13:58 -- I'm now in the shinkansen to Kyoto, and since I have time I will summarize my journey so far.
So I took this morning at 8 the jetfoil from Busan to Fukuoka (Hakata). I did manage to wake up at 6:30, and make my way to the ferry terminal. We boarded on time on those small jetfoil called Beetle. Nothing compare to the ones in Helsinki. I didn't see much of the trip -I have slept all the way. We arrived around 11 in Hakata, and then start the show! First it was raining in Hakata. Then the immigration officers were zealous. It took them 10 minutes to go through my passport, my return ticket, what I will be doing in Japan, where I will be staying, etc. Next they opened my luggage; looked at my passport again (had a good laugh, but I have no idea why), ask me where I was coming from and going to・After 25 minutes, I was free to go! Free to go but with no idea where to go and most importantly with no money (Yen). The third person I have finally did speak some English. She told me where to take a bus to Hakata train station, and that they were no ATM within 3 miles radius!!! Can you believe this! No ATM, no change office. Luckily I didn't spend all my Won, and out of pity (I guess) she gave me some Yen. I took the bus to the station, found the train Station and ticket office, bought my Shinkansen ticket to Kyoto with my credit card. Done! Well not totally, I still had to withdraw cash, and my train was leaving in 20 minutes. I went to the information desk, which showed me a map where to find "the" ATM. Made my way there, insert my card, punch my pin and then・ whole new world appeared. It took me 3 tries to figure out how to choose the amount and get the cash. You have to input how many bills of 10 000・ you want. 10 000・ is 75 or so; and that's the minimum you can get. Then you have to press, the ・-key, and confirm. Finally you're done. What a mess! All that took me 15 minutes, I ran back into the station, showed my ticket (written only in Japanese) to 3 persons to find my way, bought some snacks and jumped in the train!
I have been in the train for 1:30 hours and it's very comfy and roomy. So far I went through Shimonoseki and Hiroshima. Before Kyoto will pass through Akashi, Kobe, and Osaka. The landscape is beautiful, and I am eager to arrive in Kyoto.
I'll write more when I am in Kyoto.
21:22: I'm in Kyoto, and I'm dead tired!
My first task right after arriving in Kyoto was to find a place to sleep. I have found quite easily a very nice and not so expensive ryokan next to Kyoto train station. Then I wandered around to end up in Shijo Dori, some trendy alleys full of shops and people. So far, Japan feels very different than Korea. People are much extravagant, maybe decadent・The streets are cleaner, and it does not smell. On the other side, it is EXPENSIVE, very expensive. I have burnt 5 000・ in a blink - I only bought water, lunch and dinner (fast food).
I had a long day; it's time to get some sleep. Goodnight.






























