April | 2011 | Big Black Man In Japan

Despite how poor I was (and still am), I went on a trip around Japan with some friends of mine in March. In usual BBMIJ fashion, the posting of the pictures and experience are several months late, though this time, I think I might have some sort of excuse, with the whole earthquake/tsunami/nuclear meltdown thing that happened and is still ongoing in Japan, as well as me starting up school again.

To get to our first destination, Osaka, we took a night bus (for around $30, pretty cheap) from Shinjuku station. As you can guess, me and Japanese buses don’t mix. However, luckily, for the trip there, I was sitting next to a friend of mine, so we just sat slanted the whole way there. As you have by now guessed, it was probably the same size if not smaller than coach on the smallest airliner you’ve ever been on. The part of the seat that was supposed to be behind my head was at the top of my shoulder. Though I’m sure it won’t be the worst ride I’ve ever been on (I know my future is full of all sorts of possibilities), it wasn’t very comfortable… For an 8 hour bus ride.

Because I jump at any opportunity to work on my camera skills, I also took pictures DURING the bus ride (More accurately, at a rest stop, also, didn’t see any hookers, if you were going to ask):

Took some random picture of some random sign at a random rest stop.

A better view of the whole rest stop we got to visit. For all your rest-stop lovers.

Upon arriving from the bus trip (we were literally stopped on some street corner… no idea where we were or what to do next), this was this first thing my friends and I saw:

Japan is nothing without electronics stores that are far too big.

Nice to know that though we were lost, we could easily buy the technology to get us found if we needed to.

Along the way, we found a patch of Chu-hi plants (Chu-hi are Japan’s alternative to beer, it’s kind of like a Smirnoff Ice):

Japanese technology is superb.

of course, I also made sure to take a picture of my important traveling companion: my scarf.

In actuality, this scarf was obtained from a friend.

Luckily, a friend of mine was also a fantastic ketchup artist, so we were never bored while we waited for the next adventure to start:

Not a waste of time, at all.

That particular day, my merry band of travelers and I visited a friend’s apartment, and got a good look at the rainy scenery of Osaka, for a total of 1 minute before proceeding to play Playstation.

A rainy day in Osaka.

Though I have tons of pictures (I took over 300 in Osaka alone, and it was just the beginning of our trip), I think the ones from Universal Studios Japan (USJ) are the most interesting, so here they are:

It all started with a trip to Cyberdyne systems, for the Terminator 3D Ride, which I thought was surprisingly well done.

Cyberdyne.... Building is pretty well-kept, not as big as I thought it would be.

Then my friends and I tried to ride this ride… but I could not, due to one of the Bs in BBMIJ. I’ll leave it to you to guess which it was.

I was too big for this ride. No joke.

Fortunately (?), this gave me a lot of time to wander the park alone and get great pictures of the rides and attractions. I was able to walk almost the entire park while my friends were on that hollywood whatever ride.

From the hollywood whatever ride... The roller coaster went right through the park

Woody the woodpecker was there... In statue form

Woody's wife was also present, alone... For some reason

Some penguin character I may never have known the name of...

Hard Rock Cafe, near the entrance to USJ

The boardwalk at USJ... Though I'm no longer sure what a boardwalk is...

Right after we left the turnstiles.

Interrupting real life, as well as movie introductions, it's the Universal Globe!

The unofficial creepy camera guy of USJ. This guy was way too excited to be there... He was also definitely creeping out this lady clown that was there

Afore mentioned lady clown, escaping.

And in my absolutely random random street wandering set of pictures:

This picture was quite literally named: random street shot. For good reason.

This was the street corner that led into the part of the park that seemed to be fashioned like 30s New York... No idea why it was there

Some random cool looking retro store fronts...

What could the purpose of this building possibly be.

A shot of the various widly colored streets and buildings at USJ

Another random street shot...

The last random street shot that was actually named accordingly.

Also, for some reason, there was some sort of Americana inspired diner in the middle of the park. Maybe this is normal for Universal Studios parks, but this was the first one I’d been to, so I didn’t quite understand. Was also a super weird sight to see in Japan…

Seems to have no association with the baseball team. Though the Mets do still suck.

Yellow Hot Rod, with extra hot.

A closeup of the tire of the hotrod, though I don't think that's what I meant to focus in on.

Also saw this white classic car... Pretty ashamed to say I have no idea what it is... Looks like it handles like a boat though.

Another car parked outside the diner... Beautiful.

The parade of classic cars never ends... Each one more amusing than the last?

Just in case you haven't had enough classic car pictures.

Low angle shot, just to make sure you've absolutely had enough.

After going by that diner, I took a stroll along the park and took some scenic shots:

A waterside view of USJ

Wide angle view of the water front at the park

Sigh, I take so many similar pictures but never want to delete any of them...

Time travel back to before I entered the park, and this is what I saw

Second shot of the skyline before I entered. Screw continuity.

A randomly placed pier at USJ... I really don't know what theme they were going for... Made for a good picture, though.

Some USJ Performing group... Marching toward the stage, and drumming up interest, though a picture was enough for me.

Another ride I couldn't ride because I was too Big. Go figure. Sounds lame anyway

A lot of the park was also themed or various movies (as is probably painfully obvious to people who have been there before… but was new to me) first was Jaws: