Category: Travel

Onto Koyasan

I am on the Shinkansen now heading towards Osaka where I will be transfering to a non-JR line for the 81 minute trip to Koyasan. Yesterday was spent picking delicious purple grapes and relaxing with my host family. It was a wonderful time and we had long conversations about what being ā€œJapaneseā€ is compared to being an ā€œAmericanā€, and how the world has changed in the 20 years since I first came to stay with them.

One thing I absolutely love, is that they seem take every chance they can to find a reason to go into the outdoors to sit eat and drink with friends and family. Apple picking, orange picking, Sakura (cherry blossom) viewing, itā€™s a long list. They work hard but also know the value in relaxing and putting the same effort into non-work pursuits as working itself. Continue reading “Onto Koyasan”

The journey begins

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So the book project journey has begun, even though my Kickstarter project didnā€™t go through.

I arrived into Tokyo at 4:30am which is an interesting experience. Ā I slept some on the plane, like I would have if it had been a late work session (about 5-6 hours) but my body definitely knows that I lost a day. Ā I am tired but not tired, does that make sense? Itā€™s different than the other times when I have arrived in the late afternoon. This is the better way to go for sure. I imagine though that Iā€™ll sleep well tonight but be up before the sun rises.

It was dark when we landed and deplaned but by the time I got through customs and immigration, the sun had risen. A short ride on the Tokyo Monorail with a connection onto the Yamanote Line and I landed at Tokyo Station where I stored my suitcase in a locker and ventured out to get some breakfast. In this case a nice light sushi breakfast at Tsukiji. Ā It may be packed with tourists, but there sure is great sushi there. Ā The place I wandered into was empty as it had just opened. Ā I had a great meal, chatting as best I could with the chef. Ā Turns out he had lived in New York 15 years ago so between my bad Japanese and his great English, we had a nice time. Ā I will surely be back there one more time when I return to Tokyo later next week.

I had a slight bump in my plans this morning in that I had to retrieve my mobile router from an usual place, at least for me, the Four Seasons Hotel in Marunouchi, next to Tokyo Station. Ā It was supposed to be waiting for me at Haneda Airport but, things happen, and this was the easiest solution due to itā€™s proximity to the station. Ā The hotel staff were a bit confused as to why it had been sent to them since I wasnā€™t going to be a guest of theirs, but some convincing that I was supposed to be a guest but had to change my plans after the router had been sent did the trick and they graciously accepted the shipment and did their best to make sure that I was as happy as I could be with their service. Ā I felt a little bit guilty for inconveniencing them but itā€™s all water under the bridge now.

So now I am on the Shinkansen, heading south to spend some time with the wonderful family that hosted me 20 years ago this summer as a high school exchange student. Pictures will be coming as well as written updates so stay tuned.

Iā€™ve go to go, my station is next!