Day 182 May 10th 2007, Fast Food and Fast Cash - Kyoto to Nara


The guide book says to make sure you visit Nara on a sunny day, as we gazed out of our hotel room window through the pouring rain across the city's rooftops we couldn't agree more. On days like this the trusted rainy day plan is brought into play

1. Starbucks - today in the form of an English tea room scones an all
2. Fast food - Moss Burger (luckily not made form moss)
3. Cinema - Spiderman 3

Theres always a bit of uncertainty going to a cinema abroad, you never really know if the films going to be in English. In Japan we have found that you need to be very careful in how you ask a question to ensure you get the right answer.

For example asking "Is Spiderman in English?" could be interpreted as "Is Spiderman English" so refining this "Does Spiderman speak English?" the answer would be "Yes" but not necessarily in this film. The correct question to ascertain if a film is in English is to ask "Does this film have Japanese subtitles?", you then find yourself in a French film. Luckily old spidey was in English.

Finding a cash machine in Japan that accepts international cards is no easy task so here's a couple of tips to make sure whilst in Japan you are flush with cash.

1. Find a post office they all seem to have international cash machines (a fact the guidebooks don't seem to mention)

2. Do not try and take out 500,000 Yen (about 2,000 UK) as this will probably cause your cash card to be blocked. An easy mistake to make when the cash machine instructions are in English.

Highlights: Spiderman, Spiderman does whatever a spider can