Hughesy does Japan

osaka auto messe & strawberry/cream sandwiches

2009-02-15T08:09:00.001-08:00

Osaka auto messe today, got to meet a few of the D1 drivers aswell!

meihan sports land & hks kansai

2009-02-14T04:28:00.001-08:00

We went to a day of drifting at Meihan sports land today to get our first glimpse of the sport in the country where it was born. Was an awesome day, by far the best track day i've ever been to, including the ones where i've driven. We also stopped at the nearby HKS Kansai tuning shop that was 5 mins down the road.

nara & deer, lots and lots of deer

2009-02-12T07:38:00.000-08:00

It was time to visit Nara today which is about 40 minutes train ride out of Osaka. We visited some more temples, buddhist monuments and a place that ALOT of deer, including one that liked my chocolate ice cream a bit to much. Pics!

kobe & earthquakes

2009-02-11T04:26:00.000-08:00

Today we went to Kobe, which is one the way to Hiroshima. We mainly visited around the docks and seaside area where there were a few museums and monuments. There was a particular memorial for an earthquake near the docks that was well preserved, otherwise theres a stack more photo's of other stuff we saw, and of course, some cars.

hiroshima & radaway

2009-02-10T07:56:00.000-08:00

Today we visited the memorial park and dome in Hiroshima, site of the american dropped A-Bomb in 1945. It was a weird feeling being in the place that was made so famous for destruction, but now is a beautiful city that you could swear was over 100 years old as its already as built up as any other city we have seen. The grass mound in 1 of the pics actually holds the ashes and remains of around 70, 000 victims found around the site and was basically the exact point where the bomb fell. There was alot to see but here's a few of the pics i took, plus some random cars we found in osaka.

tokyo & wolfgang pizza

2009-02-10T07:46:00.000-08:00

From Saturday through to Sunday we were away in Tokyo and while there managed to see ALOT of stuff. To get there we took the Shinkansen bullet trains, some of the fastest in Japan with speeds of around 200 - 250km/h. We visited Harajuku, famous for cosplay costumes, the shibuya shopping district and Yokohama across the 3 days. Although it was particulary expensive it was awesome to stay in a hotel for a couple of nights in the first proper beds since we've arrived.

Our hotel was in Shinjuku, famous for its massive pedestrian crossing. The place never sleeps, except between 6am and 12 noon, otherwise there's people everywhere you go. Yokohama was so far my favourite city in Japan, being more open than other other we've visited. Here's a stack of pics from the weekend.

universal city & jurassic park!!!

2009-02-05T21:48:00.000-08:00

Thursday we finally got around to going to Universal Studios Japan, basically like movie world only a bit better. It was the best place EVER! Here's a link;

http://www.usj.co.jp/e/

Some of the rides were Jurassic Park, rollacoaster, Backdraft fire special effects, Back to the Future, Spiderman, Jaws, that sort of thing. So here's a pile of random photo's from throughout the day, there's alot of Jurassic Park cause i was scarily obsessed with seeing that ride for the last week.

geisha girls & more kyoto

2009-02-02T02:35:00.000-08:00

Once again we went to kyoto and saw heaps again, there's just to much to see in Kyoto!! Here's some of Kiyomizudera Temple up in the mountain and the surrounding streets. There's also a massive buddha, probably about 80m high.

2am bowling & 22's

2009-01-31T21:05:00.000-08:00

Friday night we ended up meeting up with some guys from a silvia tuning shop for dinner and then went bowling at 2am! The guy who owns the toyota van on 22's had no problem going around double the speed limit in pouring rain.

kyoto & squeeky floorboards

2009-01-30T03:17:00.000-08:00

Today was pretty wet and our original plan last night was to go to universal Studios in Osaka. We ended up sleeping in and made an afternoon trip to Kyoto where everything was finally open unlike last time. We went to a few castles and gardens but didnt have a massive amount of time to check everything out.

The floors in the palace's are actually built to squeak as you walk over them so you can be heard coming. Its a really eerie, highpitch metal on metal sort of squeak. At the bottom there's also a random pic of an R32 GTR with roof racks, would never happen in Aus.

snowboarding & sickness

2009-01-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Havent posted in a few days as i've been a bit sick with a fever since friday, so i didnt leave the apartment untill today. Today though we were up at 5:30 and travelled past Kyoto to the Biwako Valley and went snowboarding with adam and his friend Haru. My first time in the snow!! And alot of the time i was on my bum trying to get the hang of it, but it was still alot of fun!! There's also some more random Osaka night shots. In case your worried i am completely aware the beanie i'm wearing looks rediculous

mcgasm & the mexican dildo gearknob

2009-01-21T19:37:00.000-08:00

Today Neil and I had a pretty easy day, both buggered from all the walking at Kyoto, so we just made a quick trip up to Autobachs and bludged around. I had the best McDonalds EVER aswell, an italian style burger, was awesome! We took a photo of some of the gear available at autobachs, they've got heaps of nardi's, hid's and this one really kool mexican looking gear knob.

Interesting point, the bread only comes in half loaves and they take of the end pieces so there's no crust pieces

kyoto fail & a GTR

2009-01-20T01:58:00.000-08:00

Today Neil and i hoped to see a few of the castle's and temples in nearby Kyoto, however when we got there most of the places were closed!!! We did however see our first R35 GTR near a WELD store we found in Takastuki, so i managed to score a paparazzi shot.

osaka castle & solberg

2009-01-19T03:35:00.000-08:00

Today Neil and I hitched the train by ourselves for the first time and managed to find our way to Osaka Castle, wasnt a big day so thats the majority of the pics but there are some others, including the sighting of Peta Solberg.

osaka & carfield rize

2009-01-17T04:19:00.000-08:00

Finally got around to putting some pics up, just a taste of what we've been up to. Got up this morning and spent all day in Osaka checking out the shopping districts and taking it all in. Also visted carfied rize where Adam has just bought his C35 Laurel.

Arrived safe

2008-12-23T02:28:00.000-08:00

Just letting everyone know i arrived safe, and will start uploading pics as soon as i can!