Day 3: Off to Nikko

Today was Nikko day. Nikko is to the north of Tokyo and takes about a 1 hour and 45 minutes to get to. Half of which is on the Shinkansen (bullet train). It's a mountainous area which still had snow and is just barely getting out of winter. Most plans were still dormant from my opinion. It was still a wonderful day and successful as it was the first on my own. I feel like I should be able to get around inside of Tokyo and most places. I've also been able to communicate a little better with my Japanese. Though I'm still far from great..

In Nikko there are two shrines, a temple, and the botanical garden. All of which I visited while I was there. I also went on somewhat of a random path that ran behind the shrine up into the mountain. Once I crested the top it looked like it went back down into some home area. There wasn't anyone else using this path so I called it good and turned back around there.

As a friend told me before I got to Japan, young girls in grade schools are more willing to use English with a foreigner. I was asked a couple of times to take a picture for them. I get the feeling that most everyone could carry on a conversation quite well if they felt like taking a small risk and trying. Certainly better that what I can do in Japanese!

Anyways here's a bunch of pictures. I realize that most of these might mean nothing to you. But they're for me to record a little bit so I don't forget. You just get suckered into looking!

Also meals of the day: Lunch - Udon noodles with tempura shrimp. Super awesome.  Dinner - Bento to go since I got back fairly late and wanted to get to the hotel. 

Tomorrow I'm off to a cooking class. I'll also reserve a seat towards Kagawa and hopefully be able to mail some things home that I picked up so I don't have to carry them.

Day Two: Tokyo Anime Fair 2014

Today I met up with another guide who was willing to go to the Tokyo Anime Fair with me. Needless to say I've never been to a fair. And that my first was the Anime Fair in Tokyo was quite exciting! It extremely fun to walk around and look at all the displays. I think they're a little more strict and had the cosplayers somewhat "quarantined" which was a little unfortunate. It would have been fun to speak with some. I dare say many of them could be called "Kawaii", though! It was in the Big Site Expo center which, along with other things in the area, is built on land made by men to build on. Haneda Airport is also built in the same way. After leaving the fair we visited the Gundam Statue (though I don't know it's exact location, it was close by though).

We then walked to another of these man made islands and I had my first ramen. Delicious would be one word for it! Nearby was a good view of the Rainbow Bridge and Statue of Liberty. Using the rail that went across the Rainbow Bridge we made out way to Akihabara.

What a place! I actually bought souvenirs while walking around here which isn't something I was planning on doing. I'll spend some time on Monday and figure out how to mail it back home. Among the purchases were some badges I'll put on my backpack, key chains, figurines, and my first magna! Yeah I can't read it.. but I wanted some anyways. My guide also helped me to find an adapter so I can charge my laptop. Thankfully!

There are many interesting shops here. In one we went into you could buy incredibly action figured. Truly puts anything you can find in the states to shame. This store also had a floor for dolls.. at this point I'm not sure if it was for children or adults. American Girl has nothing at all on this one single store. The accessories were endless! I was tempted to buy a doll because it was that interesting and extensive. Also a shop selling different types of weapons. Some from shows, some from history, and a whole lot of Kitanna. Again one downside of using a pack is how little room I have for things I shouldn't spend my money on anyways! Like the states there is are coin machines where you could normally get a fake ring or sticky slime thing. However, unlike the states there's a lot more choice and better quality. We went into a store that was only these type of vending machines lining the wall.

Before we left we also went to a Maid Cafe! I really wish I'd learned more Japanese. Maybe when I come back next time. It's a very enjoyable themed restaurant where the waitresses are dressed up as maids. Sadly you can't take pictures (I should have tried to charm my way in and get one). But I didn't want to be a nuisance. Anyways I was able to get a polaroid photo op before leaving. Sugoi kawaii!

Not loads of time so not a description for everything. Heading to bed for my day trip to Nikko tomorrow. First day all on my own and getting somewhere. Also my first bullet train ride. We'll see how it goes!

First day

This one will be quick as I'm running out of battery on my Chromebook and I need to find a 3->2 prong converter so I can plug it in to charge.

Had a nice day out with my guide from TFG. We went to the Meiji Shrine, Asakusa, Open Air Edo Tokyo museum (has historical actual homes you can walk through etc) and quite a few other locations. The food was really good too! I think I enjoyed the Meiji Shrine the most, it is quite a lovely place and I'll be trying to visit as many shrines as I can. There was also a couple of wedding parties taking their photos around the shrine too.

I tried Natto with my breakfast. Can't say I'm a huge fan but didn't hate it like I thought I might. Sort of just an accent flavor.

Anyways running out of time with the battery. Here's some pictures:

Arrival in Japan

Well, I made it! Didn't get to the hotel until about 12:30 AM and in bed till a little after 1 AM. Slept about 5 hits and now I'm awake! I can feel a little part of my brain being tired but that's OK. In less than two hours I'll be meeting up with M-san for my first day out. Hope I am good company for him!

Also of note I managed to tell the taxi driver I was not last night to get him to roll down the windows. Victory!

The room is very compact. My head touches the shower ceiling. And the toilet seat is heated! Not sure why that hasn't made it other places.. Ready to get going :D

What I'm looking for on this trip

I've been thinking a lot about all the past trips I've been on and what I'd like to get out of my time in Japan. There has been a progression since my first trip where I have been the driving and booking factor in more and more of what goes on and where I go.

Where the first time around was a package trip. Pay the tour company, they book your hotels, arrange flights, arrange tours, etc. And now Japan. Where I've booked my flights, picked where I'll go, spoken with people who are interested in meeting foreigners (and not just getting money), and everything in between. I've been doing research since roughly November. Nothing spectacular but looking at what I'd like to do. Thinking about it. Planning and making some goals.

A lot of what I want to do will hinge on me being able to get around on my own. Which, admittedly, might be difficult as I'm really not that great with the language. So what if I'm not able to? What if I can't get around much at all. Yesterday when I clocked out of work for the last time before this trip it really hit me that I'm going. The excitement has been building up but for whatever reason clocking out brought it home. When it hit home came a little bit of nerves. Those questions about "what if" surfacing. And it made me think.

Why over time have I chosen more and more to plan my own instead of finding a travel agent and having them do it for me? Well one, I don't really trust them, though that's another story. But more so, it's because of what you get. When you go on a tour, go on a cruise, go on a route scheduled by another it's them showing or telling you what to see. A packaged deal that someone else thought would be the best and looks the most interesting. Some of which is real and some of which is fabricated. A show put on by whatever area you're in to try and make a memory for you (and usually for a large sum of money). Seeing things seems to be so much of what people consider a vacation now. A reason why they go with people and why they bring pictures home.To see, to be seen there. Key word see. That's not what I want.

I really want to see a lot. But that's not the trip for me. I don't care if I don't see anything. I want to experience something. To be in a location and find something genuine. A part of this world that I didn't know about or had heard about. To be experiencing a moment not reproduced a thousand times. The more of these I can find that my journey led me to the better. I want that. I hope that is what I will find. Even if I end up only going to see 3-4 cities I will go out every day and walk for most of it. Taking it all in and using what Japanese I know to say hello and greet someone.

I already know that I will have some of that in other spots. From some research I found volunteers in Tokyo that want to meet foreigners and spend a day with them. In speaking with them I asked what they would like to show me, not what I wanted to see. Past that I was lucky enough to have a friend of mine introduce me to a kind woman she knows in Japan that will certainly create an experience. I feel very honored that I get to meet and spend time with her.  It is one highlight I am really looking forward to.

Don't worry though, I will take a good amount of pictures! I like to take them to bring back for me. But this also allows me to share them with you. I've got a GoPro rig figured out to attach to my pack's strap which will be used for time lapse more often than video. GoPro does it a nice way where it takes an individual picture instead of a compiled video. Which will allow for a bit easier sharing and me not having to pull my camera out all the time. A better way to see through my eyes.

Anyways, I hope that made sense. The desire to experience and be than to only see. It's going to be a whole lot of fun and when you're looking for this, there's no way it can be bad.

And away...I....goooo

It's here! I'm finally going to Japan! I'm so excited! Look at all the exclamations! I'll add another for good measure!

I completed packing all of my clothes on Sunday. Then spent Monday and Tuesday charging, checking, and (hopefully) making sure I had everything I wanted to bring. At the end of it all I'll fit it into the big pack below. I'll take the small black day pack that's attached to the large one for a carry-on with the green backpack. Once I'm moving from Airport to hotel or hotel to hotel. I'll combine it all into one with the green pack inside the large. Total weight at the moment is 49lbs (~22.3kg). Electronics taking at least half of that weight. Surprisingly light for what I normally pack! Quite often when I return from a trip my carry-on alone weighs about 40lbs. Good job me, self pat on the back. Hopefully I won't regret any of the weight after I get there.

There's so much of Japan I want to get to, lets hope I'm able to jump right in and get myself around.

Here we go!

So what's the plan?

Glad you asked! I have nooooooo idea.

Kidding, kidding. I'll be in Japan for about 38 days starting on March 20th. So far the only thing I've planned on and have booked are two segments.

1. The first is 4 nights in Tokyo right after I land in Japan. To hopefully give myself a little time to adjust and explore the city itself. 
2. The second, 3 weeks after I arrive in Japan, is in Okinawa where I'll stay for a week. Here I hope to do some diving, explore the island, do some snorkeling, and if I'm able to maybe even learn how to surf.

So what about the rest of the time I'll be there? Well, I've specifically left it open and have not booked anything.

Exhibit A aka the only exhibit

Once I leave Tokyo I'll be heading south. Covering as many locations as I can on the way toward Fukuoka. The route shown isn't an exact route as I plan to visit the Shikoku area and south of Fukuoka. More so these plotted points are where I must be at certain times. Landing in Tokyo I'll go south towards Fukuoka. Once I reach Fukuoka I'll fly to Okinawa. Then after spending that week in Okinawa I will once again fly to Sapporo in the north. Where I'll then make my way south again towards Tokyo.

This is one reason why I chose to go with a backpack over a suitcase. Most of the journey will be done on the Japan Rail using the JR rail pass. The rail system in Japan is truly all encompassing and this pass will allow me to use it at my leisure. And since I'll not be staying in one spot for huge amounts of time, walking around a lot, getting on and off trains. A backpack seemed the way to go.

So what are you going to do while there?

Easy enough, explore! As I'll be arriving in the middle of March and staying till the end of April. It's the perfect time to see Japan in the spring. In particular I'll be visiting many Shrines, Temples, and Gardens. Catching as many cherry tree's in blossom as is possible. My route will serve this goal well. As the temperature will rise from south to north, so will the flowers bloom. It should make for an easy time finding them.

What about communication? Deciding what to do and where to go?

I've been practicing my Japanese. It isn't great... but I think I'll be able to communicate at a basic level at least (or I hope). Much of my navigation and translation will be done through the use of my phone. Using Google Translate and Google Maps respectively I hope to be able to navigate my way south. Choose a location the day before I go there and booking a hotel at the same time so I'll have a place to stay and a destination I know I'm heading towards.
I've created spreadsheets for each region of Japan that have a sheet for each of the major cities in that region. For each of those sheets I have looked up hotels, their price, and location all around the rail lines. So it should be an easy time knowing where to stay there. I'll use some as Head Quarters since the rail system is so extensive and I can use it for day trips.

So... you're crazy?

Am I nervous about it? Maybe a little if any, but not a whole lot really. I think it will be a wonderful way to travel. At my own pace for my own reasons. Too many tours push you to one spot right after the other. This way I'll get to spend as much time in a location that I want before moving on. Of course this also means there is a really big chance that it could be horrible.. It will fall to me to make it enjoyable and work. Which I believe I can.



I hope to meet people along the way and even make some new friends. That in particular would be quite enjoyable. My Japanese is definitely going to need to improve while I'm there to achieve that and I hope it will.

So crazy? Maybe. But maybe that's just me!