Fuji to Koya san

Hi, a quick one today. I didn:t climb Fuji, it was pouring down. Instead I took the train to Osaka, spent the night in a capsule hotel and ate fried octupus balls (Takoyaki). The capsule hotel was cool , each room has an upper and lower set of capsules down each wall. Each capsule is about 2x1x1 metres, made of plastic, and with a blind at one end to seal it. It reminded me of a suspended animation capsule from a science fiction film. There is a thin matress inside and a tv (or I had the option to choose one with a charging socket). The end of the capsule I watched the last England game in there (vs Sloveni). There was a coin slot in the room and I was curious on what it did so I put my 100 yen in and was treated to two channels of Japanese porn. In the interests of journalism I watched on, as a man and woman got it together in a car and the woman made noises like a wounded cat or small child. On the other side a woman was tied up by the wrists as a man used various implements on her nipples, including the type of wide brushes they use here for stirring tea. The slurping noises were horrific.

Er, so after that I took the Nankai express and cablecar to Mount Koya-san. This is one of Japans three power spots as places with spiritual significance, along with Fuji and Takai. I went into the tourist office and booked a night at a temple, 9500 yen which is the most I"ve paid for a room yet (about 70 quid I think). It was a lovely day in Koyasan and I wandered around the graveyard, temple area and did a bit of a walk up the side of a hill. The temple meal was great, lots of small (vegetarian) dishes but I was quite full after (lots of tofu and pickled veg, and a really nice miso soup). After that I tried meditation with one of the monks, and had a great sleep in a big airy room.

Ok, my internet times up, see you later!