Kinda strange and kinda tiring. I tried to stay up all day to force myself to get back onto the correct schedule, but I just couldn't do it. I ended up taking a 5 hour power nap, so I might end up being jetlag for a few days. Oh well. I didn't take too many pictures today, so enjoy these few..

C&C Curry Shop katsu curry with pickled scallions..



Engrish one last time..



Airport udon..

DAY 9.. OUR FINAL DAY..

Today was the last day of our trip. Pretty sad. It was a free day, so each group went their separate ways. John and Jaime went souvenir shopping, Mallen and Karin went to Harajuku and Akihabara, and Joe and I went to Yokohama. We decided to do more car part shopping, so we went to Yokohama for Super Autobacs, ASM, and Chinatown. Yokohama Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in all of Asia, and is among one of the largest in the World. It was pretty big, with tons of alleys. It was very clean, compared to SF Chinatown. On the way home, we realized it was still early, so we revisited Harajuku, and walked down Harajuku Street, since we missed it the first time we were there. It is a lot like Haight Street, with a lot of funky shops, just less crackheads.

The group planned to meet at the hotel lobby at 6pm to go out for our last supper. We decided to go big and eat a good meal, since it was our last. I suggested that we go back to the Tsukiji fish market area to get a fresh plate of sushi, so we did that. The food was expensive, but heck, it was our last night in Japan, so might as well go big. Afterwards we went to Shibuya to do a little more souvenir shopping. Enjoy the pictures, and see you guys back at home..

Yokohama station..



Super Autobacs..



Super clean subway station in Yokohama..





ASM..



Recaro's anyone??



You know a shop is baller when it has hardwood floor in the shop area..



Employees' S2000s..



International Seamen's Hall.



On our way to Chinatown..



We are here on the map in Chinatown..



Some temple in Chinatown..



Another temple in Chinatown..



This place had a line going around the corner..



Mugen'd out Civic Type R on RE030s..



We walked around and around looking for a place to eat. All the places around, even outside of Chinatown were Chinese food. We didn't want to, but we had to settle for McDonalds..



2 minutes prior to taking this picture, the platform was empty. Shows how fast the stations fill up with people..



Harajuku station..



Harajuku street..



Harajuku people. Notice how some people have luggages. They dress in normal clothes going to Harajuku, and change into their outfits once they get there..






Con artists. The guy in the Fila jacket was trying to sell jumping beans, that move on command. But the guy in the brown jacket, with his hand in his duffle bag, was controlling the jumping beans by remote control. It's all a scam..



Damage done today..



The last supper. My $30 plate of sushi. It was soooooooooo fresh, the fish literally melt in my mouth! My custom plate of 5 Tuna, 5 Albacore, 5 Salmon, and 2 Tuna handrolls..



Table full of sushi..



Destroyed..



Nose picker..



Our Mexican themed subway train home..




Our last subway/train ticket..



Going to miss seeing cars like this all over the place..



Mallen's suitcases packed full of transformers..



Vowed to try McDonalds McPork sandwich before I left Japan. It was weird, kinda like a pork sausage pattie with Teriyaki sauce on it. I don't think I'd get it again..




Washed it down with a giant can of Coke..