Facing fears.

Yesterday I took it relatively easy, and took the long way 'round to Akihabara station. Switching trains, I got off at the Tokyo Dome for the sole purpose of riding a roller coaster that sits atop a building. Heart pounding and my mouth dry, I forced myself to pay and sit in the seat. The ride started and we proceed steeply up to the summit. At its peak, I estimate I was at least 13-14 storeys high.

I wanted to shit/piss/vomit/cry all at once, and then we dropped, and my head emptied of all thoughts for the next 90 seconds. It was fantastic.

I haven't been on a proper coaster like that in at least 20 years, and I can't wait for my trip to Fuji-Q park late next week. I am certain some wee came out, but it was a small price to pay.

Disembarking, I noticed that they sold photos of you on the ride, taken at specific points. I didn't buy one, as they were prohibitively expensive, but they were certainly illustrative. The first was me after the big drop, and my face says "I want my Mummy" while the last shot said "I'm a big boy and I'm having lots of fun!"

I then walked a fair distance to Edo castle, a vast fortress in the middle of a lake, previously home to an emperor. It was shut, so fuck you, Japan. I veered back into Akihabara and found solace in more video game stores and chocolate frappucinos.

Today, I left the hotel early and caught the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto. The trains come in 3 different models that go at different speeds, but the fastest one is not covered by my Japan Rail Pass. Which is just as well, really, because if it goes significantly faster than the model I caught, there's a distinct possibility you may go back in time.

Kyoto is surrounded by mountains, and it was to one of these I ventured, first inspecting the shrines at the bottom, and then wondering if it actually had a summit due to the sheer amount of steps I had to tackle. Fushimi Inari Shrine, as it is known, snakes all the way to the top of Mt. Inari, and the view that greeted me at the top was well worth the climb. I didn't take any photos on this iPad that I write the blog on, as I didn't want the extra weight of the backpack.

Still, the phrase 'dick-splittingly awesome view' should suffice. I will also refer to the mountain as Kitty Mountain in my memories, as when I scaled the summit, there were at least 7 house cats just wandering around. I am certain they must have been owned by the lady who was seemingly employed to clean up leaves and made her home at the top.

As I walked back into town, I spotted a familiar dog breed being walked by a woman, and I asked if I could pat the Australian Cattle Dog she was walking. She was Japanese, but it turned out she'd lived in the Hunter Valley for a few years and owned one there that she brought back to Japan with her. A small world etc, etc.

Onwards to Osaka tomorrow.