River BBQ

Day two...

My apartment friends organized a big outing to a river on the outskirts of Tokyo-about 2.5 hours away by local train. We had a place for a fantastic BBQ with tons of delicious food, and then headed down to the river. There was a pedestrian foot bridge which many of us jumped off into the frigid and flowing river below! We then got caught in a major summer downpour- so we hung out in the covered bbq area  and roasted marshmallows.

Food prep station- making pizzas, grilling corn, fried noodles, chicken kabobs, sausages, chicken, veggies,

Grilling the noodles and boiling the edamame!

My apartment mates...

Jumping in the river!

Tourists in Tokyo

America, my friend from Monterey, is staying with me for two weeks. I took 9 days off from work and as soon as she arrived we hit the ground running! We are packing in so many different activities, places and events into these days that the following blog posts will have to be in daily installments!

First things first.


We spent her first full day as Tokyo tourists. With the temps in the upper 80s and the humidity high as usual, we started with baked goods at a place near the Eda station.



Then off to explore. One of my favorite Buddhist temples in Tokyo is in Asakusa- so we headed there...received our good fortunes, took in the incense, and cleansed our hands.



From there we walked to SkyTree- the tallest building in the world (as of 2011). It was completed just over a year ago. Unfortunately the haze prevented perfect views, but still a great vista of the Tokyo Metropolis!



We then headed down to my favorite Japanese style garden and enjoyed walking through the paths and over the bridges.


Of course we had to stop in Shibuya for purikura (photo booth) which is so 'kawaii' (cute).



We then met up with my friend Kelly at a restaurant for Okonomiyaki- a fried pancake made with a batter and cabbage and green onions, kimchi, ginger. You cook on the grill right at your table.

On to day two...

Matsumoto Castle and city

On day 2 of my adventure, I stayed in town. The city of Matsumoto boasts Japan's oldest wooden castle- one of four designated as a National Treasure, it was built in 1595. I agree! It was awesome! Built as a fortress, not as living quarters, the castle is 5 stories tall with a secret 1/2 level. Entrance to the castle grounds also allowed visitors to explore inside. I had a great time climbing the steep wooden staircases all the way to the top look-out tower and had a marvelous view in all 4 cardinal directions.

Below you can see a small tower on the front left side with a red veranda all the way around it. This was the "moon observatory" a seemingly peaceful place.

After exploring the castle, I meandered down a few shopping and souvenir streets, tried to stay in the shade and finally the heat got the best of me. I spent a good hour or so hidden in the shade on a park bench completely enthralled in my book. Then gave into the temptation of air conditioning and found a restaurant for lunch and a shopping mall to cool off! 

Kamikochi- the 'gateway' to the Japanese Alps

I got the travel bug again! So after perusing my guidebook for somewhere within a 2-3 hour train ride from my apartment I booked a hostel and started planning a 2 day trip away.

Recommended as one of the 30 TOP THINGS TO DO IN JAPAN, Kamikochi is the closest access point to a plethora of hikes (from several hours to days) in the picturesque mountains.

I left Sunday night after work and caught the local train than transfered to the: Ltd. express Super Azusa that took 2 hours to arrive in Matsumoto. From the station, I google-mapped my ryokan (Japanese style guest house) and got very clear directions- it was only 1km away! Yay for smart phones :) The kind door man showed me to my private tatami room with futon and a low table with hot water and green tea. I crashed early- after I checked my guidebook and googled the train times.

Early Monday morning, already the sun was up and the weather was warm. I packed a backpack, picked up some snacks at the convenient store- 7/11 has everything! and retraced my steps back to the train station. I took the 8:30 train for Shin-shimashima, from there I jumped on an hour long bus ride up the winding roads that followed the Azusa river. At a certain point along the road, cars are no longer allowed, so the only way to access Kamikochi is by bus.

Thank goodness that up this high- 1,500 mts in elevation, the weather was significantly cooler and a wonderful breeze blew most of the day. The breeze had two effects- keeping the sweat at bay, and ricocheting insects into your face! Ahh the joys of summer.


From the bus station, the trails followed the river in both directions and on both banks. Further away, you could access trails that would take you up and into the mountains for days...I didn't have that kind of time, equipment or companion, so I stayed along the river. As a popular hiking starting point, there was a hub and bustle of people- as it turned out, I really appreciated having all those people around. I was constantly greeting hikers of all ages, fitness levels and outfit choices- 99% Japanese. 'Ko-nichi-wa'  こんにちは

Typical Japanese hikers! 

Mostly level, I walked along the bank of the river, through thick underbrush, alongside white birch trees, into the forest, out in the meadow and always with an accessible view to the ring of mountains surrounding me.

The bridge here is called the Kapa-Bashi bridge, named after a water sprite in Japanese legends.

 Although I had dappled sunshine most of the day, the fog hung low over the mountain peaks, covering the craggy peaks from view. Aren't these birch trees beautiful?

Exactly what I hope to find one day...someone who will get out and explore, and then be perfectly content to sit and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

 Over the course of the day, I hiked over 15 km through all different kinds of scenery. The meadows here are unmarred and filled with bird calls.

The river rushed by, icy cold to the touch.

 The forests were lush and dense.

Unfortunately, two things marred my fabulous hike that day! The potential threat of wild animals. These promiscuous monkeys, seemingly enjoying their own company, got rather aggressive when I came across them on the trail. (This photo was taken after my fearful encounter). When I first saw several of them on the side of the path, I got excited, took out my camera, and probably got just a little too close. I didn't think anything of it at first, because my previous monkey encounters had been so tame and non-threatening-up in the snow and feeding them at a wild animal park. Well, here one of them glared at me and started coming towards me!! The scene had turned aggressive quickly. I wasn't sure how to respond. I made a loud noise- and tried to retreat, but he followed me at a loping pace. Should I throw something at him? Images flashed in my head of him jumping up at me and biting and scratching- then the headline: 'girl gets mauled by monkeys while hiking in the forest.' I was petrified. Thank goodness, two girls were coming towards me down the path. I moved quickly to catch up with them, and the menacing monkey finally decided to get it on with his pals. I was shaken up for the rest of the day, and did not want to hike alone anymore! This is why I appreciated the crowded trails, that way I could always keep someone in my line of sight- just in case!

After the monkey encounter, I saw this sign posted in the forest! My guard went up again and I really kept close to other hikers.

Tokyo Disneyland

I want to focus on the similarities between the Disneyland Parks in Anaheim and Tokyo. For those of you who are also Disneyland enthusiasts, I think you will appreciate this! 

This year Tokyo Disneyland is celebrating its 30th anniversary, so the decorations and Mickey Ears recognized this milestone. In terms of rides, there is no Matterhorn (boo), on Splash Mountain the log ride seats 8 people and you sit next to each other (see photo below), and the park layout matches more exactly with the Orlando park. Although the Disney characters are all the same- and mostly foreigners (western features), the park-goers are not!! Check out some of these typical visitors! I love people watching, and I snapped these candids throughout the day!

Katy and I got into the Disney Spirit by purchasing a pair of mouse ears on Main Street. One crazy thing happened. After we got off Big Thunder Mountain, I realized my camera was gone! I knew I had it in my back pocket when we got on the ride... We raced back to find a Thunder Mountain employee and in broken Japanese found a way to explain if they had found a blue canon digital camera. He was very worried, and raced away to see what he could do. Sure enough, less than 5 minutes later, he walks back with my camera in hand! I love Japan!

  

Katy got me addicted to the popcorn here! We purchased a blue plastic container (mickey ears)-in the first photo of this post. Then for a few dollars you could get the bucket refilled at the different popcorn stands throughout the park! We tried: corn potage, honey, curry, and soy sauce/butter flavors!

Kimono Fitting- WHAT?

An apartment friend of mine is studying the art of Kimono fitting/wearing...I guess that's how to describe it. Anyways, he invited me to the school where he is taking classes and requested that I be a model so he could practice kimono fitting...wow, I'm not explaining this well! Anyways- I am one who LOVES dressing up- so even though we had to squeeze this in before work on Saturday morning, I was ecstatic!

The whole process took an entire hour and I was layered with foam pads (on my butt and shoulders), 3 full dress layers, and a plethora of belts and sashes that were securely fastened. It was difficult to breathe, almost impossible to walk and when it was all said and done, incredibly heavy!! But- SO worth it!
The dress had to fall just right, with the correct seams and folds and the incredibly long sleeves had to hang just so. His sensei came by several times to help adjust the alignment of knots and folds and scolded me for standing contra-posto...I quickly brought my feet together and stood perfectly still and straight! (notice the appropriate 2-toed 'socks' on my feet)
My accessories include: a small fan in my hands, and the sheath of a small sword (the tassels hanging from my belt).

If I were all painted up like a Geisha, this is the 'most revealing part.' The white face paint would come back so as to elongate my neck...