January 2006

January 27
Holiday Fun #2
On the 31st, we headed from blissful nature to the bustle of Tokyo...
The train ride between Hakuba and Matsumoto wasn`t as pleasant as the first time - we stood for an hour and a half, grumbling as more people were crammed onto the two-car train with each stop we made. While we waited for our bus to Tokyo, we were able to visit the old merchant area, `Kaeru` (frog) street. Neat little place with small stores similar to those we visited in Takayama.

The bus ride to Tokyo was relatively uneventful - though we did see Mt. Fuji in the distance...
At first glance, Tokyo was altogether unimpressive. It looked like a larger, slightly taller Nagoya. Our friend Kasey met us at Shinjuku station and took us to her apartment to get settled in. She lives about 1/2 hour outside of the station in a very suburban area.
Later in the evening we headed for Shibuya, an exciting shopping area filled with stores, bars, clubs, restaurants and `love` hotels. Upon arrival, I met the Tokyo that I had expected...bright lights and bustling people (though I was told fewer than normal due to the holiday).
We went to a `swanky` club called Womb. Multiple floors played music that I could not identify (Drum and Base? House?...I have no idea) and the washroom stalls each had a touch-screen computer monitor. It was different and exciting for about half an hour and then I was bored. We didn`t make it home until about 4:00, but still managed to get up early to explore the city (yippee!).

We walked around Shibuya, Harajuku (made famous by Gwen Stefani) and were able to visit the Meiji Shrine. Here, New Year`s celebrations were taking place - a giant line of people wound from the entrance of the park up to the shrine`s gates. TV screens teased everyone waiting in line with images of our destination and periodically gave us a view of just how many people were crammed into such a small space (according to the newspapers over 3,000,000 people visited the shrine between the 1st and the 3rd of January).
Once we reached the shrine, we were able to throw money onto a tarp laid out at the base of the main shrine and pray for our new year. Vendors lined the paths on the way out, selling commemorative `prayer plaques` and omomori to welcome the year of the dog. A wonderful experience for all but those that are claustrophobic!

The next day, we went to the Imperial Palace and wandered around Ginza (an area filled with trendy stores similar to 5th avenue in NY). A highlight was the Sony building - although closed at the time, we were able to play with some robotic dogs...very cool and creepy at the same time. They responded to touch and were so life-like that it gave me goosebumps.

On our final day in Tokyo, Alex and I decided to take advantage of the season and went to visit another shrine where we knew that New Year`s festivities would be taking place. This time, we opted for the Yasukuni Shrine (made famous recently due to Prime Minister Koizumi`s continued visits despite protests from China and Korea...the shrine houses the names of war dead - including several class A war criminals). Many people were throwing coins and praying as they had at the Meiji Shrine. In a smaller part of the shrine complex, a Noh performance was being demonstrated. Musicians playing drums and flutes were the voices for several masked characters that danced out the story. Very cool!
Luckily, the accompanying war museum was also open and we were able to spend a couple of hours wandering amongst the extensive displays.

What a trip! I can`t say that it`s nice to be back to work...but I`m really looking forward to our next adventure.



January 13
Holiday Fun #1
Wow! I have a lot of catching up to do. I`ll start by saying that, although a little homesick, both Alex and I had a pretty good holiday. We worked on both the 24th and 25th, but were able to enjoy an evening at home on Christmas night.
The Christmas season in Japan has been an interesting one...
As expected, most people here don`t celebrate Chirstmas as we do - it`s mostly a romantic holiday that seems to epitomize all that is commercial about the season...Christmas `cheese` was bountiful.
There was an apparent excess of snow for Nagoya, which amusingly prompted the use of tire-chains on the still-bare pavement.

Once our much anticipated vacation arrived, Alex and I took a three hour bus ride to Matsumoto where we immediately toured the famous castle of the same name. It was quite spectacular - the building was six stories and surrounded by a moat. Steep stairs inside lead to the top floor where Japanese staff stood under a New Years `wreath` and offered us sake and baby fish coated in something sweet...what a treat! Luckily, each floor had English descriptions and we were able to learn about the samurai that used to live and work there.

After our tour, an hour and a half train ride north took us to Hakuba...a small town where the Nagano Olympics were held. We stayed in a hostel owned by the hardest working couple I`ve ever met. They drove their guests all over town, arranged for our snowboard rentals and gave us discounted lift-tickets.
The town itself is not really worth mentioning except for the mounds of snow that had dropped this season...apparently exceeding 4 METRES! Everything seemed to be completely smothered by more snow than I`ve ever seen. Although it caused problems for many people (collapsed roof tops, transportation troubles, etc.), I couldn`t help but love it - it was like being in a cartoon...we spent 4 days in `Hooville`.

This snow was apparently also fantastic for snowboarding. Being my first time, I was not aware of the difference, but I was told by the `experts` that it was awesome.
The first day at the ski-hill, I nervously ascended with my board on my feet and Alex at my side cheering me on to what would be my first (but certainly not last) time at making a fool of myself in this particular arena...after MANY falls, I seemed to find my balance and was relatively successful. I only cried twice after two hard falls. Haha.
In between our time on the slopes, we were able to enjoy sento baths, some great views and interesting conversation with fellow hostel-goers. A perfect remedy to a day in the snow and a sore everything!
More to come on the rest of our trip soon!