My 2004 Trip to Japan

Was sent to Japan for a training / working trip to our HQ in Japan back in 2004. It was in April; yes it was Spring. The best season of the year in Japan where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom & the temperature is just nice at about 20 degrees Celcius. Wish Malaysia's weather was like that all year long.

Here's some of the pictures I took:

Getting there; the boring 7 hour long flight in Economy Class....

Almost towards Kansai Airport...

After I landed, my hosts took me to a hilltop temple in Hiraki. According to my boss, this temple is donated by our company.

The two guardians at the entrance of the temple.

Inside the temple compound is like a park with beautiful landscape

The map of the temple, as you see from it, its compound covers practically covers the whole hill. "We're here.", says my boss.

In this shed, there's some water for... can't remember; holy water ?

This is another biulding in the compound; made entirely of wood & it's very old with significant historic values.

Here's a view from the balcony......absolutely breathtaking......

This building houses a large bell.

This is the administration office of our factory in Hiraki Mine.

That is part of the factory across the other side of the road.

My colleagues, very nice guys.

The hotel I stayed in Sanda City.

This is where I take my breakfast every morning.

My tiny room

& the tiny bathroom

small it may be but check out the toilet...fully automated bottom wash. 

We didn't have those back in 04. We only have it recently.

This is the view on my left as I exit from the entrance of the hotel. There's a train station not far from the hotel.

And this the right view. There's a Pachinko shop across the street.

The view from my hotel room on the 12th floor window.

The best part; sunrise at 5 a.m ! They don't call Japan "Land of the Rising Sun" for nothing.