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27 mars Japan Trip 2008Last year at exactly this time I went to Japan. It was a great trip, and I was reading through my entries to refresh my memory.... Monday, March 31, 2008 - In Japan！  We arrived in Japan on Saturday night. One of Ayano’s friends picked us up from the airport and drove us to our hotel just a few minutes away. We dropped our things off at the Hotel and went to an Izakaya bar near the train station. It was great, and we were both extremely jet-lagged, so by midnight we were back at the hotel and ready to sleep. There, I had my first experience with a very advanced Japanese toilet, with heated seat, automatic seat opener, flushing sounds to mask the actual sound of what’s going on at the toilet. We got up on Sunday around 7 and had breakfast at the hotel. It was all-you-can-eat and we pocketed a few rice balls for snack later. It was going to be a long two days touring Tokyo, so we needed all the food we could get. We took the 45-minute train from Narita to Tokyo, and started our day at Asakusa. First things first, I had promised myself to buy a drink from the first vending machine I see in Tokyo, and as soon as we got out of the train station we saw the first set of what must have been thousands of vending machines I saw in Tokyo. I enjoyed a hot coffee, while Ayano filmed this historical event. Asakusa is the home of Tokyo’s largest and best known temple, and the main strip on the way to the temple was filled with thousands of people. We ended up arriving just in time to see a special ceremony in which enormous golden ornaments were carried down the steps of the temple and through the streets, accompanied by rhythmic drumming. We were watching from first row and so had to stay for the entire ceremony and wait until the crows started to disperse until we could continue our journey. Tuesday, April 1, 2008 - Shizuoka!  We arrived in Shizuoka and met Ayano’s parents and brother and wife. We went to a noodle house for dinner and had a delicious meal there. The evening we spend talking, although Ayano had to translate everything that was said. W went to Ayano’s grandmom’s house, who bowed on the floor for me. I must have acted very awkward. Her grandmom’s house is very traditional and we spend some time exploring her tatami room. After sandwiches at home we went shopping, Ayano’s dad waited in the car for us sleeping while we went to UniQlo (a GAP-like store, but much better), and the Donkihote store (an insanely cool store that sells everything miscellaneous) as well as a huge technology store. Ayano’s parents treated us for dinner again at home, we enjoyed some raw fish for appetizer, along with quite a bit of sake, and rice+fried meat for dinner. We then watched a video of Ayano’s adventures in Toronto, and had many laughs over more sake. Saturday, April 5, 2008 - Kyoto and back  We took the high-speed Shinkansen train to Kyoto. It was crazy fast, but very smooth and enjoyable. We bought some snacks at the station, and ate rice balls and apple cinnamon French toast, along with coffee and followed later by a beer. Kyoto was beautiful, we visited many different temples and shrines. Even equally as astounding were the narrow side streets with small shops, they were distinctively Japanese with their low doors, curved roofs, and shoji blinds. Part of our walk was along a canal overgrown with Sakura (Cherry blossom). This season is quite amazing actually, because nearly everywhere you walk, you are often covered solid with a ceiling of cherry blossoms. We took the night bus back to Shizuoka after two nights in Kyoto, and arrived on April 4 in the morning (6am). Ayano’s father picked us up, and we spent the day shopping. At night we went to the start-up show of the Shizuoka Matsuri, and then to an Izakaya (bar) where we sat on the floor and had a lot of sake. It was fun, as I tried several phrases on the Japanese waiter (and managed to order more sake and beer!!), and also had a traditional Shizuoka sake from a wooden mug. April 5 we spent going to Manabu’s house (Ayano’s brother). To get there we drove along the coast line and saw Itchi-go girls (Strawberry girls - young girls in mini skirts who jump at the side of the highway hoping to attract potential strawberry buyers), and later in the afternoon we went to the Shizuoka Matsuri (a city festival), where we enjoyed many delicious foods from street vendors, saw a traditional drumming show, and watched beautiful fireworks. Monday, April 7, 2008 - Shizuoka Matsuri and Tea Ceremony  On Sunday we finished off some souvenir shopping and then made our way back to the Shizuoka Matsuri to enjoy the final fireworks. Although a bit short, it was still fun, and we saw some traditional Japanese dancing. We drank a lot while watching several shows at the festival, and Ayano’s dad was proud to show off our bag with empty sake cups. On Monday Ayano’s family took us out for a tour - we visited some very old and traditional hotels and shops along an old trade route between Kyoto and Tokyo, as well as participated in a traditional tea ceremony. At the traditional building where the tea ceremony took place, we had to enter through a tiny door in the wall, which was left slightly open to symbolize the tea master is ready. The door was so small as to prevent an armed Samurai from entering with his weapon - weapons were not allowed inside the tea room, but it was considered rude (and impossible) to ask a Samurai to remove his armour and sword. Inside the room the ceilings were low, again to prevent a Samurai from drawing his sword, and the tea master and assistant explained to us about the ceremony, about the ‘face’ of the tea cup, and the complicated process of starting to eat the cake once brewing starts and finishing just before the first cup is poured. Such detailed customs amaze me... Ayano and I then went to a Sushi restaurant where you could order on a screen and food was delivered to your table via a conveyor belt. It was a funny (strange / genius) idea, but the food was absolutely astonishing - better and fresher than any Sushi I have ever had in Toronto. Friday, April 11, 2008 - Onsen  Along with Ayano’s family, we took a two-day trip to a traditional Japanese hot spring resort. It was a great trip; we stopped along many sights along the scenic route along the coast of the Izu Peninsula and spent the evening taking hot baths in several different hot spring pools. Dinner in the room tuned out to be an abundance of delicious sea foods and all kinds of dishes. My most memorable experience in Japan, and for anyone who has been at an Onsen you will know what I mean. It’s impossible to describe the Japanese Onsen culture in words. |
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