Yesterday we went to a nearby town, Himeiji, to see the Himeiji Castle (Himeiji-jo). It is supposed to be the most impressive castle in Japan. It was six or seven stories high, depending on whether you add the basement or not. To me, there wasn't really anything else to see in Himeiji. We planned to go to Kobe (another nearby town) as well but it was just so hot and humid that we couldn't even bare to think about it. And anyway, there isn't any special attractions (apart from a manga museum) that we really needed or wanted to see. Well, of course we would have wanted to see where Kobe beef comes from (not that it's called that around here).

Tomi's plane is about to take off soon so now it's just me and Miika. We're planning on going to Spa World here in Osaka but we'll have to think about it a bit as it is soooo hot here that it may be best to go there some time around afternoon. There's so supposed to be a great rotemburo (outside bath) and some water slides. I'm also considering going to Universal City Studios as it might be fun. I don't think we'll be going to Tokyo or Kyoto due to the weather (we need to seek refuge in the hotel from time to time).

Little things make Japan what it really is. For example, they always welcome you to their shops and restaurants... and now I feel that Finnish are really rude. They might not even notice that you've entered the shop. Also, sales assistants here don't attack you with suggestions, instead they curtiously wait for you to say sumimasen and ask for help (but they are always near). I don't think I'll ever feel this welcome in any shop or restaurant in Finland

Now we're off to do some more shopping and probably we'll go to see a budo or judo or something like that gym since Miika wants to.