My visit to Japan

Kobe - Oita

We took the night boat between Kobe and Oita, not because it was cheaper for us (as we had JR passes), but to see another way of travelling in Japan. As I understand it, the boat is mainly for truck drivers and their vehicles.
The ship is quite similar to the ones plying the trade between Finland and Sweden, only a bit smaller than the later ones, and there's one thing directly borrowed from them: The self service breakfast is called "viking breakfast" after one of the shipping lines (not because it's food fit for vikings).

The coin operated games systems were a bit different from what I might have been expecting. The one on the right is a train driving simulator; I didn't do well at all, as one got lots of points deducted for not being on time exactly, and some for driving so it's uncomfortable for the passengers, me I was more worried about passing signals at danger (which I gather would be even worse, of course).

Oita - Ebino

During a stop in the railway journey down the coast towards Ebino we take the oportunity to purchase bento (box) lunches. Very convenient, the boxes contain everything you need, including sticks to eat with. (You normally get single use chop sticks in restaurants in Japan.) Only problem with bento boxes is that you have to carry them with you some time after having eaten, as Japan has a decided lack of trash cans (in the streets and partially on the trains) compared what I'm used to -- but still Japan is very clean so I guess their system works well too.

Aboard the train, eating the lunch. Notice the elaborate box. This one made of wood, some may be partially plastic, but they certainly look like it's wood too.

A couple of views of the train the next to last part of the journey to Ebino. When I went to the rear of the train to take some photos I was lucky to note the train was split up at the next station, otherwise I might have had a problem getting to where I was destined.

Next: Ebino

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Document last updated 1999 Dec 29 by Urban