This blogpost covers the day of February 13th, while in Fukuoka, Japan. Transit to Himeji, and Kure, Japan.
Woke up fairly early. Packed everything, returned my hotel keycard, and walked my way towards Hakata Station. Yes, I walked because it was quicker than taking anything else. No hassles with buses or trains. I enjoyed my short, if somewhat lengthy walk trip to Hakata Station. A nice view, perspective, fresh air, and even admiring the architecture in the area, all to make my way to Hakata Station to catch a bullet train to visit Himeji. I obtained my tickets and stamp, acquired food, and was happy.
My plan for the day was to travel from Fukuoka to Himeji, and then to Kure in a straight line. Little did I realize, also from various forms of fatigue, Himeji is after Kure, not prior. I was thinking of another desired castle I strongly desired to visit, one I had seen from the train window back in 2023.
Japan Trip 2024:
[Day 1] – [Day 2] – [Day 3] – [Day 4] – [Day 5] – [Day 6] – [Day 7] – [Day 8] – [Day 9] – [Day 10] – [Day 11] – [Day 12] – [Day 13] – [Day 14] – [Day 15] – [Day 16] – [Day 17]
Happily, and safely, arrived at Himeji Station after 20 minutes of walking.
During my walk toward Hakata Station I was also given time to process my previous days in Fukuoka, even how I missed out on an allegedly gimmicky perspective of ‘Canal City Hakata’ for it’s waterfalls and other types of beauties. It is what it is, and I’ll have to see if I can visit it sometimes in the future, whenever that shall be. There are a few places I had desired to visit, now noted for future reference.
Tickets bought for Sakura 583, and konbini food bought for the trip.
The train pulled up, I made my way to my seat and sat down. I was also greeted by an elderly Japanese guy, even a humble one at that. He seemed highly exhausted, even sleeping during his trip. I hope I didn’t bother him during his trip from Fukuoka to Hiroshima, as I may have noted him doing. Or may have been a few stops further than Hiroshima. Either way, the Green Car seats were glorious. I admired the levels of comfort from the Green Car. 🙂
It was at this very point, once I heard the announcements, I realized I screwed up. Himeji isn’t before, it’s after both Hiroshima and Kure. I briefly failed my Japanese geographical common sense moment. I failed to realize where Himeji was in Japan, even though I’m well aware of what major cities are where in Japan. I pride myself on geographical knowledge.
I started noting on Twitter/X my errors, and how if I made the same mistakes in Canada I would be fairly screwed. I would also be screwed thanks to how vast the landscape is in Canada, also equally making it hard to even screw this simple task in the first place. Maybe locally in a city, not nationally. I felt horrible, now forced to waste 1 hour more in arriving in Himeji forcing me to rush everywhere. I had to now improvise for the rest of the day.
Himeji Arrival:
Happily arrived at Himeji, if still highly worried about my geographical mix-up. On arrival I sought out an empty coin locker to store my luggage. My main luggage, and my attachment (from Sapporo) onto the luggage. I eventually found one, happily rushing my way out the station gate, even fearing if I was able to return. I forced the geographical station route into my mind. Everything now was “rush-rush” in an attempt to both have fun, document, and experience Himeji Castle, even if it was Fukuyama I had actually desired to visit. It was a happy accident, and I’ll take it. I have no regrets.
I was in rush-mode now. Mission mode. I was basically speed walking while ignoring everything else, except for a few noteworthy street decorations. I had to ignore everything. I basically made note of statues, manhole covers, and no-drones-allowed signage. Everything else had to be intentionally ignored. I arrived fairly “late” to visit Himeji Castle with how I arrived at 1 PM, Castle closing at 4 PM. Not much time. I was pressed for time.
Making my way towards my next designated point of interest, as noted by map. Making my way to a watch tower and servant area. Lovely stairway heading upwards. Had to put our shoes into a bag while wearing slippers, a pair we would have to return on the opposite side.
I had to wait for others to progress further to allow me in taking these sorts of “quiet” images. Wearing slippers in the above image, and lost in the elegant mood with the elegant side of wooden structures.
I also had to make sure to keep my eyes away from females wearing skirts. I accidentally caught sight of a girl’s upskirt of her wearing bloomers. Sorry! I was simply attempting to note if the stairway was finally clear for me to use. I basically had to look the other way, or some other direction. Even waiting a fair distance away for other girls to make their way to safer vantage points, away from curious eyes.
I’m genuinely trying to be respectful here…..
Eventually made our way into a corner, one which branched off into two areas. One area containing the Princess’s outfits and belongings, and another simply leading out. The former requiring slippers to be taken fully off admire the various fabrics, outfits, and special trinkets containing to her highness.
Reached a point where you could either back out, or pay extra to visit additional parts of Himeji Castle. A few coins more to visit upper areas, balcony-type areas, open areas, and to simply enjoy the castle to its fullest. I semi-struggles to seek out the required currency required for this additional tour. 300-500 yen, or so. Additional images are of additional areas.
The additional images are from those very areas.
I also checked out the nearby area mini attraction containing other displays. Travels to and from Himeji and Edo Japan (Tokyo), how long it took to travel, what they traveled with, armor types, etc. Neat Japanese fancy stuff. A few people also keeping guard of the attractions.
It was also nearing the end of the attraction. 4 PM was swiftly coming, especially with how time flies when you’re having fun. I had a lot of fun at Himeji Castle. I still had to seek out the ink stamps, something I was still on a mission in hunting down.
Ventured through the exit portion of the entrance, and into a shop. Purchased a few trinkets, especially of the gacha variety. A Feudel-era Emblem relating to the castle. I eventually doubled back to talk to a guide about the weather differences about Ottawa and Himeji. All in English. I even showed him a live weather reading of Ottawa. My mind was tired preventing me from having a proper full conversation. I eventually asked for stamps, happily being guided to the stamp area in a nearby tourist center. I grabbed each and every one I was able to, even having to redo one for poor ink quality (as noted in below’s left side of image).
Himeji is a proud highlight of this visit, and I’m happy I had a proper visit in Himeji. Thanks for having me!
(I’m also desiring to build a similar castle in a game called ‘Rising World’, and/or future building sandbox games. I’ve noted how Japanese build their castles, desiring to do so in video games myself.)
Now to make my way back to the station to pick up my luggage, acquire a new train ticket, and to wait a fair amount of time prior to my train arriving. I had to wait a lengthy amount of time.
Made my way out of the Shinkansen, out the platform, and towards the for San-yo Line train. Going down memory lane.
My arrival at Kure Station was smooth. I was tired, cranky, and moody trying to find an “path of least resistance” towards my hotel destination. I awkwardly traveled my way down towards a bike storage area, luggage in tow. People there looking back at me in confusion, maybe even curiousity. I also passed a gradual disconnected group of school kids/students going home, one of which even desired to run me over with their bike, as they verbally noted with their own words to someone. As they were turning the corner, the one with the overhang mirror next to the building pointing towards the Yamato Museum and another, happily noting to their classmates how I should be run over by a bike. School humour. Silly kids… Always with the silly talk and weird humour.
I eventually had a green pedestrian light allowing me to venture towards a darkly lit, yet luxuriously decorated hotel. Made it across, to my hotel, and into the lobby. Felt weird, especially with how unfamiliar everything was. Is this area dangerous? Is it not? Will I get jumped? Will I not be attacked? I was on guard, and a bit wary. Unfamiliar territory. Spooky….
We talked about a lot of things. We talked about Canada, about Japan, where I desired to go in Kure, about my figurines, who I admired of my figurines, and eventually about love. The topic stopped at love, also because another group of hotel stayers arrived. They were of the Korean variety, or so I assumed. They spoke both Korean and Japanese, something I was unable to do. I was asked to move, so I moved, seeking out a new plan for the night.
Prior to their (tourists) coming, I told the hotel owner how women/girls/females in Canada tend to be of the “hostile” variety. She asked, and I responded. They have various traits making them unfavourable, unattractive, and highly combative. They have this “Holier-than-thou” attitude, high level of intellectual arrogance, and even (now) tend to politically corrupted. Morally, spiritually, and intellectually deviated into a non-human being entity making obtaining a girlfriend an insanely tall order. They always bite, they always whine and moan, end up being slutty & bitch (high sexual body count), and behave more like males than their intended feminine manner. They have this highly unattractive slutty, male, arrogant attitude to them making other more normal females shy away from these corrupted, tainted females. Even European females were negative to me, even flirting with my friend over me back in 2003. I’m always a piece of trash to them. It’s far easier to befriend other fellow males to converse with, and of non-lewd varieties than it is to befriend females of any kind. Nothing sexual, just casual stuff. My male friends & coworkers always vent about the same things I do, and how “unattractive” Western females are. No sense of loyalty, very slutty, very bitchy, bratty, masculine, combative, and etc. Nothing like how a normal Japanese female behaves, nor specially how an Anime female character behaves. Anime females always comes off as loyal, caring, and soft, something which is a taboo for political activists in the Western world. The political activists always pretend proper “soft” romance is perverted, corrupted, and taboo, something which was normal up until 2017, or so. Normal traditional values are taboo (phobic and Trans-phobic to the mentally retarded) of the Western corrupted world….
It’s why Japanese females are taught to me more feminine, something even they’ve themselves fail to comprehend. They always rebel, vent, and end up doing the same things as Western females tend to do making them take their own lives in the process. They’re proper females, sadly taking their own lives because of other forms of social pressure, or mental corruption forcing them to do so. It’s sad to see them so distressed, even resorting to suicide when things become highly intolerable in Japan. It’s also noted they become as abusive as Western females once they integrate into Western society. Also depressing.
Everything regarding dating, befriending, and having an honest interaction with females (in general) is non-existent, or painfully difficult. Slim rewards and gains. Probably explains why Japan is mass-producing (forcing out) insane amounts of Isekai (Isekai also containing Romance) and romance genre of Anime to rekindle that romance between males and females. Actual romance being a proper slice-of-life of real-world love in digital animated Anime form. The lost chemistry from social interactions from this world. Dealing with females is highly awkward and complex, something it genuinely shouldn’t be. Artificial barriers, language barriers, and even world social pressures forcing a world economic collapse making things unnecessarily more complicated than it should be in the world, and in Japan. Things should be more natural, more organic. Actually flowing with warm feelings and vibes, something I’ve mostly felt in Japan, if with their own Japanese oriented pains. It’s why I hype Japan up more than Canada, even if Canada is highly scenically beautiful. Canada was sabotaged, and Japan is following in that process.
Dejected (and a bit buzzed from the few hits of booze), I took up a suggested recommendation to visit a place called ‘Zampano Cafe’, a place noted in not shoo’ing (rejecting/denying) away foreigners, as had been done to me a few times already. Even in Fukuoka for Hakata Ramen.
I eventually arrived at Zampano Cafe, even asking for seating to one. I was gestured where to sit, even awkwardly placing my jacket behind me on a hook. I was stilled buzzed up a bit from sake & rum, just nothing major.
The night was quiet at first, eventually picking up in conversation as the night went on. Using translators to talk, or insanely broken Japanese to converse. Yes, no questions, or Google Translate. Thanking them for the meal, how delicious things were.
Talking about KanColle, Ottawa, Spider Statue, Anime, etc. Ink stamps were also noted. Even noted how it was my second time in Japan, and also Kure.
I’ve also meant no disrespect, but after the whole “love” talk at Hotel Muku I simply desired to drink as much alchohol as possible to numb my feelings. Something to give me a full buzz to make me stop venting. I wanted to disconnect from my stressed of Canada, and from my own frustrations. I’m thankful Japan allowed me to do this, and with a brief happy conversational moment in Kure. Just letting loose, talking about various things, and even priding myself on the little bits of KanColle I’m allowed to be proud of. I’m aware I’m not the best social influencer, nor do I try to be. I simply attempt to be honest, maybe to a fault. I try to pride myself in things of actual interest, not what others desire of me. I admire things my way, and I’m proud of it, even to the dismay of certain folks who had some weird expectations from me. I jumped onto Azur Lane because it’s more welcoming, something KanColle now refuses to do. It used to be fun, less so. Thankfully, people in Japan make it fun in ‘offline’ manners, and I respect that. I’ve documented whatever I was allowed to do so, and I admire Japan for their honesty. I simply want to admire Japan and have fun. 😉
One of the various Kanmusu (shipgirls) I’ve shown the owners, and maybe some other folks who were sitting nearby. Showing them a few shipgirls, those not noted. I also arrived during KanColle’s Valentines Day celebration, something I had hoped to have seen of HMS Warspite, Bismarck, and others.
I was nicely buzzed. Thankfully buzzed. It loosened me up a bit, and I’m glad it had. I may have skipped out on a Konbini visit because of how buzzed I was. Simply desired a safe walk back to hotel. The night was almost spooky, a bit too quiet. Late sleep because of train travels and the two social hangouts.
I’m sorry about my venting, but with valentines Day it genuinely does hurt me. I felt pained, if blessed by KanColle and general conversation. Still able to hold conversations with people is awesome, even if I had to use translators majority of the time.
Prior to leaving Zampano Cafe I was respectfully gifted a few gifts, those which I cherish. I admire them, keeping them safe with my other Japanese mementos. They’re kept in safety. Thank you for your hospitality. Thank you for having me!
Safely made my way back to Hotel Muku, and with everybody having retired to their rooms.
To summarize:
It was a transition transit day to travel from Fukuoka to Himeji, even if how I planned it was broken. I failed to make note of how Himeji is after Hiroshima, not before it. In my sleepy mind I had assumed Hiroshima was Osaka, or something to that effect. I failed to take into account a specific sector in Japan making me zoom past Hiroshima, eventually to double-back into Hiroshima, and into Kure. Even so, I view it as a happy accident. It provided me more time to visit Kure, to have fun, and to settle myself down briefly.
Himeji and Himeji Castle was my happy accident. I’m genuinely proud of having visited Himeji, even if I hadn’t gained any acknowledgement of having done so. I have my own pride of admiring the architecture, the wooden structures, the floor plan, the wooden stairway, and how neat everything is in relation to Himeji. The lovely views seen from within, and the general atmosphere. Sure, I should have realized Himeji Castle had a tourist building, something I eventually realized at the end. I obtained my stamps, some local trinkets, and I’m happy. A nice sunny day to admire the beauty of Japan, traditional Japan, and a scenic Japan.
Riding the bullet train (Shinkansen) was awesome. Seeing them speed through the platform was also a fun, thrilling experience. Shame I only captured one of the many, awkwardly being stared at while booting up my phone’s camera app in reaction to these trains zooming past. Traveling by train in Japan is genuinely liberating, something I wish I could do more often here in Ottawa, and in Canada. I wish Canada could transition into Japan and Europe, not a car-oriented nation.
I’m sorry I had to once again vent about Valentines Day and woman, in being solo, and how others and myself noted how unattractive Western females are. My male friends, coworkers, and even strangers noted same sentiments in how unloyal, unattractive, overly masculine, arrogant, bitchy, slutty, and berating “Western” females tend to be. Majority of female interactions are insulting, abusive, and degrading. Obviously not “all”, yet “most” conversations tend to be berating and degrading towards the male kind. Constantly insulting us males in general, refusing to do general favours (denying them; Males helping each other happily), “better than thou” attitudes, and intellectually arrogant. They’re not even females of the traditional sense. They may appear like females, they however behave masculine, or non-human. I was asked about my love life, something I had to note in how abusive Western woman are. Nothing is sacred, especially when females now preach about Transgender-ism, refuse to be helpful, and actively degrade males at every turn, especially when I bring up Anime or anything I admire in general (Japan or not). Even pretending to be offended about trivial issues telling others to educate me about non-issues. Japanese females have been noted (and personally seen) in being more in tune with reality than Western females, if with their own sets of unique flaws. Some similar, some unique to the region. The Western world is corrupted and you’re not allowed traditional love and values. Traditional values are offensive to Western political activists, especially of the Western Liberal point of view. Shame. It’s no wonder people desire to suicide, to “isekai” themselves, and to become “hikikomori”. Everything is so fake nowadays, especially with artificial barriers put into place. Companionship and love isn’t what it used to be. Western females are more combative, arrogant, and abusive than ever. How nice it would be to finally befriend a few nice females… Properly warm, respectful, humble, and supportive of whatever you desire to do, in a non-corrupted fashion. Yes, I’m frustrated, and I’m genuinely sorry about that. Frustrated how artificial everything is…
Digressing back to Kure’s hospitality, I’m thankful for all the kindness they had shown me. Happily being treated to alcoholic lemon, sake, and whatever was put into a KanColle Pola-themed drink. I needed those drinks, especially when internally venting, partially venting out loud about stuff. I came here for Japan and I enjoy seeing where Sake was brewed. What’s where, the local customs and mindsets, and all the other fun stuff. Was neat learning about certain Kure-specific habits, as few as they were. It may be hard to retain all the information, I was still however happy to learn more about the area all the same. You live and learn.
I thank Zampano Cafe for being overly kind to me, and same with Hotel Muzu. I thank them both. I thank you both for your various trinkets, conversational topics, and being treated to neat local treats.
Now that I’m based in Kure (for a few days) I’m hoping things shall go smoothly, and as planned.
Thanks for viewing, and I hope you enjoyed. Hope to see you in the next Japanese blog posts.