Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Slow on the Uptake
So according to my sensei, the hotel across the street that I see everyday is actually a love hotel (a type of hotel that people go to for a short amount of time, usually for the specific purpose of having sex). All this time and I had no idea! The place is called "Hotel RIDE" though, so maybe I should've known...
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Kyoto Again
This past Saturday I made the other trip I'd been looking forward to even before I left the States: going to Kyoto to see my friend Jenny! Jenny and I have been friends since middle school and although we go to college in the same state, we haven't really spent time with each other in over a year. It was a wonderful coincidence that we both decided to study abroad in Japan this summer!
All I wanted to do in Kyoto was see Kinkaku-ji, visit Ritsumeikan (the school Jenny studies at), and go to Fushimi-Inari Taisha, and we did all of those in that order. To be honest, with the exception of Ritsumeikan these are typical tourist-y things to do, and in terms of the all that you can do in Kyoto, it wasn't that much. But eh well.
On Saturday morning Jenny met me at Kyoto station, and after I bought my one-day bus pass we hopped on a bus to Kinkaku-ji.
Side Note 1: Out of all the cities in Kansai that I've been to, Kyoto has the most well-organized and efficient bus system I've seen. And you ride city buses in the opposite manner of how you ride them in the States. I don't know if it's the same in the rest of Japan, but in Kyoto people board buses from the back, and once they arrive at their destination they pare fare as they exit from the front.
金閣寺 (Kinkaku-ji) is a Zen Buddhist temple whose top two floors are covered in gold leaf. It's been around since the late 14th century and is surrounded by a huge garden. The "Golden Pavilion" sits on a pond and you can't enter it, so all you can really do is admire its beauty from the outside and enjoy the scenery of its surroundings. But even that in itself is a pleasant and calming experience, I think.
After walking through the Kinkaku-ji grounds we walked to 立命館大学 (Ritsumeikan Daigaku/Ritsumeikan University), where Jenny takes Japanese classes. Ritsumeikan doesn't have dorms, so Jenny lives in a hotel-like apartment and commutes by bus to school everyday. Ritsumeikan is a small campus, but it's still nice to look at and has some open spaces.
We had some time before the bus back to Kyoto Station was to arrive, so for a little while we looked around an art museum across the street from Ritsumeikan called Kyoto Prefectural Inshō Dōmoto Museum of Fine Arts. Lucky for us, admission was free that day! This museum is named after a Japanese artist named Inshō Dōmoto, and was founded by him in 1966. Its two floors contain works of his including paintings, drawings, and handicrafts. The current special exhibit is called "The Possibility of the Monochromatic Drawings".
We returned to Kyoto Station then hopped on another bus to Fushimi Inari Taisha.
Side Note 2: We got off the bus and while waiting at an intersection, I noticed a 20- or 30-something Japanese guy biking in our direction. He was about to pass by until he saw us, stopped abruptly, got off of his bike and said to me in English, "Sorry, excuse me. You ride, I take picture." Say what now? "You ride, I take picture" he repeated, as he motioned toward his bike. Oh, ok. Maybe he's never seen a black person before and he just wants me to take a picture standing next to his bike. This is little weird, but what the hey. So I stood next to his bike. But that wasn't what he'd wanted me to do. "No, you RIDE, I take picture". Huh? This dude seriously wants me to get on his bike? What is this? But I was surprised and confused and didn't know what to do, so I got on his bike. He took out his phone, had me adjust the handlebars so they were angled just right, told me to smile, then snapped a picture. I got off his bike, he hopped back on, yelled "Sorry. Thank you. Enjoy Kyoto!", and was gone. And there you have it, the most bizarre thing that I've ever experienced in Japan.
伏見稲荷大社 (Fushimi Inari Taisha) is a Shinto shrine that's been around since the early 8th century. It contains trails leading up Mount Inari, and many smaller shrines line these trails. Fushimi Inari honors Inari, who is known as the god of rice and patron of business, merchants, and manufacturers. So along the path you will also see thousands of orange Japanese gates (torii), that have been donated by businessman over the years. We also came across quite a few stray cats, so that's something to look forward to for some people. As far as climbing the mountain goes, we were too sweatily exhausted and crunched for time to make it to the top, but we went as far as we could.
Side Note 3: It costs about ¥500 to enter Buddhist temples in Japan, but it's almost always free to enter shrines. I don't know what the reason is for this, but Jenny brought it up and made me remember pondering this before when I was in Nara, so I thought I'd share.
On the way back to the bus stop I bought milk tea and a set of mixed mini-sandwiches at a bakery/cafe called Eiffel. After I ate we sat on the curb waiting on the bus and reflecting on how we think we've changed since high school. At one point Jenny told me, "You seem a lot calmer," and she has no idea how much it meant to me for her to say that. I've always been really high-strung, making simple things a big deal and needing to be perfect. I'm still working on this, but it made me feel so good to know that an old friend of mine noticed that I've changed.
We rode back to the station and parted ways there, since Jenny had an event to go to. Before catching another bus Jenny hugged me and said, "Let's not limit our meetings to foreign countries, ok?" Will do!
After that I wandered around the many levels of Kyoto Station for a couple hours, bought a book, went to the very top of the station to look out over the rest of the city, then came down and bought my ticket back to Hikone.
This was my last free weekend in Japan, and my last chance to spend a day in Kyoto, and there's so much to do there. I could've found my way to Gion and seen whatever final Gion Matsuri festivities were going on. I could've just walked around the city. But for some reason, I just wasn't feeling it. I accomplished what I'd come to Kyoto to do, I was tired, my head hurt, I didn't have any plans, I was alone, and I just wanted to go back. So I did.
I really don't know what this means. Maybe I'm just fresh-out on day trips. Maybe, despite what I've been telling myself and other people, I actually am ready to go back home. Who knows. Alas, my second attempt and I still wasn't motivated or interested enough to go exploring and experience what Kyoto is all about. Call it a missed opportunity if you will, but I can't say I'm all that disappointed about it. Maybe next time, Kyoto. Thanks for taking time to hang out with me, Jenny!
70 Days in Kansai photos (JULY/AUGUST) \
70 Days in Kansai photos (JUNE)
All I wanted to do in Kyoto was see Kinkaku-ji, visit Ritsumeikan (the school Jenny studies at), and go to Fushimi-Inari Taisha, and we did all of those in that order. To be honest, with the exception of Ritsumeikan these are typical tourist-y things to do, and in terms of the all that you can do in Kyoto, it wasn't that much. But eh well.On Saturday morning Jenny met me at Kyoto station, and after I bought my one-day bus pass we hopped on a bus to Kinkaku-ji.
Side Note 1: Out of all the cities in Kansai that I've been to, Kyoto has the most well-organized and efficient bus system I've seen. And you ride city buses in the opposite manner of how you ride them in the States. I don't know if it's the same in the rest of Japan, but in Kyoto people board buses from the back, and once they arrive at their destination they pare fare as they exit from the front.
金閣寺 (Kinkaku-ji) is a Zen Buddhist temple whose top two floors are covered in gold leaf. It's been around since the late 14th century and is surrounded by a huge garden. The "Golden Pavilion" sits on a pond and you can't enter it, so all you can really do is admire its beauty from the outside and enjoy the scenery of its surroundings. But even that in itself is a pleasant and calming experience, I think.
We had some time before the bus back to Kyoto Station was to arrive, so for a little while we looked around an art museum across the street from Ritsumeikan called Kyoto Prefectural Inshō Dōmoto Museum of Fine Arts. Lucky for us, admission was free that day! This museum is named after a Japanese artist named Inshō Dōmoto, and was founded by him in 1966. Its two floors contain works of his including paintings, drawings, and handicrafts. The current special exhibit is called "The Possibility of the Monochromatic Drawings". We returned to Kyoto Station then hopped on another bus to Fushimi Inari Taisha.
Side Note 2: We got off the bus and while waiting at an intersection, I noticed a 20- or 30-something Japanese guy biking in our direction. He was about to pass by until he saw us, stopped abruptly, got off of his bike and said to me in English, "Sorry, excuse me. You ride, I take picture." Say what now? "You ride, I take picture" he repeated, as he motioned toward his bike. Oh, ok. Maybe he's never seen a black person before and he just wants me to take a picture standing next to his bike. This is little weird, but what the hey. So I stood next to his bike. But that wasn't what he'd wanted me to do. "No, you RIDE, I take picture". Huh? This dude seriously wants me to get on his bike? What is this? But I was surprised and confused and didn't know what to do, so I got on his bike. He took out his phone, had me adjust the handlebars so they were angled just right, told me to smile, then snapped a picture. I got off his bike, he hopped back on, yelled "Sorry. Thank you. Enjoy Kyoto!", and was gone. And there you have it, the most bizarre thing that I've ever experienced in Japan.
伏見稲荷大社 (Fushimi Inari Taisha) is a Shinto shrine that's been around since the early 8th century. It contains trails leading up Mount Inari, and many smaller shrines line these trails. Fushimi Inari honors Inari, who is known as the god of rice and patron of business, merchants, and manufacturers. So along the path you will also see thousands of orange Japanese gates (torii), that have been donated by businessman over the years. We also came across quite a few stray cats, so that's something to look forward to for some people. As far as climbing the mountain goes, we were too sweatily exhausted and crunched for time to make it to the top, but we went as far as we could.Side Note 3: It costs about ¥500 to enter Buddhist temples in Japan, but it's almost always free to enter shrines. I don't know what the reason is for this, but Jenny brought it up and made me remember pondering this before when I was in Nara, so I thought I'd share.
We rode back to the station and parted ways there, since Jenny had an event to go to. Before catching another bus Jenny hugged me and said, "Let's not limit our meetings to foreign countries, ok?" Will do!
After that I wandered around the many levels of Kyoto Station for a couple hours, bought a book, went to the very top of the station to look out over the rest of the city, then came down and bought my ticket back to Hikone.
 |
| Looking down at the rest of the station |
This was my last free weekend in Japan, and my last chance to spend a day in Kyoto, and there's so much to do there. I could've found my way to Gion and seen whatever final Gion Matsuri festivities were going on. I could've just walked around the city. But for some reason, I just wasn't feeling it. I accomplished what I'd come to Kyoto to do, I was tired, my head hurt, I didn't have any plans, I was alone, and I just wanted to go back. So I did.
I really don't know what this means. Maybe I'm just fresh-out on day trips. Maybe, despite what I've been telling myself and other people, I actually am ready to go back home. Who knows. Alas, my second attempt and I still wasn't motivated or interested enough to go exploring and experience what Kyoto is all about. Call it a missed opportunity if you will, but I can't say I'm all that disappointed about it. Maybe next time, Kyoto. Thanks for taking time to hang out with me, Jenny!
70 Days in Kansai photos (JULY/AUGUST) \
70 Days in Kansai photos (JUNE)
Friday, July 26, 2013
ドラマ (Dorama) Time! 2
Concerning the last round, 'Daini Gakusho' got boring so I stopped watching. 'Kamo, Kyoto e Iku' was a fantastic show but the ending was rushed. 'Saikou no Rikon' was the best out of all three dramas, but the last two subbed episodes are still nowhere to be found on the internet. So the winner by default is... 'Kamo, Kyoto e Iku'.
My final week here in Japan is approaching, and before I leave I wanted to write about the dramas I've been able to watch during my free time this summer. Here they are, in the order that I started watching them in.
PRICELESS - Fuji TV/2012
This drama stars Kimura Takuya, a popular actor/singer who's been around for a long time. I started watching it because of the hype it received and because it also stars Karina (far right), who's one of my favorite Japanese actresses. Kimura plays an ambitious and well-liked employee at Miracle Thermos who gets framed for leaking secret information by his secret half-brother so that he can't inherit the company. He loses his job, his apartment, everything. He ends up living in a house with other homeless people, and for the first time in his life he learns the value of money and experiences how truly difficult it is to earn a living. With the help of his friends, he starts his own company and makes a comeback, leading to a showdown with his secret half-brother. This drama was so much more entertaining than I thought it would be. With so many economies in horrible condition lately and so many people struggling to get by, this show has a real story that I think can resonate with many people. The pace and nature of the main character's journey from riches to rags to riches is more akin to fantasy than I would've liked, but overall it's a very inspiring story.
獣医ドリトル (Juui Dolittle/Veterinarian Dolittle) - TBS/2010
I honestly can't remember how I heard about this drama. But I found it and once I realized it was about animals, I was hooked. It depicts the harsh realities of a veterinarian's duties and the fierce competition that goes on between vets. In the words of the title character: "Veterinary medicine isn't charity, It's a business." Juui Dolittle can't actually talk to animals, but he's such a skilled veterinarian that it's as if he knows exactly what his furry patients want. Each episode has the same structure: someone has a problem with an animal, for some reason Juui Dolittle is the only vet in all of Tokyo who can or is willing to solve the problem, he charges an exorbitant price to do a really difficult surgery, and no one is sure how it'll turn out (except we really are, because Juui Dolittle almost always succeeds). Watching that scenario over and over gets a little old. The show tries to create these really dire situations to pull at people's heartstrings, but you can only dramatize a ferret having gallstones and dogs suffering from airborne contagious diseases so much, and then it just becomes silly. Still, it's a pretty interesting show, and Oguri Shun (who plays Dolittle) and Inoue Mao (who plays his assistant) lead this drama's seasoned cast. This show is great for animal-lovers who want an easy drama to watch.
ガリレオ(Galileo) - Fuji TV/2007
Before this summer I'd had the same Japanese professor for 3 semesters in a row, and she always managed to mention actor/singer Fukuyama Masaharu in her lessons. He's her favorite celebrity and is immensely popular in Japan for his manly image and varied talents. 'Galileo' is one of his most famous works. Apparently it was a huge hit when it came out in 2007, so much so that a sequel started airing this year. After watching 'Juui Dolittle' I couldn't decide what to watch next, so I figured I'd see what the hype was all about and watch 'Galileo'. In it, Fukuyama plays a physicist who helps a rookie cop (played by Shibasaki Kou, another actor/singer) solve murder mysteries. Each episode features a gruesome and bizarre murder, and the solutions that the drama comes up with are so equally bizarre that I wonder what kind of person got paid to come up with such things. I can definitely understand why it was popular. Besides the fact that it features two pretty people, of course. But for some reason I couldn't get into it. Maybe it was because it's summer and I'm in the mood for something upbeat and not so dark, or maybe it's because 'Galileo' didn't end up being '"the best drama evarrr" like it was hyped up to be. Either way, while this drama did entertain me, I wasn't wowed enough to finish it.
スターマン～この星の恋 (Starman: This Star's Love) - Fuji TV/KTV/2013
I love this show. It has the most unrealistic premise ever, but I love it. I started watching this drama because of its lead actress, Hirosue Ryoko. She only appeared in one episode of 'Galileo', but something about her made me want to see more of her work. And then, coincidentally, I found out she was starring in a new drama this summer and I was all in! Hirosue plays Sawa, a single mom who lives in the same small town she was born and raised in. Her husband ran off on her, and she struggles to work everyday and raise their 3 sons with the help of her grandmother. At the same time, a man with a mysterious past arrives in town, tries to kill himself, and fails. One day a star falls from the sky, and soon after this the man appears in front of Sawa during her drive home. It's as if he's fallen from the sky. (Like a star. See where this motif is going?). Because he's lost his memory and doesn't have a clue who he is, she decides to make him her husband so that she won't be so lonely and her children will have a father. She names him Hoshio (lit. "star man"). And everyone around her just goes along with it. They soon realize that he has super powers, which makes them wonder if he's an alien from outer space. Wacky, right? In addition to that, the drama has an incredibly touching and relatable theme of getting a second chance and starting your life over, and who hasn't wished for these things at least once in their life? Even though the premise is way out there, it's executed so well and it's a story I've never heard of before. This show is so fresh and interesting that I can't help but love it. Additionally, I find singer YUKI's rockin' theme song contribution "STARMANN" to be quite a chill yet mesmerizing.
激流～私を憶えていますか？～ (Gekiryuu: Watashi wo Oboeteimasuka?/Rapids: Do You Remember Me?) - NHK/2013
I started watching this drama because of Kuninaka Ryoko (far left), an actress who appeared in an episode of 'Juui Dolittle'. 20 years ago, a group of middle school friends went with their class on a field trip to Kyoto. On the way back one of them, a girl named Fuyuha, disappeared. In the present, the remaining friends are all experiencing some troubles in their lives. One woman is an editor at a publishing company whose career and marriage fall apart. One man is a cop investigating a strange high-profile murder case. One woman is a novelist making her comeback as a singer, who becomes implicated in said murder case. One man lost his job and his family as a result of an affair, and is stalked by his mistress when he kicks her to the curb. One woman has turned to prostitution in order to maintain her family's high-class lifestyle, and her relationship with her pimp turns violent. One day, all 5 of them receive an email from the girl who went missing: "Do you remember me?". Then weird things start happening and all of their lives get still more complicated. Who is doing this to them? Is Fuyuha still alive? I can't wait to find out!
My final week here in Japan is approaching, and before I leave I wanted to write about the dramas I've been able to watch during my free time this summer. Here they are, in the order that I started watching them in.
PRICELESS - Fuji TV/2012
This drama stars Kimura Takuya, a popular actor/singer who's been around for a long time. I started watching it because of the hype it received and because it also stars Karina (far right), who's one of my favorite Japanese actresses. Kimura plays an ambitious and well-liked employee at Miracle Thermos who gets framed for leaking secret information by his secret half-brother so that he can't inherit the company. He loses his job, his apartment, everything. He ends up living in a house with other homeless people, and for the first time in his life he learns the value of money and experiences how truly difficult it is to earn a living. With the help of his friends, he starts his own company and makes a comeback, leading to a showdown with his secret half-brother. This drama was so much more entertaining than I thought it would be. With so many economies in horrible condition lately and so many people struggling to get by, this show has a real story that I think can resonate with many people. The pace and nature of the main character's journey from riches to rags to riches is more akin to fantasy than I would've liked, but overall it's a very inspiring story.獣医ドリトル (Juui Dolittle/Veterinarian Dolittle) - TBS/2010
ガリレオ(Galileo) - Fuji TV/2007
スターマン～この星の恋 (Starman: This Star's Love) - Fuji TV/KTV/2013
激流～私を憶えていますか？～ (Gekiryuu: Watashi wo Oboeteimasuka?/Rapids: Do You Remember Me?) - NHK/2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Kabuki
To wrap up the weekend on Sunday, I went to Hikone Cultural Plaza to watch kabuki theater with Loritta. Kabuki is a traditional Japanese form of theater that combines drama and music/dance. Casts of these plays are usually all male. Tickets to see kabuki can be pretty expensive, but we only had to pay ¥2000 to see this performance.I learned while I was there that kabuki can also get pretty long; the show lasted almost 3 hours. On Friday and Saturday I'd only gotten a combined 10 hours of sleep, so I nodded off every now and then. But I thoroughly enjoyed what I was able to see.
Loritta and I sat toward the back, and from the beginning men sitting behind us would frequently yell out random exclamations during the performance. I was surprised and confused, since Japanese people seem to be so reserved and very much concerned with respect, decorum, and order. However, I learned that this is also part of kabuki tradition. During performances, a few highly knowledgeable (and only male) members of the audience will sit near the back of the theater and yell something to 1) acknowledge renowned actors when they appear, or 2) mark poignant moments in the play. Interesting right? I'm glad those men were there because they not only made the experience more entertaining, but also woke me up a time or two.
70 Days in Kansai photos (JULY/AUGUST) \
70 Days in Kansai photos (JUNE)
Monday, July 22, 2013
Nara: Buddha (part 2)
We walked through Nara Park and arrived at the main reason I went Nara: 東大寺 (Tōdai-ji). Literally, "Eastern Great Temple." Nearly 1300 years old, Tōdai-ji is a world heritage site and is also the world's largest wooden building. In fact, what stands today is supposedly only 1/3 the size of the original structure. This temple also houses the largest bronze 大仏 (daibutsu/statue of Buddha) in the world. 
daibutsu for the first time. This thing is massive, y'all. My pictures of it definitely don't do it justice. Honestly, I don't believe I've seen anything more beautiful in my life. I almost cried. This place is ancient and is real. Something as magnificent as this really exists. And I get to be here to see it. God is good.
Inside the temple there's also a post with a hole at the bottom of it that's supposed to be the size of Buddha's nose. According to legend, if you can fit through it you will have good luck for the rest of your life. Ivy tried, wriggled through it and succeeded!
After wandering around, enjoying the scenery, and taking a break for some food, we went to our last stop, a shrine called 春日大社 (Kasuga-taisha). It's old like many things in Nara are. In my opinion there isn't anything all that unique about it, except for the thousands of stone lanterns that line the pathways leading to and from it. There are also many bronze statues inside the actual shrine, but you had to pay to enter and we weren't about to do that, so we didn't see them. From there we returned to Nara Station and headed back to Hikone.It was scorching on Saturday, and instead of hopping on trains to get around like in other cities we've gone to together, the four of us walked the whole time. Naturally I was hot, sweaty, exhausted, and my feet hurt at the end of the day. But it was alright, because I got to spend the day with amazing people in a serene place, seeing things that I had never imagined I'd see.
70 Days in Kansai photos (JULY/AUGUST) \
70 Days in Kansai photos (JUNE)
Nara: Shika (part 1)
Whew! This past weekend was busy! Hikone Castle on Friday, Nara on Saturday, and kabuki theater on Sunday. I'll just talk about my trip to Nara today. I went with the usual suspects (Ivy and Bryen), plus another JCMU student named Anna.
Nara is one of the more historically significant cities in Japan. It was the capital of Japan for about 75 years back in the 8th century, preceding Kyoto and the current capital, Tokyo. It is also home to many Buddhist temples, which apparently wielded a lot of power at one time and remain considerably important and influential today.
Our first stop was 興福寺 (Kōfuku-ji) which we stumbled upon by accident. Bryen, Ivy, and Anna saw some stairs lined with red banners, raced up them, and surprise! 1300-year-old Buddhist temple at the top. We entered at one end and walked to the other, where a 5-story pagoda stood. And guess who were chilling right in front of it? Deer!
Nara is known for its shika (deer), because long ago they were believed to be messengers of certain Shinto gods, and were protected as sacred creatures. Today they are no longer considered sacred, but are still protected as national treasures. There are over 1,000 deer in Nara Park, which is accessible from many major Buddhist temples and tourist attractions in the city, so you'll see them roaming freely around those places too.
These deer aren't afraid of humans. They also aren't hostile, but they can be aggressive when it comes to food. Really, they just want to chill and get fed. They know that all of the humans around them are tourists. They know that these humans want to pet them. Most of all, they know that these humans have food. So they watch people buy deer senbei (rice crackers for deer) from the numerous senbei-selling stands that are around, then follow them until they give them up. I'm not kidding. Walk up to
the stand. Pay ¥150. Receive pack of senbei. Turn around. Deer right in your face.
When we reached Nara Park Bryen tried it first and was surrounded by 6 deer, one of which started chewing on his shirt. When I tried it only 2 deer followed me. I wasn't even afraid of them, but they rolled up on me so fast that I was overwhelmed and freaked out. Thankfully you can't tell as much in this picture.
Check out part 2!
70 Days in Kansai photos (JULY/AUGUST) \
70 Days in Kansai photos (JUNE)
Our first stop was 興福寺 (Kōfuku-ji) which we stumbled upon by accident. Bryen, Ivy, and Anna saw some stairs lined with red banners, raced up them, and surprise! 1300-year-old Buddhist temple at the top. We entered at one end and walked to the other, where a 5-story pagoda stood. And guess who were chilling right in front of it? Deer! 
Nara is known for its shika (deer), because long ago they were believed to be messengers of certain Shinto gods, and were protected as sacred creatures. Today they are no longer considered sacred, but are still protected as national treasures. There are over 1,000 deer in Nara Park, which is accessible from many major Buddhist temples and tourist attractions in the city, so you'll see them roaming freely around those places too. These deer aren't afraid of humans. They also aren't hostile, but they can be aggressive when it comes to food. Really, they just want to chill and get fed. They know that all of the humans around them are tourists. They know that these humans want to pet them. Most of all, they know that these humans have food. So they watch people buy deer senbei (rice crackers for deer) from the numerous senbei-selling stands that are around, then follow them until they give them up. I'm not kidding. Walk up to
the stand. Pay ¥150. Receive pack of senbei. Turn around. Deer right in your face.
When we reached Nara Park Bryen tried it first and was surrounded by 6 deer, one of which started chewing on his shirt. When I tried it only 2 deer followed me. I wasn't even afraid of them, but they rolled up on me so fast that I was overwhelmed and freaked out. Thankfully you can't tell as much in this picture.Check out part 2!
70 Days in Kansai photos (JULY/AUGUST) \
70 Days in Kansai photos (JUNE)
Friday, July 19, 2013
Hikone-jo and some other things
I FINALLY WENT TO HIKONE CASTLE TODAY!
Classes ended, I had no other plans, the weather was perfect, Ivy was willing to go with me, and it was on!
We made a few stops along the way. Today's Friday, so of course I had to stop at Vidal. Then we headed to an antique shop/café called Apple Jam that Ivy had wanted to visit. It was a small but incredibly well-organized place, and I found a souvenir for Ma there. All she wanted was something with Japanese writing on it, and I finally found something that was to my liking for her.
Speaking of souvenirs, when I asked people what they wanted me to buy them while I'm in Japan, most of them requested something "authentic-looking" "traditional Japanese style", etc. You'd be surprised to know how difficult that stuff is to find here. Many malls and stores try to be modern or have an international/Western appeal, so though their products might cater to Japanese tastes and sensibilities, they're not all that different from what you'd find in the States. And most of the merchandise I've seen with writing on it has English words and phrases. Sure, Japanese is written everywhere and some shops are more traditional than others, but as far as gifts go, you have to go to really specific places to find the "authentic" and "traditional" things that foreigners want. Like souvenir shops or antique shops.
I've decided not to buy any souvenirs for people because I'm too cheap and lazy. First, I don't like spending money. Second, when I buy something for someone, I can't just go anywhere and buy anything. It has to be of decent quality, it has to be special, it has to mean something, and it can't be too expensive. My method of shopping for people takes thought, time, energy, and most importantly money that I'm not willing to spend. Sorry folks. But I can't say no to Ma; she gave me life so I made an exception for her.
Anyway, back to my day. After leaving Apple Jam we ate lunch at a café called Poemu. I ate loco moco, which consists of rice topped with a hamburger patty, fried egg, and gravy. It's a traditional Hawaiian dish, but oddly enough my first time eating it was here in Japan.
Onward to Hikone Castle! 彦根城 (Hikone-jō) was built in the early 17th century, and is considered to be Shiga Prefecture's most significant historical site. It's a Japanese national treasure and is even in the running to become a World Heritage site. In short, it's a very old and important place. We got there just in time to see ひこにゃん (Hikonyan), a samurai cat and Hikone Castle's mascot. Many castles in Japan have mascots, but Hikonyan is known as the most popular mascot in Japan.
We walked up many steps and turned a few corners to reach the castle. The castle itself is small. It only has 4 floors and there are few museum-like displays. It hasn't been prettied up. Inside is all wood and white walls. It's simple. In my opinion, however, that's exactly what's special about Hikone Castle. It's not particularly refined or luxurious. It hasn't been remodeled to suit modern tastes or impress tourists. It's quiet. It is as it was.
We went through the whole castle and enjoyed some spectacular views of Hikone from the top. Before heading back to JCMU I bought a Hikone-jō pin for myself. There's a specific reason that I got a pin as opposed to some other trinket, but I'll explain that after I return to the States.
I should be shutting myself in this weekend to work on my final project that I have to present next Thursday, but I'm just fed up with class consuming all my time and I'm getting cabin fever. So I'm going to Nara with Ivy and Bryen and I refuse to feel bad about it. Of course, y'all will read all about it when I get back.
70 Days in Kansai photos (JULY/AUGUST) \
70 Days in Kansai photos (JUNE)
Classes ended, I had no other plans, the weather was perfect, Ivy was willing to go with me, and it was on!
We made a few stops along the way. Today's Friday, so of course I had to stop at Vidal. Then we headed to an antique shop/café called Apple Jam that Ivy had wanted to visit. It was a small but incredibly well-organized place, and I found a souvenir for Ma there. All she wanted was something with Japanese writing on it, and I finally found something that was to my liking for her.
Speaking of souvenirs, when I asked people what they wanted me to buy them while I'm in Japan, most of them requested something "authentic-looking" "traditional Japanese style", etc. You'd be surprised to know how difficult that stuff is to find here. Many malls and stores try to be modern or have an international/Western appeal, so though their products might cater to Japanese tastes and sensibilities, they're not all that different from what you'd find in the States. And most of the merchandise I've seen with writing on it has English words and phrases. Sure, Japanese is written everywhere and some shops are more traditional than others, but as far as gifts go, you have to go to really specific places to find the "authentic" and "traditional" things that foreigners want. Like souvenir shops or antique shops.
I've decided not to buy any souvenirs for people because I'm too cheap and lazy. First, I don't like spending money. Second, when I buy something for someone, I can't just go anywhere and buy anything. It has to be of decent quality, it has to be special, it has to mean something, and it can't be too expensive. My method of shopping for people takes thought, time, energy, and most importantly money that I'm not willing to spend. Sorry folks. But I can't say no to Ma; she gave me life so I made an exception for her.Anyway, back to my day. After leaving Apple Jam we ate lunch at a café called Poemu. I ate loco moco, which consists of rice topped with a hamburger patty, fried egg, and gravy. It's a traditional Hawaiian dish, but oddly enough my first time eating it was here in Japan.
Onward to Hikone Castle! 彦根城 (Hikone-jō) was built in the early 17th century, and is considered to be Shiga Prefecture's most significant historical site. It's a Japanese national treasure and is even in the running to become a World Heritage site. In short, it's a very old and important place. We got there just in time to see ひこにゃん (Hikonyan), a samurai cat and Hikone Castle's mascot. Many castles in Japan have mascots, but Hikonyan is known as the most popular mascot in Japan.
I should be shutting myself in this weekend to work on my final project that I have to present next Thursday, but I'm just fed up with class consuming all my time and I'm getting cabin fever. So I'm going to Nara with Ivy and Bryen and I refuse to feel bad about it. Of course, y'all will read all about it when I get back.
70 Days in Kansai photos (JUNE)
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