Otomo Katsuhiro, a legend amongst illustrators. His work has had a strong influence over creatives across the world. Whether or not you are interested in anime or manga, you've certainly heard of his most acclaimed work, Akira.

The gallery was incredible. Every single original page of the manga, Akira layed out over wire behind glass casing. Along with hundreds of other original pieces and cell work. Unfortunately, no photographs were allowed. This was more strictly enforced than anywhere else I've been.

A full scale replication wall crater from the manga, Domu.

Not only do you get to sit on the bike, you get to wear Kaneda's jacket, gloves, and goggles.

GUNDAM FRONT TOKYO. FULL SIZE GUNDAM RX-78-2. I made it. I'm a big Gundam fan (nerd) and have been ever since I was a little guy. After my failed attempt to see it last year, I didn't think the opportunity to see it would come again. Though, here I am. This is the Gundam's third display since 2009. It's current location officially debuted April 19th 2012 and will held here until March 2013.

Every night at 7:30PM there is a theatrical light show displaying a montage of Gundam history starring the 1:1 scale Gundam RX-78-2, Amaro, and other familiar cast. I bring you this video:

As for the rest of the Gundam Front experience, there is a interactive walkthrough exhibit located inside Diver City Plaza on the top floor.

I'm not sure how to explain it, but you go into a crazy dome shaped projection room where you're shown a 10 minute movie that's displayed on all sides of you, as if you were there, floating around space while giant mecha robots fight around you. After the presentation, you're then escorted out to the exhibit room.

1:1 RG 1/1 ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam Bust

1:1 Core Fighter

From this point on I wasn't supposed to photograph anything on display.

If you make it here, Gundam or no Gundam, go ride the Daikanransha Ferris wheel at Palette Town (5 minute walk and visible from anywhere on the island). When it opened in 1999, it was the world's tallest Ferris wheel standing at 35 stories tall and takes 16 minutes per rotation. It remains a very iconic and popular attraction to the area.

I stopped through Toyota's Mega Web showroom, really just to keep out of the rain.

2013 Toyota GT 86

Showtime.

Akihabara. Otaku central. I've been to this area several times before now and still, it really sets itself apart. It's best described as a mecca center for geeks. A large portion of the other stores in this area explicitly cater to people with obsessive interests. Video games, anime, manga (comics), robotics, toys, etc. It's all here.

Super Potato is known to be one of the largest and arguably greatest retro video game stores in Japan and possibly the world. It hosts three floors of nothing but classic video games, consoles, memorabilia, combined with a retro arcade on the top floor. Beyond just being an awesome place to shop, you take home an experience with you at the end of the day. As a part-time nerd, I will say this place is well worth the venture to find.

Famicom cartridge chair.

My size Gundam.

I accidentally found the Good Smile Cafe here. I believe this location opened between my last visit and now. Good Smile has been producing figures since 2001 and has become one of the most popular distributors in the business since.

Hatsune Miku leek cake thing.

Ok.

Full scale Hatsune Miku.

Yayoi Kusama's "Pumpkin" has been on this small concrete pier on the south end of Naoshima since 1994. This piece has become somewhat of an icon to the island and is really, very wondrous to admire. Naoshima island has a lot of offerings between all it's renown galleries and hidden art along trails. Given the island's always growing passion it has been coined 'Art Island' by many, regional and worldwide.

TAKO TAKO KING, takoyaki.

One Piece is arguably Japan's most popular anime to date. This is the 6th Memorial Log exhibit and will be available to attend March 3rd - July 8th, 2012. Memorial Log - Conclusion of the Super Nova was being held at Hirakata Park located in Hirakata, Osaka.

Watch the video below for more details and a short tour of the exhibit:

Zoro's swords.

Don't put them in your mouth.

What.

The park also had these unidentified animals.

This is a food post mostly. Really because the whole day was spent doing nothing but eating.

True love.

Bike ride, Kyoto style.

???

Corgi love.

Back at Shingo's restaurant one year later. He remembered us, we remembered him.

The greatest avocado curry salad ever.

Osaka Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in the world. Eight floors of underwater life at various water pressures, with one large tank in the center you walk your way to the bottom of.

Look at the beauty of underwater life, then eat it. Endo Sushi is supposed to be the finest in Osaka. Mr. Endo himself has maintained the restaurant since he was a young man and I believe the generations before him did so as well. Endo Sushi has been around for over a century, established in 1907.

I'm not sure how many people are familiar with YOHO Brewing Company. As of now, you probably won't commonly see their beers in America, but they're growing. Both national and international, YOHO is making a name for themselves. DRINK YOHO.

Yona Yona straight from the tanks.

Bear Pond doesn't allow photos inside their cafe, I think they even advise not to take pictures of their products in general. I stopped in here three times in one day. They have some of the absolute best espresso in the world. I've reached pretty far for something as good as this. Unfortunately for me it's on the other side of earth.

I think I can stand by the claim that this is the world longest slide. It is roughly 550 feet in length. The slide is kind of in the middle of nowhere, but very fun.

GREAT BURGER

Prosciutto and Hokkaido Camembert cheese burger.

10 foot long scooter that rides less than 1/8 of an inch from the ground.

I'm back in Japan, with a lot of things on my itinerary. Between now and the last time I visited, I couldn't get this country off my mind. There really is too much to see here with never enough time. Big cities or country side, Japan is beautiful.