Ive talked about how Japan doesnt have brandname store saturation like America. But I have been thinking about other form of store saturation that it has. It sometimes feels like you cant throw a rock without hitting a pachinko parlor. I would also bet that Nagasaki city has more Arcades than the entire state of Wisconsin. I would be curious to see how Tokyo matches up to the entirety of the United States that way.

 
My host family took me on a bus tour of Kyushu this weekend. The basic tour was that you were driven to some nice spot, hiked around for a while, took some pictures, and then were driven to the next spot. In a group of course :). They also gave you a little badge to wear so that you knew what group you were on. But enough about that.

The wilds of Kyushu are really beautiful. Especially the plateau's and mountains. Its really cool to see those. I think I get the best view of this at a spot which showed off the 5 mountains. They were supposed to look like a Budda resting on his back and I think I can see that.

I also saw some of my first rivers in Japan that didnt have concrete sides and bottoms. I dont know why every other river in Japan that I have seen does, but it seems a awful waste of resources to me. Especially considering that you dont see the concrete on the bottom anymore.

But those were really beautiful as well. Especially because of the rocks in the water forming watefalls and whirlpools.

And all...Because I am seeing it now, and saw it on the trip. Fall in Japan is really different from Fall in Wisconsin. Here a minority of the trees shed their leaves so that the forest looks more sick to me. Its like looking at a forest where every tenth tree is dead. Individual, some of the trees have some really great colloration to them, but the overall effect is slightly off putting. Of course I would really like to hear about what the Japanese reaction to the opposite happening is.