Goodbye

It is finally time to leave Japan. My time is up. Reality awaits me back in Colorado. I made sure to sleep in for as long as possible this morning. I have a long plane ride awaiting me. It is now 2 o'clock in the afternoon and I'm just rolling out of bed. But I don't care. I don't need to get ready or anything, and my flight doesn't leave until 4:45pm. I grab my bags anyways and head downstairs with them. I check myself out of my room and return my key. I'm sure going to miss this hotel. It has been perfect. I walk out the door and hail a cab. The driver takes me to the airport where I check in and wait for my flight. The time finally comes and I board the plane. I'm not as scared to fly this time as I was when I was coming to Japan. I'm practically a pro now. I take my window seat and prepare for lift-off. The plane takes flight and my eyelids start to flutter. I was just asleep, how could I already be tired? I guess it's just the long rides that make me feel this way. I have nine hours and forty-two minutes before I reach Los Angeles to transfer flights. I guess sleep wouldn't hurt much. I'm bored anyways. ... I reach LAX and head to the food courts. I'm kind of hungry. Plus, I have an hour and eighteen minutes to wait. I need to find something to do with my time. Looking out the window at California doesn't help much, I'm homesick. I want to be home. The hour finally passes and it is time to board my final plane home. This flight won't be as long, only two hours and fourteen minutes. I can hardly wait. The whole ride I stare out the window, not-so-secretly hoping that every airport I see is DIA. My family and friends are there waiting for me. There it is! I can't believe I'm finally home! The plane lands and I rush to the lobby. I grab my bags and look for everybody. There they are! I hug them tightly and sigh with relief. I'm finally home.

Packing

There isn't much to say about today. It is my final day here, in Japan. But I am not a tourist today, nor am I going anywhere other than my hotel. Today is a day to pack. I mean, I have three suitcases full of stuff. This is going to take some time. ... Everything is finally packed away and I am feeling lazy. I let my mind zone into the television for about an hour before I get bored. I'm going to visit the spa. It's been in my hotel this whole time and I haven't been. I might as well before I leave in the morning. I take the elevator back to ground level and head to the spa.

This looks promising. I want to be pampered.

I soak in the hot bathwaters for a couple hours before I decide to get out. Maybe a massage sounds nice? Oh, yes. I feel the tension in my neck.

These water jet massage beds look perfect to my acknowledged aching muscles. I lie down and close my eyes. This is going to be so great.

Last Day

This is my last real day here in Japan. As sad as I am about leaving, I'm ready to go home. Talking to my mom last night made me miss home that much more. I miss my family and friends. I can't wait to see them again and tell them all about my experiences here. But I can't waste today away. I must find something to do! I know, I'm going to go see the Great Buddha statue, and then go out to eat at this restaurant I heard about that's nearby. The Great Buddha is in Kamakura, a southern town in Tokyo. This Buddha is one of two giant Buddha statues, the other resides in a temple in Nara. I prefer the one in Kamakura, however, because of the dramatic nature surrounding it. After taking the train, I walk up to the Buddha and my breath is immediately swept away.

In the literal sense, it is awesome. I am awe-stricken. I am simply in awe. The Buddha statue is HUGE! It is also nothing like I have ever seen before. The woods behind it seem magical. The cherry blossoms surrounding the front entrance keep the atmosphere tranquil. I wish there was something this magnificent back in the states. Mt Rushmore doesn't even come close. Uh oh. My tummy is starting to growl. I guess it's time to leave here and seek out that restaurant. I don't think it's far, I was told it's on the outskirts of the city. The restaurant is called Raitei. After a 2o minute search, I finally find my destination. Just in time, too. It's getting dark and my tummy is so hungry by now. Raitei is a cute little place, full of tradition and authenticity. Here, I'm in the mood for Kaiseki, the traditional multi-course dinner. It includes an appetizer, sashimi, a simmered dish, a grilled dish and a steamed course. It is all so delicious. I could eat this kind of food all day. All of the different kinds of rice and fish are so flavorful. I wish my stomach was big enough to fit it all. But sadly, it is not. I finish all that I can and pay the bill. It is time to go back to my hotel and sleep while I let my food digest.

Shopping

I don't feel like doing much today. I've wasted all morning in bed, figuring out how to watch the television and order food via room service. The food was delicious and it was nice zoning out into the tv. It reminds me of home. I've been a bit homesick since I arrived here. I miss the normalcy of Colorado. Maybe I should go out and buy souvenirs for everyone back home. That way, they can have a little piece of my trip. I'm going to get something for myself, as well, so I can bring part of Japan home with me. I can't believe I'm already thinking about leaving here. I still have a couple days. I need to get out of here. I think I'm going crazy. Out into the sunshine. It feels so good on my skin as I walk down the street to the little stores created for tourists. I'm not sure what I'm going to find there. I hope there's something worthwhile. Why am I being so negative today?? Snap out of it! It's time to do some shopping! At the first little stand, there're arrangements of dried flowers. They're so delicate and gorgeous. They remind me of something I would love to decorate my house with. I'm almost tempted to buy them, but I remember my whole family would probably be allergic to them. Not a wise purchase. I move onto the next stand. Cool, something that I'm going to definitely buy for myself. Incense and incense burners. I make a selection and complete my purchase. I can't wait to burn them. They smell so good. At the next stand, there're these little handmade dolls. They look as if they're made out of yarn, but they are dressed in miniature kimonos. My mom would love them! This is easier than I could've hoped. I pick out a yellow yarn doll with black hair, and a light purple kimono. I can't wait to give it to her. I look around at the rest of the little stands, browsing what they have to offer. It's getting dark already and I haven't gotten my brothers anything. Shoot. There's a t-shirt stand across the cobblestone street so I walk over to it and select two shirts with Japanese logos on them. I know they'll feel cool wearing them, simply because they're from another country. I'm not too worried about what the shirts have on them. With my purchases in hand, I think I'm ready to head back to the hotel and call it a night. I think maybe tonight I'll call my mom and tell her what I've been up to here in Japan. Then, off to bed for me.

Yanaka

Today, I'm heading to the Tennoji Temple. This is where my final tour of Japan starts. I can't believe it's already been six days since I first arrived here! That means my trip ends soon. It's going to be hard to leave this place. I've had such a great time. But I can't think about that yet. I have a whole new tour ahead of me! I arrive and I am immediately disheartened. It's Monday. Most of the stores are closed. Oh well, at least I can still tour the temples, right? The first temple I tour is the Tennoji Temple, like I said before. It's almost five hundred years old. According to the guide, it used to be ten times bigger than it is now. Woah, apparently this temple is one that was destroyed during the battle mentioned before at Ueno Hill. Wow. I can't believe something like this was destroyed. It seems so peaceful now though. All you can hear is chirping birds and chanting monks. We're not allowed to talk in here. Here's a clip to give an idea of the tranquility. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NFHH1zne4E

Nearby, there is a small bronze statue of Jizo, the guardian of children's spirits, and a small stone statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. This place provokes melancholy within me. Thoughtful sadness. It is full of devistation and beauty. I think I'm going to meditate here for a couple hours. This seems to be the perfect place.

Ueno

Ueno Park is located on the top of a very broad hill in one of the Kan'eiji Temple presincts. It was turned into one of Japans first public parks in 1873. It reminds me of Central Park in New York, except nowhere near as big. I really like it here. There are 1,000 cherry blossom trees. This seems to be the ideal location for families to spend time together. There are children and mothers and fathers everywhere. There are also homeless people. Their makeshift houses line the sides of the park and their clothes hang on lines between the cherry blossoms. Near the south entrance of the park, there is a huge golden statue of Takamori Saigo. He was a great samurai who led an attempted revolt against the government in the 1800s. Since the revolt failed, he soon after commit ritual suicide. I get the feeling he isn't liked much by the people here. His statue isn't in as good condition as the rest of the historical sites here. Not far away from Saigo, there are the tombs of the Shogitai Soldiers. They resisted Imperial forces on Ueno Hill in 1868. Their memorial is shown by paintings, depicting the battle. The rest of the park is lined with more shrines and a few museums, but I really want to go check out the zoo. I love animals, and I hear there is a giant panda who lives there.

I took some pictures of the animals who live there...

Harajuku

I think I've decided that I'm going to get all of the major tours out of the way on these first few days. There is a tourist inside of me that is eager to be shown, and just as eager to be gotten rid of. The tour I'm going on today starts at the Meiji Jingu Shrine. Harajuku is a neighborhood in Tokyo. I had no idea. I knew of the fashion back in the states, but I had no idea where it originated. This neighborhood is full of Japanese punk-style teenagers. I may be a tourist, but I feel like I fit in perfectly. I am in love with this neighborhood. The streets are lined with small cafes where people sit and sip on their drinks and talk. It's a casual atmosphere. There are also clothing boutiques everywhere. I feel bad, since I'm supposed to be touring all of the different shrines around here like the rest of the tourists, but I can't help but people watch. The fashion here is so colorful and creative. It's nothing like how it is in Colorado. I took a few pictures to show you. Maybe I should start dressing like this?

Asakusa

Today, I've desided to tour Asakusa. Since it's Friday, I figured it would be a good time to go on a free tour. Plus, I heard the crowds aren't as bad between Tuesday and Friday. So, hey, I'll give it a shot. I don't know much about this place. I think it must be a garden or something. Yep, the sign says "Hama Rikyu Garden". Here's what the flyer says...

I apologize that it's kind of hard to read, my scanner is being faulty. My excitement is building for this, though. I want to experience how Japan used to be like. The tour starts in the Hama Rikyu Garden which is the least preserved part of the tour. Skyscrapers surround a small space that has a small pool, small bridges and small teahouses. This is where the boats come to take us tourists on the tour. This is the part I'm excited for. The trip takes about forty minutes and is lined completely by cherry blossom trees. It is magnificent. Once the ride is done, we get off the boat. We travel inland a ways, until we come to the information center and a gate with a HUGE lantern above it. I've never seen a lantern so big. This gate is called the Kaminarimon Gate. I have to take a picture of this.

To the left and right of the lantern, there are two statues. The one on the left is the god of thunder and the one on the right is the god of wind. They are there to protect the diety enshrined in the temple. Once you pass the bridge, there is a little town filled with shops that sell Okashi (rice-based sweets), incense, and other tourist necessities. There are also a few temples and even a small amusement park. I'm going to spend a few hours looking around, playing tourist, then I'll head back to my hotel. I'm getting tired.

The Hotel

Waking up to Tokyo-life is definitely very different than I'm used to. Everything sounds so busy outside. Yet, it makes me excited. I can't wait to begin my adventure. Well, tomorrow I will. As for today, I think I'm just going to spend it touring my hotel. I'm staying at the Four Seasons Hotel at Chinzan-so. It's beautiful! Just look...

Serenely secluded amidst a historic Japanese garden of 17 acres, you're just minutes from Tokyo's shopping, business and financial centres. Relax in a sumptuous blend of European decor and Japanese art, streamlined with modern technology. YU, THE SPA beckons with zen-inspired treatments, an indoor swimming pool with retractable roof and Tokyo's only onsen with soothing Izu mineral waters. Your stay is enriched in countless ways by dedicated, energetic Four Seasons care.

Sounds like "the life" doesn't it? I'm very happy with my choice of hotel. My room was absolutely perfect, and my bed was so comfortable. Just what I needed after such a long flight. It's 11 o'clock in the morning here, I think it's time to shower and prepare for some hotel exploring!

(^my room!)

Ignore the shower, my bathroom has a deep-soak tub! So relaxing. All right, I am ready to go. My room is on the eleventh floor, so I head straight to the elevator. It's crazy that almost all of the hotels here are skyscrapers. I'm used to the couple story ones back in Colorado. Now I'm finally at the ground level. My first destination? The pool. I love to swim. I mean, who wouldn't in such an amazing pool??

Ahh, that was so much fun! Now I think I'm going to go tour the Chinzan-so Garden. It's so beautiful out here. All of the different trees and flowers. There's also this giant waterfall. Everything is so peaceful. This has been the perfect way to spend my first day here in Tokyo, Japan.

The Departure

It's been a long, long time since I've been on a plane. To be completely honest, I'm kind of nervous for this trip. Fifteen hours and twenty minutes. That's how long the plane ride is. Heights make me dizzy, better not get a window seat. All right. Tickets are bought; I leave in the morning.

Originally, I was excited that my flight doesn't leave until 8:20 this morning. That's later than school starts today. However, I forgot how far away DIA is from my house. Ugh. But hey, I'm here now and I'm ready for take-off! Or lift-off? Whatever the term is. Forgive me, I'm not used to this. I board the plane and look around. You can do this. I have to keep telling myself that. Otherwise, the whole flying in the air thing will cause me to have a panic attack. Is it pathetic that I'm scared of this? Oh well. I don't even care. I can do this. I put Choncho, my little white backpack, in the compartment above my seat and sit down. I think I'll be all right if I just imagine that I'm in a car. A very, very big car. The light comes on to fasten our seat belts and I click mine into place. Here we go. We have lift-off! Phew. That wasn't so bad. My stomach is a bit queasy, but nothing I can't handle. To think, I'll be in San Fransisco in a couple hours. I'm really glad my flight transfers there. I've always wanted to visit. There will be an hour and twenty-one minutes between my arrival and departure. Of course I'm going to do a bit of looking around. Then I'll be on to Japan! ... Woah, I can't believe I fell asleep for the whole flight. But oh well, I'm in San Fransisco, California now! I can see the palm trees outside. Ahh, I could get used to living here. Maybe sometime in the future? We'll see. An hour and twenty-one minutes isn't as long as I'd like, so I think I'll go look around the airport instead of trying to get outside. The view from the window is good enough anyways, right? Ho-hum, I'm going to flip through some magazines until my next flight leaves. ... It's time for Japan! I get onto the plane without a problem. This is going to be such a long flight. Eleven hours and four minutes to be exact. Oye. I think it's time to put my iPod in and take another nap. All this flying is making my head feel fuzzy. ... I'm finally here! Even though it's only 3:40pm in Japan, I'm just going to go straight to my hotel. I need to get this jet lag out of my system. I'll get back to documenting my travles tomorrow. Good night, all.