About the Earthquake- I am afraid I do not have anything interesting to say. I was on a river tour of Tokyo's Bridges from Asakusa to a garden when it struck. While we didn't really feel anything, we noticed the lampposts swaying side to side and the antennas on top of the surrounding buildings moving.
We were forced off the boat at the first exit, and then we walked for 2 or so hours to get back to the hotel (the trains were shut down). The worst damage we saw were some minor cracks in the sidewalk (nothing that New York doesn't have), some broken glass from the windows in the buildings, and a little extra water from some pipes.
There have been quite a few aftershocks, but I have not noticed them- because when they happened I was passed out asleep.
Moral of the story? I am fine and well. We went out today and besides some stores being closed, and the streets being less crowded- Tokyo was business as usual.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Updated list of things to do in Japan
Participate in the Coming of Age Ceremony in January- Visit Ise Shrine
Go to the Hokkaido Snow Festival in Feburary- Go to Okinawa
- Go to Osaka
- Go to a concert in Japan
- Go to Shibuya
- Go to Tokyo Disney
- Go to a Maid Cafe/ other types of Cafe's
Stay/Visit an onsen town and stay in a ryokan- See a Takurazuka show
- See the Ghibli Museum
- See the Gion Matsuri in Kyoto
- See the the Tohoku Sandai Matsuri (Three Great Festivals of the Tohoku Region) [Akita's Kanto, Sendai's Tanabata, and Aomori's Nebuta Festival]
Go on a boat trip
So many exciting things to look forward to!!! ^(｡◕‿‿◕｡)^
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Hokkaido: Day 7
Today was the Korean Pop concert. Mike and I had planned on arriving really early to hopefully buy a ticket, but they were all sold out. But we decided to wait and see if anyone was selling theirs, or if anyone didn't come to pick up their tickets and maybe we could buy them. But it appeared not to be so.
So Mike and I head over to Susukino (where the ice sculptures are) and went out for lunch. (we had purchased some Indian food during our time waiting to see about tickets for the concert, but we were hungry again) We went into this bizarre restaurant that was set up like a dinner, but made out of classier material... but had hip-hop and rap playing in the background along with a silent black and white film about a boat sinking. It was very strange.
We both ordered pizza, but they were so long in bringing our food out that they gave us free salads as 'service'. Mike and I enjoyed the food and then left to catch a bus to the Ainu museum. However we could not find the bus anywhere. Eventually we gave up and went to Purikura at a store near the Sapporo train station. I also bought the coat I have been ogling all week, it was more expensive then I would have normally paid for but it was super cute, warm and I looked good in it. We then met up with Hannah and Hannah (Mike's 2 traveling buddies) and had Sapporo ramen, which is really famous. It was soooooo goood~ I loved it!!
Hannah C. wanted to go for Karaoke afterwords, but Hannah P. doesn't like Karaoke, so we made a compromise- we would go to Karaoke for an hour and then a bar after that. Karaoke was really fun and silly- we tried to do as many songs as we could so we spend up a lot of them, which made singing more like rapping. By the time our hour was up, we were ready for some liquids, but I did not have much time before the last train to my hostel, and I was not up for staying out all night... so I was able to have one drink with everyone before Mike walked with me to the station.
I was really sad to have to leave him, it has been so nice for me to see Mike almost everyday in an adult/college setting. Even though it was awkward for me at time with all his friends, it was a great week. I can't wait to go to Kyoto with Meg and Sarah and hang out with him for a little bit again! :D
Saturday I plan on meeting with another guy friend, and then I am heading back to Akita.. so unless something really interesting happens this will be my last entry for this trip. I hope you all have enjoyed it!!
So Mike and I head over to Susukino (where the ice sculptures are) and went out for lunch. (we had purchased some Indian food during our time waiting to see about tickets for the concert, but we were hungry again) We went into this bizarre restaurant that was set up like a dinner, but made out of classier material... but had hip-hop and rap playing in the background along with a silent black and white film about a boat sinking. It was very strange.
We both ordered pizza, but they were so long in bringing our food out that they gave us free salads as 'service'. Mike and I enjoyed the food and then left to catch a bus to the Ainu museum. However we could not find the bus anywhere. Eventually we gave up and went to Purikura at a store near the Sapporo train station. I also bought the coat I have been ogling all week, it was more expensive then I would have normally paid for but it was super cute, warm and I looked good in it. We then met up with Hannah and Hannah (Mike's 2 traveling buddies) and had Sapporo ramen, which is really famous. It was soooooo goood~ I loved it!!
Hannah C. wanted to go for Karaoke afterwords, but Hannah P. doesn't like Karaoke, so we made a compromise- we would go to Karaoke for an hour and then a bar after that. Karaoke was really fun and silly- we tried to do as many songs as we could so we spend up a lot of them, which made singing more like rapping. By the time our hour was up, we were ready for some liquids, but I did not have much time before the last train to my hostel, and I was not up for staying out all night... so I was able to have one drink with everyone before Mike walked with me to the station.
I was really sad to have to leave him, it has been so nice for me to see Mike almost everyday in an adult/college setting. Even though it was awkward for me at time with all his friends, it was a great week. I can't wait to go to Kyoto with Meg and Sarah and hang out with him for a little bit again! :D
Saturday I plan on meeting with another guy friend, and then I am heading back to Akita.. so unless something really interesting happens this will be my last entry for this trip. I hope you all have enjoyed it!!
Hokkaido: Day 6 Glass
Today Mike, Hannah and I went to Otaru which is a town close-ish to Sapporo, and famous for its old ways of glass blowing, beer, and other fun trades. We met up at the station around noon and got right on the train. The windows were fogged up so we kept on making silly pictures on them, it was fun. :) On our way there it started to snow, Mike and Hannah started to get giddy about it... however it did not stop snowing, so by the end of the day the two of them were complaining about it. haha
When we arrived in Otaru we weren't really sure where things were and what we wanted to do, so we decided to walk down to the harbor and see the ocean. While we were walking, we kept on passing little candle holders made from ice, sometimes with flowers or leaves frozen in them. Otaru has a night festival where they put candles on the canal and on the walkway next to it, and we saw some of the preparations for it. When we got to the end of the street, at the harbor, it was really, really windy but the water looked beautiful. It was a deep blue and on the docks there were mussels growing, it felt almost like Norwalk.... but minus the stink. There were a few big boats, but the confusing thing is that they were all playing traditional Chinese music.... yeah, I still don't quite understand why...
Anyways, we decided to try to find the Otaru glass museum, but we just kept wandering around the town looking at the glass shops and their wares. When we passed one shop I noticed a small stall selling giant takoyaki (one of my favorite Japanese foods) so I decided to try one. It was huuuuge~! It was pretty much my lunch, the only problem I had with it was that since it was so big, the center was not fully cooked which made it taste not so amazing. I finished up my takoyaki in a shop/cafe that sold a lot of music boxes, which I am guessing was another famous product of Otaru's, and Mike saw some more of his AKP friends (his friends from his school in Kyoto).
We decided to continue wandering around the town, and we stopped for lunch at a really small/odd restaurant. Mike and Hannah both got curry and I enjoyed tea. Then we got too sketched out so we left the store to find something else to do. As we were walking along the street we came across a glass blowing shop, that helped you blow your own glass item. Mike and I 'blew' our own versions, i say 'blew' because the shop workers did all the work. But I am still super happy with the final product, and I am giving it to my Host family as my present to them, I really hope they like it.
After that we went back towards the canal to have dinner. We had passed Otaru's most famous brewery and we wanted to try a beer before we left. Before that, though, we saw the light festival I was talking about earlier. It was really pretty, but super crowed and wayyy to much stuff about couples and love. Japan really loves to go all out for valentines day.
At the restaurant we all ordered a beer and a appetizer, and I have to say that I do not like beer... but I do enjoy Hokkaido's.
After dinner we ran back to the train station and head back home. I met up with Martin and Kristin (Mike's friends) at an Izakaya for a few drinks and to talk. It was a really cute place and very relaxed. Kristin and I had to rush to make the last train back, but we made it!
All in all- a busy but nice day.
Also, I really like Mike's friends at AKP, most of them that I met on this trip seem really nice and chill.
When we arrived in Otaru we weren't really sure where things were and what we wanted to do, so we decided to walk down to the harbor and see the ocean. While we were walking, we kept on passing little candle holders made from ice, sometimes with flowers or leaves frozen in them. Otaru has a night festival where they put candles on the canal and on the walkway next to it, and we saw some of the preparations for it. When we got to the end of the street, at the harbor, it was really, really windy but the water looked beautiful. It was a deep blue and on the docks there were mussels growing, it felt almost like Norwalk.... but minus the stink. There were a few big boats, but the confusing thing is that they were all playing traditional Chinese music.... yeah, I still don't quite understand why...
Anyways, we decided to try to find the Otaru glass museum, but we just kept wandering around the town looking at the glass shops and their wares. When we passed one shop I noticed a small stall selling giant takoyaki (one of my favorite Japanese foods) so I decided to try one. It was huuuuge~! It was pretty much my lunch, the only problem I had with it was that since it was so big, the center was not fully cooked which made it taste not so amazing. I finished up my takoyaki in a shop/cafe that sold a lot of music boxes, which I am guessing was another famous product of Otaru's, and Mike saw some more of his AKP friends (his friends from his school in Kyoto).
We decided to continue wandering around the town, and we stopped for lunch at a really small/odd restaurant. Mike and Hannah both got curry and I enjoyed tea. Then we got too sketched out so we left the store to find something else to do. As we were walking along the street we came across a glass blowing shop, that helped you blow your own glass item. Mike and I 'blew' our own versions, i say 'blew' because the shop workers did all the work. But I am still super happy with the final product, and I am giving it to my Host family as my present to them, I really hope they like it.
After that we went back towards the canal to have dinner. We had passed Otaru's most famous brewery and we wanted to try a beer before we left. Before that, though, we saw the light festival I was talking about earlier. It was really pretty, but super crowed and wayyy to much stuff about couples and love. Japan really loves to go all out for valentines day.
At the restaurant we all ordered a beer and a appetizer, and I have to say that I do not like beer... but I do enjoy Hokkaido's.
After dinner we ran back to the train station and head back home. I met up with Martin and Kristin (Mike's friends) at an Izakaya for a few drinks and to talk. It was a really cute place and very relaxed. Kristin and I had to rush to make the last train back, but we made it!
All in all- a busy but nice day.
Also, I really like Mike's friends at AKP, most of them that I met on this trip seem really nice and chill.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Hokkaido: Day 5
[Wednesday Feb 9th]
Today started out awesome, because I helped Kristin make pancakes. So we had an awesome breakfast, and then headed out to the Chocolate factory in the outskirts of Sapporo. We met up with Mike and Martin (one of Mike's friends from Kyoto) and had a fun afternoon playing around at the museum and looking at all the exhibits. There was a kind of creepy, kind of awesome, section on old toys; but made it creepy was that they had really weird sound effect going off when you passed certain toys.
Eventually we realized we had to leave if we wanted to go skiing. So we rushed to the train station and head back to Sapporo train station. There we bought the ski package and train tickets and then head up to the train platform.... and proceeded to get on the wrong train. But it was okay, because the conductor at the station told us how to get to the correct location, and we had left early so we still had plenty of time.
At the Ski Mountain (half of the hill was closed because it was night skiing) we wandered around for a few minutes trying to figure out where the rental section. once we realized there was a shuttle bus to the rental shop (which was not a far walk away) we decided to be lazy and take the shuttle. We rented our skiis, boots, and poles without a hitch and took the shuttle back to the bottom of the hill.
When we got out of the shuttle, Martin and I needed to learn/relearn how to ski. Martin had never Skied before, and the last time I did it was like 6 years prior, so we were both pretty awful. Mike took it upon himself to teach us how to do the basics. He taught us how to climb (we were very bad at this) and then our pie slices. Eventually we kind of got it, so we went up the lift and took it slowly going down the mountain. Mike skied with me, and Kristin skied with Martin. Mike was really nice and but my 3rd time going down I was getting pretty decent. We went down another hill on out 4th time down, and on the 5th Mike helped Martin. I started going faster and faster down the hills, it was super fun. I went down the second hill a couple of times, and it was super nifty because there were colorful lights on that side, so I liked skiing over there.
Towards the end of our skiing time, I followed Kristin down, she goes very fast, and.... I had my first fall since my first run down the mountain. However this one was pretty awful, I tripped (I think I hit a pile of loose snow and some ice with one of my skis and couldn't hold myself up). I fell down, but I hit the ground with the back of my head first. It was kind of awful, I remember I looked up, and my hair was all over my face. I shifted my legs so the the skis were parallel to each other, and then looked up the mountain to see where my hat had come off, it was a little bit above me, so I knew I hadn't slid that far, but I couldn't reach it from the position I was at. However, a very nice snowboarder (turns out she was from the rental shop) stopped and picked up my glasses ( which I had not even noticed had come off) and my hat. She then went down the hill and I took it slowly down and called it a night.
I don't think I am seriously injured, it might have been a light concussion, but even though it is a bit over 12hrs after the event I still have a bit of a headache, and my neck is super stiff. :( Ah well, if I still feel awful in a couple hours I'll go to the hospital.
After we returned all our items, we went back to Sapporo and had dinner (after searching for a while for an open restaurant) at an izakaya , minus the alcohol. The food was warm and yummy, and I enjoyed eating. Then Kristin and I went back to our hostel on the second to last train (12:05am).
All in all? A long, fun (and exciting) day.
Today started out awesome, because I helped Kristin make pancakes. So we had an awesome breakfast, and then headed out to the Chocolate factory in the outskirts of Sapporo. We met up with Mike and Martin (one of Mike's friends from Kyoto) and had a fun afternoon playing around at the museum and looking at all the exhibits. There was a kind of creepy, kind of awesome, section on old toys; but made it creepy was that they had really weird sound effect going off when you passed certain toys.
Eventually we realized we had to leave if we wanted to go skiing. So we rushed to the train station and head back to Sapporo train station. There we bought the ski package and train tickets and then head up to the train platform.... and proceeded to get on the wrong train. But it was okay, because the conductor at the station told us how to get to the correct location, and we had left early so we still had plenty of time.
At the Ski Mountain (half of the hill was closed because it was night skiing) we wandered around for a few minutes trying to figure out where the rental section. once we realized there was a shuttle bus to the rental shop (which was not a far walk away) we decided to be lazy and take the shuttle. We rented our skiis, boots, and poles without a hitch and took the shuttle back to the bottom of the hill.
When we got out of the shuttle, Martin and I needed to learn/relearn how to ski. Martin had never Skied before, and the last time I did it was like 6 years prior, so we were both pretty awful. Mike took it upon himself to teach us how to do the basics. He taught us how to climb (we were very bad at this) and then our pie slices. Eventually we kind of got it, so we went up the lift and took it slowly going down the mountain. Mike skied with me, and Kristin skied with Martin. Mike was really nice and but my 3rd time going down I was getting pretty decent. We went down another hill on out 4th time down, and on the 5th Mike helped Martin. I started going faster and faster down the hills, it was super fun. I went down the second hill a couple of times, and it was super nifty because there were colorful lights on that side, so I liked skiing over there.
Towards the end of our skiing time, I followed Kristin down, she goes very fast, and.... I had my first fall since my first run down the mountain. However this one was pretty awful, I tripped (I think I hit a pile of loose snow and some ice with one of my skis and couldn't hold myself up). I fell down, but I hit the ground with the back of my head first. It was kind of awful, I remember I looked up, and my hair was all over my face. I shifted my legs so the the skis were parallel to each other, and then looked up the mountain to see where my hat had come off, it was a little bit above me, so I knew I hadn't slid that far, but I couldn't reach it from the position I was at. However, a very nice snowboarder (turns out she was from the rental shop) stopped and picked up my glasses ( which I had not even noticed had come off) and my hat. She then went down the hill and I took it slowly down and called it a night.
I don't think I am seriously injured, it might have been a light concussion, but even though it is a bit over 12hrs after the event I still have a bit of a headache, and my neck is super stiff. :( Ah well, if I still feel awful in a couple hours I'll go to the hospital.
After we returned all our items, we went back to Sapporo and had dinner (after searching for a while for an open restaurant) at an izakaya , minus the alcohol. The food was warm and yummy, and I enjoyed eating. Then Kristin and I went back to our hostel on the second to last train (12:05am).
All in all? A long, fun (and exciting) day.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Hokkaido: Day 3 and 4
[MONDAY Feb 7th]
So the day started at 10-ish, as that is when I got out of the heavenly bed. We took my fellow roommates to the snow festival, and everyone was super nice and fun. :) We went to Odori and they all went skating (my ankles were feeling weak so I did not go).
-- Ugh, sorry. I don't feel like writing the rest of this entry, so i'll just bullet point the rest of the activities--
[TUESDAY Feb 8th]
I woke up around 10:30am (woohoo!)and proceeded to skype with Meg and Sarah about hotels and what we are going to do when there are here. I then went to meet up with Ryou from AIU (I met him through the Badminton club) and we went for Ramen (which Sapporo is famous for, and it was super awesome) in one of the more famous restaurants next to the train station. We had a nice conversation (and he was very helpful in telling me what places I should go to), and I found out he was leaving in 3 weeks to go for his year abroad in Russia!!
After lunch, we went for Starbucks and continued to have a nice conversation. Then we went our separate ways and I wandered over to the Ice Sculpture section of the festival. It was lovely, but a bit empty- nothing exciting was happening. I then wandered around the city some more, and I have come to realize that this city is really large- and I would totality love to live here.
I decided to go back to my hostel because my feet were hurting, and there is not much more to report.
All in all, not a too eventful but still nice.
So the day started at 10-ish, as that is when I got out of the heavenly bed. We took my fellow roommates to the snow festival, and everyone was super nice and fun. :) We went to Odori and they all went skating (my ankles were feeling weak so I did not go).
-- Ugh, sorry. I don't feel like writing the rest of this entry, so i'll just bullet point the rest of the activities--
- Skating
- Looking at more of the sculptures- including the ones in the contest (teams from around the world making various scultupres)
- Snow ball fight
- Indian Food for dinner again (SCORE)
- Karaoke with hostel mates and Mike's friends
- Sleep
[TUESDAY Feb 8th]
I woke up around 10:30am (woohoo!)and proceeded to skype with Meg and Sarah about hotels and what we are going to do when there are here. I then went to meet up with Ryou from AIU (I met him through the Badminton club) and we went for Ramen (which Sapporo is famous for, and it was super awesome) in one of the more famous restaurants next to the train station. We had a nice conversation (and he was very helpful in telling me what places I should go to), and I found out he was leaving in 3 weeks to go for his year abroad in Russia!!
After lunch, we went for Starbucks and continued to have a nice conversation. Then we went our separate ways and I wandered over to the Ice Sculpture section of the festival. It was lovely, but a bit empty- nothing exciting was happening. I then wandered around the city some more, and I have come to realize that this city is really large- and I would totality love to live here.
I decided to go back to my hostel because my feet were hurting, and there is not much more to report.
All in all, not a too eventful but still nice.
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