We Have Landed

Three weeks into our Japanese adventure we have finally found a house! I am starting to feel settled again! Maybe too settled.

More things I love about Japan:

5) Onsens (Hot Spring Bath Houses). Wow, I could make this a habit. Gender controlled bathing in your birthday suit in mineral water straight from the ground. There could be no better way to spend an evening. I think I might have been a snow monkey in a previous life.

6) Snow Monkeys. I haven't seen one yet, but I will before I leave! I hear they like to attack women and children but leave men alone...crafty. We shall see my friends...we shall see.

7) The "car bow." This happens daily because driving on the tiny streets of Misawa is a cooperative effort for all involved. I like the car-bow way more than I like being honked at/flipped off/shot at. Perhaps I shouldn't directly compare Misawa to Phoenix anymore. I feel that it might not be fair...low hanging fruit and such.

Category: Old Things That Are New to Me

1. Coffee Jelly Frappuccino. This little delight comes from none other than our friendly neighborhood Starbucks. Apparently in some parts of the world, people like to suck coffee-flavored gelatinous texture through their straw. Oishii desu... ka? Actually it wasn't that bad, though I am quite confident that it will not replace the Latte in world popularity any time soon.

2. Fast Food That Doesn't Make My Stomach Sad. Box lunch available outside Kabuki-za. I love this box lunch thing they have here! All the food is so fresh; no preservatives; just the right amount. Oishii desu. Definitely.

3. Polite People Following Rules and Self-Regulating. Imagine that--self-regulating. Now, I have to assume my primary reader is American, so I feel I should explain what "self-regulation" is: Public areas, including public transportation, well used but super clean! Streets with a million bodies/vehicles all going different directions but merging and coexisting with ease. Natural, orderly lines where appropriate. You know, basically, taking responsibility for yourself. Novel, I know. According to Brian, I should have been born in Japan. I have to say, I do find it to be a comfortable place to exist (obvious communication boundaries aside).

4. Kabuki-za! Standing room only for us, still worth it! The Kabuki we caught was called Kaijin Besso (The Sea God's Villa) and included beautiful staging and dress. Unfortunately, as we do not (yet) speak Japanese, we required an "earphone-guide" which basically told us in English what was going on, but even still, it was great! If you are planning on visiting us and want to go to Kabuki-za, you will need to visit us before May 2010, when, from what I understand, they will tear down the old building and rebuild another Kabuki-za in its place.

Ohaiyo Gozimasu

The view from our hotel room. Yes, the buildings are really that skinny.




We have finally made it to Japan! After enjoying a wonderful week of visiting friends and family in O'ahu, we headed for Japan yesterday. We are staying in Tokyo at The New Sanno for a few days before continuing on to Misawa.