Okayama

population: 593,000

Sunday, June 1, 2003

I got to Okayama by the Shinkansen from Tokyo. This photograph was taken in Okayama.
I stayed at the Youth Hostel Okayamaken Seinenkaikan. After I checked in, the hostel master said (in Japanese) something like, "You've got a friend in the kitchen." Indeed, I met a very fun guy, Naoki. Naoki is from Chiba, a part of Tokyo near the airport. He works in his father's business, but was taking some time off for a long motorcycle trip. We talked for several hours until the hostel people came and asked us to go to sleep. Here is Naoki on his way to bed.
Here is Naoki again, just before bed.
The first morning I stayed there, I had the breakfast they served. I had eggs, rice, fish, and pickled vegetables - a traditional Japanese breakfast. It was good. You see a picture here. (Sorry, the picture didn't come out too well.)
Here is Naoki with his motorcycle, at the beginning of another day of riding.