I don't like coffee, but I like this. Yes, boss.

(Have you seen the Hollywood badass [not always an oxymoron] that was the face of Boss Coffee, btw? And while you're looking that up, check out Nicholas Cage's pachinko adverts)

"Deodorant powder spray"
"Green shower" fragrance. Other options included citrus squash and baby powder

Japan, I am going to miss your stations that play recorded bird sounds on the platforms. Also, thank you for the announcements in the train telling us which side of the carriage the doors will open.

Thanks to the typhoon that passed last night, today's the first day since late May I've not had to shower more than once daily, cos summer in Tokyo is so hot and humid. Regular summer service will resume from sometime this weekend though!

Dear Myra, when you return to Japan, please do this for your younger, easily-pleased self.

Because electronic toilets are complicated

Gas pipe access cover in Sendai

I'm on the bus on my way to Aizu-Wakamatsu, but will be staying with a family in Aizu-Bange. The couchsurfer(Christopher)'s mother will meet us at the station, by the statue of a big red cow, at 16.30 after work, and drive us to the house. I think Christopher gave me their house number and address, but I don't have it written down. I do, however, have the address of the nearest registered hostel, just in case.

Then on Wednesday we will take local trains to Niigata, but first go to Kita Kata to have ramen for lunch. At Niigata we will stay with Ryoko, who has said that she will give us our own key because she is busy. But she will meet us at the station at 8pm, outside the south exit - in front of Subway and Mode Off. Her car is small and green, with a white stripe. We have decided to have (and maybe make) dinner together that night because according to the schedule she gave me, it's the only time we can eat together because she leaves very early each morning and comes back late.

We will leave on Saturday 12th - by bus if we can get the ticket when we arrive on Wednesday, otherwise by local trains - and go to Sendai. There I will meet Rachel, from Kent but studying in Beppu and won't be there when I go (likewise I won't be in Tokyo when she goes there). We will all be staying in the same hostel: Miyagi Guesthouse, 2-1-35 Kakyouin. I didn't have time to print the map, but I've drawn it in my journal and forwarded the email to my phone (JPEGs are compatible).

I think Aaron will leave to go back to Tokyo the following day because he is flying back to America on Tuesday 15th and hasn't gotten a re-entry permit yet. And Rachel and her friends leave on 14th. Then I leave on 15th, finally alone, to go to the snow festival I am travelling all the way to see: the Kamakura snow festival in Yokote. But the details for my stay there haven't been finalised because the person I will be staying with was on a business trip last week. She's said it's fine for me to stay with her but we haven't arranged a meeting place yet or swapped contact details.

Then I will take the coach on Thursday night, 23.30 from Yokote station to Shinjuku, arriving at 7am.

Lunch sizzling on a hot plate. Waseda canteen standard.