Day 10

Today, I embarked on my first adventure aboard a bullet train – and naturally, in true "let's see what happens" fashion, I didn't bother with a reservation. A decision I would soon come to (somewhat) regret. The two-hour journey was fully booked, leaving me and a mixed crowd of fellow optimistic non-planners standing in the aisle.

However, it was a glorious day with clear skies, so I had high hopes of catching a glimpse of Mount Fuji. Sure enough, about an hour in, there it was, its majestic peak shyly hiding behind a tuft of cloud. I was mildly surprised not to see any snow, as it's always depicted with a frosty crown in the postcards.

Upon arriving safely in Nagoya, I offloaded my bag at the hotel and set out to explore Nagoya Castle, which was historically the first line of defense against those cheeky Osaka rivals. Its shimmering 18-carat gold dolphin-like roof ornaments were, frankly, the crown jewels of the day. I won’t bore you with the details of its rich history (you’re welcome), but suffice to say, it’s a masterpiece of Shogunate-era artistry. Oh, and did I mention the ninja show? Real-life ninjas, based on historical figures, flipping and leaping about the castle grounds. Quite the spectacle, really!

And with that, another warm and splendid day draws to a close.