Day 18 – Nagoya

10.22AM, The Hilton Plaza West – It’s all but stopped raining today which means I had a dry walk to the station. I dumped my bag in a coin locker and am waiting for the Hilton restaurants to open. The shops don’t interest me and they’re the kind that have three items in them, i.e. way beyond my spending power.

The food places don’t open until 11AM which I’ve discovered is the usual opening time. So I’m just sitting on a sofa listening to a piano man play some awful experimental jazz, (if you can call it that).

11.20AM, The Hilton Plaza East – I’ve gone for italian again, a set menu with pizza and pasta. When asked what drink, and I suggested water was fine, they can’t comprehend that someone doesn’t want something that isn’t included in the set menu. The waiter got really confused.

It’s the same when you’re at road crossings. Even if it’s a one way street and there’s no traffic, everyone will wait until it’s green – apart from huffy business men. It means you’re forced to strategically cross when you can because all the lights are on timers for effective traffic management.

It also seems that I’ve forgotten how to use a knife and fork. It seems really unnatural.

12.20PM, The Hilton Plaza East – Lunch was nice, I’ve got a couple hours before my train to Nagoya. I bought several non fiction books to keep me entertained, as I’m about to run out of reading material. One’s a supposedly humourous look at 2012 and apocolyptic theory. The second is a collection of firsts, so the first person to write sonnets, etc., – it looks interesting.

They say knowledge is power. What’s more interesting is that I’m beginning to really rediscover my love of reading. Obviously on holiday with no-one to talk to, it becomes an easier pastime. When I’m in England I have a lot more distractions and hobbies. The Tube seems a good place to hopefully continue it. I’ve got a couple of Don DeLillo’s novels sitting at home waiting to be read including his latest, Point Omega.

12.53PM, Osaka Station – Word of advice, want a bargain? Don’t go into a Japanese department store – their prices are ludicrous.

2.02PM, Osaka Station – Shiiiiiiinnnnnkansen!

7.32PM, Sun Hotel Nagoya – After struggling to find the hotel in the rain (it was on the second floor of a shopping complex), it turned out to be pretty nice digs. I even got the single room upgraded to a twin free of charge – it means I’m not cramped in a box. I’ve never been comped anything before, so that was a fun first.

I’m back to Tokyo tomorrow – I’ll do the Senso Ji area when I arrive early afternoon. I also need to book my NEX 8.00AM ticket as I’m away the whole day of the 14th at Mt Fuji. I think the weather is letting up, so that’ll hopefully be a nice end to an amazing trip.

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Tagged: Japan 2011, Nagoya, travel diary