Funny thing happened on the way to Kansai…
Monday, June 11th, 2007…I never made it! [read on]
Archive for June, 2007
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The Yurari Onsen Experience
Sunday, June 10th, 2007
Mihye and I spent the next few days relaxing in the mountains. With the exception of a few clear hours that we had to climb Koyodai for sunset, it poured rain the whole time we were there. It was actually very pleasant to have no agenda and simply spend our time talking, eating Naoko’s delicious food and imbibing cheap wine we brought from Tokyo. All this free time also allowed us a perfect evening to fully enjoy Yurari. I’ve been there before and mentioned this onsen in previous posts, but it never really got the attention it deserves… [read on]
Goodbye Tokyo, Hello Taiko!
Thursday, June 7th, 2007Goodbye Tokyo! The plan is to stop back at Mt. Fuji, and stay at the Solar Café for a few days before hitching down to Kansai region. Mihye was going to come along for a short escape from the city, and to finally see this farm I’ve been talking about for the last couple months. I packed my bag, mailed a few gifts home, and picked her up before boarding a bus back to Yamanashi. [read on]
Last Days in Tokyo
Thursday, June 7th, 2007Tokyo is expensive. I’ve been lucky enough to have friends offer places to sleep on quite a few occasions. Other times I stayed in the cheapest accommodations available; internet cafes, hostels, and even bumming it on the metro. I’ve managed to eat a few free meals, but usually have been dining at the most economic restaurants. Most of the attractions visited were either free or fairly cheap. Yet this city finds away to drain my wallet faster than I can feel comfortable with. At least I’ve had a great time, stayed active and thoroughly entertained.
In part I blame the transportation system. The Tokyo Subway and JR Lines are extremely efficient and by far the best way to get around town without a motorbike. However, they are also fairly expensive. Hopping from one side of the city to the other on a regular basis has ripped my budget apart. I also blame the vending machines. They are everywhere imaginable, offering a selection from ice cold electrolyte water to hot coffee in a can. It is too easy to succumb to whim and drop a dollar here and there to satisfy instant cravings. Yet, after all I still managed to stay longer than anticipated. [read on]
True Homeless Style
Sunday, June 3rd, 2007After the excitement this morning I really didn’t feel too comfortable with my original plan to pass out anywhere public. I called Kanako, and she offered me a place to crash for a few hours. I boarded a train bound for her section of town, but never made it. At some point I fell asleep on the train and woke up an hour outside of Tokyo. I stumbled around the station for a few minutes before finding another train heading back… where I passed out again.
Roppongi Madness II: Yakuza!!
Saturday, June 2nd, 2007Disclaimer: Every so often a story is going to come along that will scare my parents and leave friends in doubt of my sanity. For the rest of the world, this means something exciting! Here is one of them.
The day started off fairly unassuming. I showered, washed my clothes, and hung out at Mihye’s while she cooked us another delicious Korean lunch. Eventually, it was time for her to leave for work so I spent a few hours catching up on email and blogging at an internet café. By the time darkness set in I was well rested, refreshed and ready for a night of partying. I took the opportunity to spend time with a couple friends that I had been neglecting for the last week. [read on]
Anime at Ghibli + Korean Culture
Friday, June 1st, 2007I spent the next couple days hanging out with Mihye. She took great pleasure teaching me about her Korean culture in attempt to acclimate me before my upcoming trip. Amongst the home cooked meals, and samples of her mother’s delicious kimchi, we also dined at a yakiniku (Korean BBQ). She taught me a few helpful phrases, most importantly how to say “Cheers” before drinking! Seriously, drinking is apparently a big part of their culture, or maybe she’s just an alcoholic!
On Friday, we visited the Ghibli Museum. For those of you who do not recognize the name, Studio Ghibli is an anime production company that has been releasing hit after hit since the 80s. Maybe you have heard of Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, or Kiki’s Delivery Service? [read on]
Adam Shane