Christmas has absolutely flown by and it has been quite different this year.  For one, I have been working for most of it (albeit from home) which has been the first time ever for me!  I was back home for only a few days but it was great to spend it with family and see my little Nephe

I have seen a lot of the ‘7 Song Challenge’ going around Facebook at the moment, and I’ve not paid much to attention to it to be honest.  I have no idea what it is meant to raise awareness for or anything but it did cast my memory back to reading Nick Hornby’s

After a cracking end to 2014 with my nephew being born, I was ready to tackle 2015 and continue my recent tradition of trying to top the year before.  I had big plans for 2015 and now I am sitting here looking back on it, it has been an absolute cracker! It started off with a slight c

I am currently sitting in Narita airport, looking back on my trip before I head home via a 12 hour flight. 31 days, 15 towns/cities it has been an amazing trip and I will miss this country. Transport The transport in Japan is truly epic. The trains are on time, comfortable, quick and

I had a lie in today because I had nothing but shopping and sushi on my list todo. After I’d gone for breakfast I headed to Akihabara for one final stroll around this crazy place. I headed to Don Quijote after that, back in Shinjuku as I could get my gifts tax free there. I pick

Day 28 mostly consisted of an 8.5hr train from Nagasaki to Tokyo. Imagine an eight and a half hour train with 2 changes on a London Midland or Arriva Trains Wales service? That journey would be painful and suicides would occur en route, but in Japan… a dawdle. For a start, the t

I’d heard before my trip that Shimabara was pretty much a pass through place but I thought with a castle and stuff it must at least be decent. However, it turned out to be the only place so far I have not loved. I had to get some local line which stank of urine to the ferry port

I was feeling a lot better after a good sleep ready for my day trip to Miyajima today. The sun was out in the morning so all is good. The JR Pass covered the ferry to Miyajima so I just needed to hop on a short train and then the ferry. It was only a ten minute journey but immediately

My last full day in Miyakojima went exactly as I planned, I went to the beach which was really close to me and ate at the restaurant close to the hotel.  I was never going to trek after my antics yesterday! I cannot remember if I told you before, but I went to the drinks vending machi

After Mr Goni the Typhoon had now moved onto bigger and better things, I was free to venture outside again and was adamant I’d get to the sea. It was as humid as ever although the sun was not blazing out today.  In the early afternoon when the winds had truly gone, I headed to t