The Pavement tour continues with a travel day to Osaka. One of my favorite things on tour in Japan is getting to take the Shinkansen between cities. What I wouldn't give for such a wonderful way to travel in the States! Three hours to Osaka, Japan's second-biggest city. It's totally different than Tokyo, much less "hip" in both the positive and negative connotations of the word; if Tokyo is the LA of Japan, Osaka is its Chicago. Osaka is famous for a few things: its octopus balls, okonomiyaki, and the Hanshin Tigers!

The Tigers have their own problems that Cubs die-hards can relate to, but they have the craziest fans—with constant cheers, trumpets, drums, and huge flags waving every second. Still, you wouldn't believe how clean the stadium is! Curry and fried shrimps everywhere, a constant stream of girls in pink Asahi outfits pouring glasses of beer, and hot sake on a chilly spring night.

And who knew that Matt Murton was playing center field and batting leadoff? It's worth going to a game here for the seventh-inning stretch. Everyone has huge balloons with whistles and lets them all off together—pretty incredible.

Took the express train home (102 km!) and headed straight to the okonomiyaki joint . . .

See you at Coachella?

Jeremy also posts on Twitter and is probably on the road right now. . . .