Blake’s time in japan has finally come to an end. We have had a fine adventure. From our trip to Izu to our last night at the Utsonomiya summer festival we have had far too much fun. Our last two days since Kyoto we have been a little less hectic in our travel schedule. Blake and I spent Friday night at my AIESEC friends’ house in Ikkebukaro. My friends who live at the house are a very interesting bunch. They all work together as EPs  programing for phones operating on google android. Their internship like mine is for 6 months. Ilian is from Bulgaria, Valay from India and Cleber from Brazil. So on Friday, Americans, a Brazilian, an Indian and a Bularian played drinking games together and by the end of the night we were having a G4 conference on international policy, culture, technological advancement, philosophy and economics. It was a intellectual adventure doused in liquor :) Where else would this happen on a Friday night with a deck of cards and Umeshu?

     On Saturday Blake and I headed to the Meiji shrine from Yoyogi station to check out the resting place of the famed emperor and the huge park surrounding it. After walking for quite some time and exploring we just laid in the grass and enjoyed the nice weather before leaving on a direct train from shinjuku to Utsonomiya. At 7 we arrived and checked into a business hotel but pretended there was only one of us as the other waited outside to get a less expensive room. After our sly maneuver we met Tatsuro and company to roam the streets of Utsonomiya during the festival. People dressed in Yukatas were everywhere and young and old people alike were enjoying street foods and treats. We saw mobile shrines being carried down the main streets while large drums were being beaten by drummers. The festival was fun and by 12 we were full, tired and ready to head for bed. Our adventure ended in a high note and was a great success. Now we head for the airport to send blake on his way home.