The two paper cranes were supposed to represent good luck. (I think)

Buffet Dinner at the Skylounge in Prince Hotel was luxurious. It offered a good spread and the ambience was great. I sat there for hours enjoying a good overview of the city.

Having been to the onsen for three times in three consecutive days, I must say I had grown quite used to the practice of having to go into the pool naked. (I don't know, to some it might actually be quite difficult)

Japanese people are quite hard to fathom. Just a random remark, but that's how I feel. Not like I have talked to many Japanese (I might get the chance when I go backpacking) but it's just the feeling that they are actually quite used to hiding their emotions behind a facade. As my tour guide said, Japanese don't like to show their true feelings. 不晓得他们是“小不忍则乱大谋”还是依照他们传统的武士道。不过，孔子说：“君子不同而合，小人同而不合。”但他老人家没说流于表面的“和”有多少可信度。日本人自称“大和民族”，他们的根追溯起来可能还得说到徐福，这里就跳过。但“大和民族”或许民族间很和睦，（跟中国的改朝换代比起来，大和民族比较少废除皇帝，取而代之的记录）但他们对于他国人民，或许就没有那么客气了。（有第二次世界大战为铁证，也是许多人心中那道无法弥补的伤痕）不管如何，我想了解这样一个文化上几百，甚至几千年前就曾与中华文化有交流来往，近代却受到西方影响甚巨的国家到底是什么样的。他们文化核心，他们信奉的武士道，他们的民族意识，这些当然已经历了无数变化，但我愿意以小民的身份聆听他们小民的声音。

同时，这一趟让我更了解日本史，日本其实值得更理性的探讨，探讨它的成功和先进，这是物质、现实上的对照，目前有些地方，有些民众还有仇日情绪，这些是历史的后遗症，而有些症状时没有解药的，或许只有疫苗可以有所帮助。这世界永远需要更多包容、了解，但难就难在实际行动。

让我想起的一件事是：一个国家是先有文化为基础，还是先有实力为后盾。不过有一点值得注意，就是不管是什么国家，都是靠着政、经、军崛起、再受到国际瞩目，在国际舞台稳站已一席之地，过后才有发展软实力，发扬自身文化的机会和能力。感觉上，搞好政、经、军，才有筹码广播文、史、哲。只是一己之见。