Here is a list of places and activities I did over the Japanese Summer school holiday period (6 weeks) from the 19th of July till the end of August.
Had a BBQ and watched the fireworks at the Gamagori Matsuri Noryo Fireworks Festival.
Donned a Yukata and saw the fireworks at the Nagoya Minato Matsuri Fireworks Festival at Nagoya Port.
Saw Hakuho at the Nagoya Sumo Tournament.
Attended the World Cosplay Summit 2008 in Oosu and Oasis 21, Nagoya.
Went to Hiroshima to witness the Peace Memorial Ceremony on the anniversary of the first atomic bombing.
Saw inside the 7km Mazda factory.
Took a day trip to Miyajima; famous for it’s floating gates (torii). Walked up the 535m Mount Misen.
Explored Himeji Castle.
Went to Nara to see the Festival of Ten Thousand Lanterns at Todaiji, the biggest buddha in Japan inside the Daibutsuden, and the Obon Mantori at the Kasuga Grand Shrine.
Briefly saw the Daimonji Gozan Okuriki Bonfire Festival in Kyoto, unaware that bonfires apparently only last for half an hour.
Contemplated the Zen rock garden at the Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto.
Saw some cool fighting robots at the Japanese SciFi Convention, Daicon 7 in Osaka.
Found that the Ninja demonstration at the Ninja Villiage in Iga Ueno does not demonstrate Ninjutsu - only Kenjutsu and Shurikenjutsu, the latter of which they teach the kids by literally saying point and throw (scary to see uncontrollable metal shuriken flying around the room).
Rode in the 2 hour Shimano Suzuka Road Endurance Bike Race, and got the fastest laptime of any of my teammates.
Went inside the Fuji Antarctic exploration ship, and the Nagoya Maratime Museum.
… and a few other bits and pieces.
Things to do this month on the weekends:
Head to Gifu, Nagashima Spaland, and perhaps the Asahi Beer Factory…