Tokyo
I have never associated a big city with quiet. Maybe it was because it was a weekday, but no one really talked in the streets or were on their cell phones. It was actually nice, you could hear yourself think. We stayed in a capsule hotel, and that was an experience! It was actually comfortable, and the showers were so nice! Showering in Japan is suppose to be a relaxing time for everyone. You quickly take a shower, then hop on in the giant bath tub that was pretty much a jacuzzi. Then you dry off in the sauna. It was so relaxing.
Beware the Japanese toilet. They are extremely high tech. The seats are heated and everything. I couldn't figure out how to flush one of the toilets, so I pressed a green button. It ended up being a high pressure hose and I didn't know how to turn it off! So I pressed the red button thinking red means stop, well apparently not in Japan because the hose only stopped for a second, I then gave a sigh of relief and then the hose started again! This time it was pulsating shots! The computer was outside the bathroom and my cousin and friends could hear me screaming trying to turn it off. If you go to Japan, don't press any buttons unless you know what they do!
We could not find the ice bar in Tokyo, which was a shame. Apparently we walked by it like five times without realizing it. We still went to a nice bar where the bartender knew english. I tried to explain to her what our plans in Japan were, but apparently I said it completely the wrong way and instead said a dirty Japanese word. I had no idea why all the Japanese people were laughing until they explained, I couldn't help but laugh at myself.
We woke up bright and early (4AM) to see the famous Tokyo fish market. It was huge! People we so busy too, I almost thought I was going to get ran over many times. The variety of fish was just astonishing. We then watched the tuna auction.
Koyasan or Mt. Koya
This is the center of a certain sect of Buddhism. Getting there was an experience because it was in the middle of nowhere and nobody knew any English. We had to take a cable car up a mountain to get there. We stayed at a monk temple and met this awesome monk named Daigen, we are going to be facebook friends, no joke. I was completely fascinated with the Buddhist religion. They pretty much believe in control, you can have desires and pleasure, monks can marry and drink, but it is all about controlling yourself and not getting out of hand. I think the world would be much better if everyone followed that mentality of controlling yourself.
The rooms were very traditional Japanese rooms. The walls were paper and we slept on the floor, but it was the best sleep I have gotten on my journey. It was really nice being in a quiet area and just not worry about anything. Daigen took us to the grave yard at night and gave us a tour. We saw this well that if you can't see your relfection, you apparently die in three years. Good news mom and dad, I am at least living three more years and won't be dying on this trip. Also, if you trip down the stairs you will die in three years. I managed to keep my balance. There was also this rock that was as heavy as your sins are, I was able to lift it but my cousin could not. I guess she is a sinful person?
According to legend, the founder of this sect of Buddhism (which by the way is a mixture of Buddhism and Shintoism) started meditating for everyone two thousand years ago and is still alive today meditating. They still bring food to the house he is located in. We saw the outside of the house where he is located. It was amazing! They had these giant golden lotus flowers surrounding the house, I wish I could have taken pictures of it but we weren't allowed to out of respect.
This was by far my most favorite part of Japan. I could stay there for a couple more days.
Kyoto
We met up with my cousins friend who is studying abroad in Japan. It was such a relief to have someone who knew Japanese with you. The first night she took us to a Shabu Shabu restaurant and it was amazing! It is all you can eat for two hours and you cook your own food by boiling it in a pot in the center of the table. The next night she took us to Osaka and showed us the famous Osaka aquarium. It is one of the biggest in the world and had two whale sharks! I can't wait to show my biology of sharks professor all the pictures I took.
The next night we hung out with a bunch of study abroad students in Japan. They took us to a karaoke bar, it was ridiculous. Then we went to a conveyor belt sushi place. I didn't know what I was eating half of the time, apparently I ate horse meat and sea urchin and it was delicious. You can't go into Japan without an open mind of what you are going to eat. I told the students to put the food in front of me and I will eat it, just don't tell me what it is until after the fact. I ate the most random food but it was all so good. After that we went to a Spanish bar, my cousins friend really really wanted to dance and hear spanish music since she has been away from it all. Then we went to an izakaya, I am not sure if I spelled it right but it is pretty much a typical Japanese tavern.
Kobe
We only spent half a day in Kobe. When we got off the train we didn't feel like taking any more trains so we decided to walk to the ship and it was far! It was hard for asking directions so we literally followed the sounds of the sea gulls. I was shocked when we actually saw the ship using that method. I had kobe beef in Japan, it is just as good (and just as expensive) as people say.
Thats all my updates for Japan. I feel like I only got a taste of Japan and I want more! I still need to see Nara and Hiroshima. Mom and dad, we are doing a trip to Japan soon, I want to go back so bad. I already miss it!
2 days till China!
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