2012 Goes Out With a Bang

December 31, 2012

Holy shit... 2012 is almost gone. This year has been so good to me - started in Israel, I turned 21, wrapped up my presidency of Allied in Pride, did an internship with Peace Corps, worked as a photographer for the Washington Blade, went to Taiwan, started my final year of university, had my longest relationship, did an internship at the State Department, and now I'm in Japan. The very end of this year has been sweet and sour - with me being out of the country when my grandfather passed away. I feel like I had become much closer to him over the last two years, and while I already miss him dearly, I'm trying to remain strong.

My last day of 2012 began at Shin-Osaka Station, where I caught a shinkansen to Tokyo. At the station, I had okonomiyaki and a dirty soy chai latte from Starbucks. I don't think anyone had ever ordered that there, as they were all confused and giggly. Starbucks in Japan works a little differently, where baristas fix a drink almost to completion, and then pass it off to a woman who announced your order with a smile, completes the drink, and puts it into a paper bag with cupholders at the bottom. It's all about ritual here!

After some phone calls home, I boarded my train and looked through my guidebook for what Tokyo has to offer. It took me about two hours to get thorugh all the Tokyo stuff, and by the time I got to the Mt Fuji section, I decided to take a quick break. I closed my book, turned my head toward the window, and standing majestically in the distance was Mt. Fuji. Once again, Japan's top sights don't cease to impress. Wow wow wow. What an inspiring, magical sight.

I found Anne Hostel pretty easily from Asakusabashi station, and got settled in. I went to wash my hands and a Thai girl named Tip asked me what my plans were for New Year's Eve. She invited me to join her and her two friends to go to Tokyo Tower and Zojoji Temple.

The four of us went for dinner - I had tonkatsu - and then made our way to the temple. We lit incense and then walked to Tokyo Tower, which is a rip off of the Eiffel Tower. We went to the observation deck at 150 meters, and hung out there for awhile. I lost them and spent the rest of the night on my own.

I left the observation deck, I watched a live concert on a projector screen with a bunch of people until 11:45pm, and then went outside to the parking lot to watch as the tower showed 2013. There wasn't a countdown, but when it changed, everyone cheered.

Outside Tokyo Tower, I followed a mass of people back to Zojoji and found myself front and center in a Shinto ceremony - complete with chanting, taiko drums, bells, gongs, and incense. I'm pretty sure I wasn't supposed to be there, but a few other white people jumped in too. I couldn't take photos, but holy Buddha, what an experience.

From there, I walked around, watching people through coins into a giant pit for good luck, ring bells, and light incense. I got some sake and bought an arrow souvenir - which brings with it good luck and wards off evil spirits (it's a traditional Japanese New Year's purchase).

Cheers to the freakin' New Year!

When I get back, the Thai girls were there in their pajamas - saying they looked all over for me. Oh well.

Hands down the best New Year celebration of my life.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM TOKYO!

This was hands down the best New Year's Eve of my life! Watched as Tokyo Tower lit up at midnight, participated in a Shinto ceremony in one of Tokyo's most important temples, drank sake as bells were rung and incense were lit all around me... I honestly couldn't think of a better way to bring in 2013. I can't even. Is this real life? HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM JAPAN!

PS - I'll be posting about December 31st when I wake up. Sorry for the delay!

Osaka-jo, Kaiyukan, and Koidaore in Dotonbori

December 30, 2012

Andrew and I met up at the closest subway station to Osaka-jo (Osaka Castle), and walked to see it in the rain. It was significantly more impressive that I expected. The inside was closed thanks to New Years, but the outside was worth a visit.

We walked back to the station and stopped for some incredible curry udon. The perfect meal for a cold, wet day. So revitalizing.

The subway took us to Kaiyukan (the Aquarium), where we spent several hours exploring. I've been wanting to go to an aquarium for several years, so it was really exciting to finally get to go to one - especially one of the largest in the world. I particularly enjoyed their main attractions - the penguins, the whale shark, and the giant manta ray. We had a lot of fun taking photos and giving sounds to the fish, and then explored all the cute things in the gift shop.

Kaiyukan from the outside

Next stop was the Pokemon Center, where I had been the day before. Andrew was so excited (he's a bit of a nerd), and went a bit overboard on gifts. I wanted to as well, but I plan on going to three more Pokemon Centers (Tokyo, Sapporo, and Fukuoka), so I have time to think it through.

Andrew wanted to drop his stuff off at his Guest House, so we went on an adventure trying to find it. Osaka is HUGE. I had thought the area just around Osaka Station was the whole of the city part, but out by his Guest House was bustling and cosmopolitan.

From there we went to Dotonbori where we engaged in koidaore - to eat until ruin.

We had crab sushi from the famous crab place there.

And gyoza.

And takoyaki (balls with squid in them).

And fugu (blowfish, which is poisonous if not made right) sushi and warm sake from the most famous fugu restaurant in Japan.

And kushikatsu (fried skewers) and beer. We ordered a bunch of different kinds, but they switched my banana one with Andrew chicken, so I wound up eating chocolate drizzled fried chicken and he ate soy sauce dipped fried banana. BLECH.

What an incredible night - and a perfect last night in Japan for Andrew!

After the eating, we made our way back to the train station, where some girls helped us figure out where Andrew's Guest House was on the map. They were Osakan girls who had studied abroad in Australia and have done some traveling in Europe. Very nice!

We all had to transfer at Tennoji Station, but when we got there, they were announcing last call for the train I needed back to Fukushima Station. I quickly thanked the girls, hugged Andrew, yelled goodbye, and ran down the stairs, making it in just before the train doors closed. Whew.

Such an awesome freakin' day.

Osaka Chillin'

December 29, 2012

My morning was slow - woke up late, made some phone calls, updated my blog.

I didn't get out until past noon, and started my day with some gyudon (beef on rice), and a short train ride into Osaka Station.

Attached to the station is Daimaru Department Store, where I explored Tokyu Hands (an awesome store for all things cute and practical) and the Osaka Pokemon Center (full of little kids and Nintendo DS toting geeks). I then walked around outside, stopped to listen to an Ecuadorian street musician. I wandered into Hankyu Department Store, checked out the food markets and went to a kaitenzushi (conveyor belt sushi restaurant). I'm pretty sure they overcharged me (I got four items, they charged me for six...), but I didn't say anything because no one spoke English and I didn't know how to politely tell them to go f*** themselves in Japanese. Also, I was slightly disappointed with the sushi, but the miso soup with clams made up for it. I don't know why I thought it would be a good idea to eat a place that isn't a hole in the wall, that was stupid of me. I should know better by now.

After that, I walked back to Osaka Station and trained it back to Fukushima Station (where my hostel is). Rachel was just about to head out to the airport, so we said goodbye - until New Years (we'll both be in Tokyo).

I laid down for a bit before a new roommate came in - a Japanese high school guy with limited English speaking ability. His name is Hiromi (I think). We went for yakitori and chatted in broken Japanese and broken English. Having a conversation is impossible when you have a very limited vocabulary! >.<

The food was really good - he did all the ordering. We got soft chicken bone, chicken thigh, chicken breast with scallion (my personal favorite), fatty fish belly, and beer.

When traveling, it's always nice to bring something little along to give to people you meet. I thought baseball cards from the Philadelphia Phillies would be good because the Japanese looooove baseball. Hiromi said that he has played baseball for the last eight years, so I pulled out the cards and told him to pick one. He was so excited - his reaction was definitely worth bringing them along. He settled for Cole Hamels, in case you were wondering. (Note: I had to look him up to see why I chose him. #sportshaterproblems)

Back at the hostel, I hung out in the lounge area and talked with several people - Hiromi, Sutekina Ojiisama, two girls from Hong Kong, an Australian guy (who didn't ask if I studied Japanese and began translating things for me...), a German girl, and a Taiwanese guy. Lots of fun! I was forced to try natto (fermented soybean), which wasn't as bad as I expected.

Random fact...
Words I've heard most frequently: 「ええええ？」(ehhhh?), 「すごい」(awesome), 「かわいい」(cute), 「いらしゃいませ！」(welcome to our shop!), 「ありがとうございます」(thank you), and 「すみません」(excuse me).

Also. So.Much.Bowing.