[53BHP]

Arrived in Japan yesterday evening and for a Techno-Auto-Foodie Junkie... This is Heaven. Really!!

Am on a week long factory tour of one of Japan's major corporations. Arrived at Kansai airport on the back of a typhoon. Man made island airport, like no other. Google Kansai airport to dig up some crazy facts about this airport.

Here is the view from my hotel window at Wakayama:



Wakayama castle. Beautiful

Dinner was an unending procession of Japanese food. Our hosts just would not stop bringing out the food:

Okonomiya, sushi, sashimi, suki yaki, hot pot, takoyoki, grilled fish, tempura, jap style pizza, shochu.... sigh!!










This morning had a simple but superlative japanese breakfast:









I was trying to decide whether I should have 2 separate threads or even 3 for tech, food and autos. Then I decided to just keep it in 1 thread. If you are not interested in either one of these, just keep scrolling ahead. There is a lot to come

I hope to upload photos and views as I go rather than coming back to India and then writing from memory. This may be a bit rough around the edges, for lack of time. But bear with me

This week shall take me from Kyoto where I am for 2 nights, through Nakatsugawa, Shizuoka and finally Tokyo and out

Stay tuned, there is more to come....

[extreme_torque]

Hooked! Waiting for more. I have huge huge respect for Japan and its people.

[14000rpm]

Japanese cuisine has always got me curious. Their culture more so. Looking fwd for your future posts.

[vasanthn21]

Konnichiwa! Great to see a travelogue on Japan.

Had been there 13 years back! Japanese hospitality is one to be experienced! Extremely humble and polite people.

Did you experience the tea cermony yet? I would have to ignore the food part, as most of the Japanese food does not suit vegetarians IIRC

[pganapathy]

Oh man, you are one lucky fellow. You get to experience so much during a one week trip. The view out of your room is truly stunning. Really looking forward to all your updates. The food looks divine too

[14000rpm]

The only bit of Japanese language I learnt was to say ''sappari wakarimasen''.
It only means I Don't understand at all. . It has always helped me when We've had Jap customers visit us.

In fact I've learnt the same sentence in Finnish as well.

[53BHP]

Okay I have had the most amazing day in Kyoto

Got myself not 1 but 2 prized Kyoto Santoku knives. Yes I like to cook a bit. These are fantastic. Spent way more than I thought I would

But hey I am rambling. Let me get back to where I left off from my OP

So got in to Kyoto in the afternoon yesterday and went straight to the Kiyomizu Shrine. Real slice of Japanese culture and history. All shrines in Japan are Shinto and all temples in Japan are Buddhist. These are the 2 major religions of Japan.

This shrine is known for the wooden decks built in wood without a single nail hammered in. All wood









The bus that we are using. Mitsubishi Fuso. Party piece is the lowering of the front suspension to enable you to get on easy. Sweet!!!












Japanese car design language has become color cubist aka the style practised by our very own architect Charles Correa. Please see all the cars above and Charles Correa designs:



This is only the start of all the color cubist cars that I am seeing here in Japan. My top fav and the one that I find myself clicking the most is the Nissan Qube. Super car

[udaydesai]

This reminds me of my trip to Japan and that too in wakayama, the castle in the first pic is that of japnese king, I have visited that too, please do visit that castle, it's really good.

[finneyp]

Keep them coming, love this place!

[53BHP]

The gadgets that you get to see everywhere:

[manolin]

hi


could u give a description of the gadgets (figured out the shoe polisher, and the electric kettle?). would be really helpful.

[dkhatau]

Wow look at the bus man how many gadgets it has, seems we are still in stone age man. Thanks for such wonderful pictures.

[the.city]

It's only when you go to Japan, that you realize why certain characters in the movie Cars2 looked like that (hint: look at the black taxis)

[vinair]

Man! that cockpit of the bus looks really busy!! why are there so many switches and panels? any idea??

Oh man look at all those tinny winny looking double decker sized cars!! gosh! hope Suzuki never brings these here in India!

[thumpingheart]

WOW!! Thats a big wow from a a fellow foodie! I always was fascinated by the Japanese food (along with almost all the other cuisines ) It just involves very fresh ingredients and fish etc! Never tried it but the photos make me wanna go right now and have some saki and sushi!!

Japan too seems quite a beautiful place to visit, though quite uncommon. Looks very pretty in the pics. Must be ultra-neat and organized! Plus a Mecca for gadget freaks!!

Really looking forward to the rest of your logue. Cheers. Keep us posted! Are you back or gonna see the Suzuka F1 there too?