Only Japan...

I'm currently in Sendai. It's a reasonably nice city and truly feels like a city in a way Aomori, Hakodate, and Hachinohe just did not. It could be the fact there are 2 Starbucks near the station, let alone elsewhere in the city. I could oddly see myself enjoying living here, though of course I have not yet figured out where any of the tourist sights I want to visit are other than Matsushima.

A few observances:

Tohoku is packed with Chinese tourists, every time I see another person with a rail pass they are a Chinese tourist. Some are in small groups and some in huge ones. Since ee970 is not with me none of them have wanted to take my picture. Western tourists are few and far between despite the fact Hakodate and Aomori had a ton of signs in English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and RUSSIAN.

Chinese/Japanese people like making semi-wildlife do stupid tricks that in the US would raise more eyebrows. In this case it involved putting some sort of potato product in their mouth and leaning over the edge of the boat so that a seagull could grab it out. See mini movie when I get back.

Sendai is more than happy to capitalize on Date Masamune's current popularity thanks to the Sengoku Basara anime. Yes, Sengoku Basara anime merchandise is plastered all over Sendai and in advertisements here. You can buy Sengoku Basara BEER with Date and Koujirou on it. I feel cheated that Osaka hasn't cashed in on the craze.

Every time I go near Towada city it is raining, a lot.

Osorezan is amazing, but one of the places you should rent a car or take a tour bus to go to, cause timing the public buses sucks.

The islands are way bigger in Matsushima than I expected, 2 views down, 1 to go!

Algae stains ;;_;;

Also a happy belated birthday to becroberts and a super late belated birthday wish to ginarolo October is a busy month for me.