Summer Sonic Music Festival 2013

August 9-11 we headed to Osaka with some friends to attend Summer Sonic, an outdoor music festival held simultaneously in Tokyo and Osaka. It was hotter and more humid than it's possible to imagine but it was a really, really good line-up.

Imagine Dragons was playing as we pulled up in the bus and Hot Chelle Rae was playing as we navigated the crowd to the will-call ticket office. 

 We had already been standing in the sun for 2 hours waiting in line for the bus so Nick and I immediately sought shade. From here we watched Carly Rae Jepsen and Cyndi Lauper.

 It was too hot to function properly.

After Cyndi Lauper, we left our shady spot to see the end of Smashing Pumpkins. Then we got some food and went to the indoor stage to watch Johnny Marr. It was not air conditioned inside but it was at least out of the humidity.

We didn't really know any of Johnny's songs so we went to the basement to check out the Silent Disco. It was really cool! A silent disco is a club where all the music from the DJ is sent over the radio and in order to hear it, you have to wear headphones. So from an outsider's perspective, it looks as though everyone is just dancing to no music. But then you put on the headphones they give you and you can join in.

Finally, the sun had set. We went to the beginning of Earth, Wind, and Fire (the whole time we were concerned about their health)...

And then it was time to see MUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Their show was AMAZING!

 I never wanted it to end.

The next day there were no bands we wanted to see until the afternoon so we took a detour to the TGI Friday's in Universal City (by the Universal Studios Theme Park) to get some American Food.

 Funny Menu...

 There were artists painting all festival long and this was one of the creations.

 We went to buy some lemonade but we could only buy Remon Ade (!!!). 

Sorry not sorry- Engrish never gets old.

We spent some time shopping the leftover merch, then caught the end of Bullet For My Valentine. We stuck around and pushed as close to the front as we could get for the next performance: Fall Out Boy!! Another great show.

After FOB, we ventured to another stage to see the end of Stereophonics where I was able to fulfill a high school dream of mine: see Stereophonics perform Dakota. If only my bestie, Steph, could have been there with me!

The next show was Cheap Trick. I stayed back but Nick pushed all the way to the front and even caught a guitar pick!

And then, for the finale, it was time to see Metallica! Nick was particularly excited to see those guys.

Then we squuezed our sweaty, smelly selves back into the van and drove home, getting in at 3 am. Oofda!
I don't know the last time I have sweated that much- and I've run 2 marathons! It was fun and we saw some amazing shows but whose idea was to have it during August? Not a good time of year to spend gratuitous amounts of time outside in Japan. At least the bugs weren't bad!

December 2012 (Eric & Charlie Visit; Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima)

November was a rather boring month, apparently, because I have no photo evidence to prove otherwise! Seems odd that I didn't take a single picture but Nick was in the States for a while and I was just busy with the hum-drum of daily life and work (for the first time since moving!).

Just kidding! Found some photos of November. They will be up shortly...

So anyways, here's what you missed in in December. Our friends Eric and Charlie visited! Nick was just getting back from his short jaunt in MN so I met Eric and Charlie in Osaka. We spent one day there, then moved on to Kyoto and Nara for a day, then home to Hiroshima and Iwakuni for 2 days. On their last day we went to Miyajima. For a quick synopsis, watch the video below or on YouTube here- although the music has been removed due to copywrite stuff. For more details, some of the pictures are also included after the video with descriptions of what is going on.

Osaka: Day 1- As we wandered around we came across this arcade and I introduced them to my favorite video game- the Taiko drum simulator!!

Sometimes you eat dinner and realize mid-meal that there is a penis staring at you...

Charlie tries an adult juice-box containing shochu (essentailly, watered down sake)- he wasn't a big fan.

Osaka at night

I spy someone I know in there!

This one's called "The Full Asian Experience"

Then we stumbled into an Izakiya (Japanese Pub). Being a Thursday night, it was D.E.A.D. But our bartender was fun and we played Connect Four with him! (He was really good.)

He was also good at Foosball- he took on all 3 of us and still won!

Day 2: We started the day by visiting the Osaka Castle.

Eric is a little too tall for this country...

The view of Osaka from the top of the castle!

Lunch- The best ramen in Japan? 

It was pretty delicious!!

Then it was on to Kyoto!

Here is Charlie outside of Sanjusangendo Hall- the hall of 1001 statues of Kannon. 

(No pictures allowed inside.)

Then Kiyomizu Temple

Here is Eric, failing the love test. He will have a difficult time finding love (or so they say).

Drinking the Kiyomizu (clear water) for health and longevity...out of communal water cups lol.

Kyoto at night. You can see Kyoto Tower there on the left!

 Nap time!

Finally- insturctions on how to use the squatty potty! Would bave been helpful 6 months ago though!

Day 3: Nara

Feeding the 'wild' deer who bowed for the food!

I don't think this photo quite captures how GIGANTIC this was.

The Great Buddha of Nara.

They say if you can pass through this hole you will surely reach enlightenment. Can I fit?

Yep!

Enlightenment- achieved.

Found another temple nearby where some monks were doing their midday worship! Here's a panorama video of Nara from up on the hill with their chanting in the background.

Riding the trains...

A quick ride on the Shinkansen (bullet train) and we met up with Nick in Hiroshima. It was gross and rainy but here the A-bomb memorial & Peace Park.

Hiro had its Christmas display going ("Dreamination") so we looked at a few but our backpacks were really heavy and it was wet outside.

Warming up with some cold and spicy tsukemen! Oishii!

So sleepy on the train ride home.

Day 4- Chillin' in Iwakuni!

Had to get some Giyoza of course!

Day 5: Miyajima!

Tight quarters on the train.

Trying octopus! Chewy...

Hiked up to the top of the Mt. Misen!

Ah, but all good things must come to an end and our friends had to leave. Here are a few morerandom photos from the rest of the month.

Here's Nick in cast iron Heaven while Christmas shopping at an outdoor gear place called, I kid you not- Asses' Ridge. Love it!

And one time, the Vikings made it to the playoffs so we all woke up at the crack of dawn to watch the game. And everyone wore pink turtlenecks.

At a Japanese friend's house for an early Christmas party.

On Christmas, we celebrated the Japanese way- with fried chicken and strawberry shortcake...although we never actually ate the shortcake.

 New Years! Cheers to a great 2012 and looking forward to an awesome 2013!!