Driving and Musicals

In our 48 hour weekend, we drove for 18 hours, and slept for 11 hours, which equals to 19 hours of being in Tokyo. Not a very long luxurious weekend, but filled with memories. We got a ride from a fellow coworker of mine who turned into our Chinese tutor. He drove us to Tokyo so he could also see his daughter who is a new university student. The first day was filled with driving, arriving in Yokohama, eating Chinese food to our heart's content, and making our way to Tokyo to watch Wicked...in Japanese. It was wonderful. The singing was amazing and since I saw it before in English, I could understand almost everything and it made it as breathtaking as the first time I saw it. Ron and I really enjoyed it.





The next day, we went around Akihabara on the mission of finding a DVD player so we could watch Japanese movies on our computer, no such luck, but we did manage to find some other nice things before we made our way to Yokohama once again. This time it was to watch our friend Kunino perform in Yokohama's 150th anniversary of their harbor being built. It was a surprisingly good performance. It was really interesting to see something historical from another culture. There was another part where they played out the bombings during World War II and it was really frightening to see what they went through. Very eye opening. Well, after the performance and the wonderful singing of Kunino's choir, we met our friend and made 8 more hours of travel until we came back to Morioka. I am so happy that we were able to make this journey, but the next time, we will definately use the Shinkansen.

The Myth of Kansai

December 26-29

NARA

Nara deer- not as friendly as Miyajima



Spoiler **Japan bubbles will be busted**

After Hiroshima, our energy started to fade. It's the halfway part of our trip and after the driving, sightseeing, waking up at random early times, and just not getting enough sleep is starting to take its toll. But we move on to Kansai, the traditional Japan. I appreciated what I saw in Nara, Kyoto, and Osaka, but as a resident who has traveled most of Japan, I am starting to see past the "rose-tinted" glasses of the serenity of the temples and the "must see" attractions. Unfortunately, a temple is a temple. Sad to say, but true. I would probably have enjoyed seeing the temples, but to get to the temples, one must pass seas of vendors, numerous Starbucks, temples selling their charms, and loud foreigners trying to get a picture with the local deer by feeding it and screaming when the deer decide to eat their jacket when not fed. Actually, it is a very entertaining thing to see. Even in Nara, home to complete Japanese history and the largest wooden temple which houses the largest golden Buddha, the tour ended with postcards, keychains, T-shirts, and candies being sold IN the temple. It felt like that story of Jesus going in the temple to see the people disgracing it by selling local goods. It felt dirty and offensive. Even in Kyoto, where many Americans feel is the heart of traditional Japan, I heard more English than Japanese. I was pushed in all directions from travelers trying to get a glimpse of the gardens. My pictures were always messed up by the hoards of people walking in front of it, getting in the way. And this is in winter, a low tourist point.

KYOTO
Kiyomizu-dera, this was the temple we didn't see last time we came

I thought this was interesting, people lining up for 30+ minutes to drink "temple water." Luckily I brought my own.




Anyway, this will not end in unhappiness. Simply, the guide books have it all wrong. If they want to show the true tranquility and beauty of traditional Japan, people need to venture to Tohoku. As a first time foreigner to Japan, I can imagine seeing Kyoto as the "true Japan" despite it's neon signs and lines of taxi cabs. However, as a person who has lived here and can safely say that they have traveled, I wish I could tell these travelers of what they are missing by not coming to Northern Japan. The magic of being the only visitor on the temple grounds, not hearing any noise but your own, and selfishly soaking up all the feelings of Japan are unable to be described with words. That's the beauty of Tohoku.

OSAKA

We've Made It!!

4 people
2 Americans
1 Britain
1 New Zealander
17 days
3 holidays
4 nights sleeping in a car
8 onsen

2,264 total driving miles!

We have arrived back to the -what should be snowy- town of Morioka. It's amazing how the clean air, wide span of sky, amd the smell of Jajamen and your own tatami can make a 17 day excursion come to a close. The four of us felt that we could return to our normal lives, which is a pretty good sign of a successful road trip. I am very proud of our group for being able to handle each other and still manage to find the jokes in every situation for that long of a time. We experienced the traditional Japan (Chiiori House- Shikoku), the very modern (Dotombori- Osaka), the "what should be appalling, but came out peaceful" (The Atomic Bomb Museum- Hiroshima), and the "What should be peaceful, but came out appalling" (Kiyomizudera- Kyoto). We had very good memories (Summer Wine) and very dangerous times (almost blowing up a service station). All in all, it was the best way to end the year and to start a new one and with my new ACCEPTANCE into the China program, it was a great way to see most of Japan before having to leave it. The beginning, middle, and end was satisfying.

Iya Valley , Chiiori House, and the oldest Onsen

December 22 and 23


I have always wanted to see the most traditional side of Japan. Little by little, I am learning that the "old Japan" that is usually advertised in guide books, are mostly restored temples next to convenience stores and banks. But in the secluded world of Iya Valley, there was not one vending machine and all stores closed at dinner time. The Chiiori House became the best experience of how traditional Japanese people experienced their lives. It is a NPO that focuses on educating people about old style farming and thatched roof houses. We spent our evening over a fire, drinking sochu and enjoying each others company, minus TV, radio, or any other media. It was refreshing.




Then we made it to the oldest onsen in Japan. All over Japan, this onsen is said to be the best and the ultimate in traditional. When we arrive, we came into the biggest city in Shikoku and found the oldest onsen. It ended up being a old-looking onsen surrounded by souvenir shops, boutiques, and cafes. It did not have the Japanese feel I was looking for, but we enjoyed a nice soak and watching the naked old ladies gossiping in the bath.

Naruto Whirlpools- Shikoku

December 21

*Try to look at the bridge base-you can see a little bit of the whirlpool*


Shikoku's main star of interest is in its 88 temple journey. A quest that usually was a suicide mission because those that did it tried to complete the journey on foot for more than a month. Today, people ride bikes or cars to complete the journey so the beauty of completing the 88 is a bit lost, some still take on the adventure. Since we had only 3 days, we decided this quest would be best saved at another time. Instead we went to see what else Shikoku was known for... the whirlpools. Just getting off the bridge to Shikoku are the only whirlpools in Japan, sometimes so strong, it can suck up the sightseeing boats around it. Unfortunately, since it was 7 in the morning where the sight spots weren't open and winter time, the whirlpools looked more like big ripples-BUST! But we did enjoy a miso soup and senbei breakfast. Next was Tokushima, also a BUST city, but the udon noodles which are a specialty here were delicious. By the evening, we tried to find the Iya Valley and slept in a rest stop- four of us in the car. Ron got a little touchy in the middle of the night, unfortunately not with me, but with our buddy Sam. We all woke up as both Ron and him were screaming in the car in surprise and digust.

Osaka

December 20







We saw two whale sharks, a penguin march, and a scuba-diving Santa Claus. I've realized that the additional perk of traveling in the winter is being able to see Christmas illuminations. Morioka's illuminations are limited to a string of lights looking like a christmas tree on the walls of our bank on the main crossroad. Not very impressive. So it was nice not only to see a different city, but also the collection of their pretty lights. Osaka was our first real tourist stop after Tokyo, but we were also given a little detour challenge. Our friend Kunino's dad asked us to take a TV in our packed car and take it to Tenri Town, a hour away from Osaka, but on our way from Tokyo. Well, we named it "Casey" and departed to find this town. The temple was beautiful, but it is not the usual tourist sight. So seeing four foreigners in this sleepy town, holding a television and asking where to put it, was a challenge in itself.


Finally it was dropped off and we made it to Osaka. Soon after the aquarium, the okonomiyaki, and the ferris wheel, we departed for three more hours til the isolated island of Shikoku.

**okonomiyaki- egg, batter, veggies, and meat mixed together and fried in a roundish shape. It tastes like a Japanese egg pancake.**


BECKY AND SAM

Another week of school, and then another weekend of fun. This seems to be the blogging trend. Not that I am one to complain. This weekend, we drove to the highest point of the Honshu Island to the small town of Mutsu. A town so small that the name of it isn't even in Kanji. Our friend Adam who lives in Morioka did live near this small area and wanted to show us the pride of Mutsu, THE TUNA FESTIVAL. This is a fisherman's village and they patrol the waters nearby and catch 200 pound tunas. So on this day we ate the freshest tuna possible, right off of the fish itself. We finally even tried the famous OTORO, the fattiest part of the tuna which is usually triple the price of normal raw fish. Yummy!