Japan Travels

After leaving Evergreen and Hakuba on the 20th March, for the last two weeks me and some of my friends from Evergreen have been travelling around Japan. Here are some photos and the route of our travels.

So to start our trip we left Hakuba by train and headed for Osaka:

We borrowed bikes from our hostel on the first day to explore the town

Found an amazing market area which had lots of stalls and shrines and even a pond with lots of turtles!

Osaka Aquarium

Osaka at night

Alan and little fella at a shrine on the walk up to Koyasan

Koyasan

Koyasan

Monks at Koyasan

Koyasan bridge

Graveyard at Koyasan

 So after a couple of nights in Osaka, we headed west to Hiroshima, the location of the first atomic bomb attack during the 2nd world war. We also visited the nearby island of Miyajima.

Floating gateon the shores of Miyajima Island

Em and Helen

Miyajima

Temple gardens on Miyajima

Temple gardens on Miyajima

Residents of Miyajima

Walk up to the peak on Miyajima

View from the top

Emma the "animal lover" has a guest for her picnic

Em trying to out smart the deer.

Back in Hiroshima now, we visited the central site of the A-Bomb attach. This flame continues to burn until all of the nuclear weapons on Earth have been detroyed

A-Dome. Relicts of a building from the attack.

I have some more photos to add from our visit to Kyoto, Fuji and Ito....coming soon.

In and around Hakuba and Happo One

View from Happo One looking east

Hakuba 47

Temple in Happo One

Vege feast at EOC staff outing in Hakuba

Kate, Emma, Helen and Sam out for dinner in Hakuba

Master Braster in Echoland

Roomies!

Cute skiing buddah

A home from home

Here are some photos of the place I'm staying in whilst living in Hakuba. It's called Kokusai Lodge (meaning "international" in English) and right next to the ski slopes and ski school.
There are about 25 people living here so there is never a dull moment! Anyway here are the photos....

Hanna, Dave, Toby and Ryan in the common room...the warmest room of the lodge thanks to the kerosene heaters!

Kitchen artwork

Helen on our very own bouldering wall!

We also have a mini-ramp in the basement!

Japan: the first 24 hours

Well I made it to Japan with my 70kg of luggage! Was pretty jet-lagged but had an great transfer ride from Tokyo to Hakuba with beautiful sunny weather and great scenery. Met nearlly all of the friendly Evergreen staff and had a trip to the supermarket; wasn't too sure what most of the food was but it all looked interesting! There is no snow here at the ski school base yet but hopefully some is on the way. We started our staff training today, which lasts a week but we have a couple of parties planned too :).....and some photos of course....

Most amazing toilet ever. So many buttons!

A bit of Tokyo with Mt. Fuji

No snow yet! Hopefully soon!

Ski school office

Possibly the best room in Hakuba ;)

My Japanese style room :)

Japan bound...

Finally finished packing for Japan, so thought I should celebrate with a glass of wine (or 2) with the mother. Proudly wearing my "I heart Japan t-shirt"; an awesome xmas pressie from my Aunty Jane and Rach!

I arrive in Hakuba on Sunday, then I have an Instructor induction for 6 days, but I'll try and put up some photos when I can :)