I just got back from Japan this past Monday, and boy was I tired. I think I slept like 12 hours on Tuesday trying to catch up with some sleep. I have to say that it is good to be back in Hawaii because Japan was freezing! It was so cold that I actually got sick again – at the very beginning of the trip! But I was trooper, and despite a runny nose and sore throat and occasional body aches I still managed to snowboard for the very first time. Falling down numerous times did not help help my body feel any better either. I was also disappointed to hear that the Warriors football team lost in the Sugar Bowl – what happened?! And I also arrive on the same day that June Jones announces that he is leaving Hawaii?! Maybe I should have stayed back in Japan! Well anyway, just to give a quick recap of my trip I spent the time roaming from one place to another. It was a little exhausting but at least it was interesting. Stayed in Tokyo for about a week, staying in Yotsuya, and then to an apartment in Shirokane. Both of which were like luxury apartments (for a very cheap price!). The other week was spent outside of Tokyo – I stayed at a skiing resort in Inawashiro Fukushima – it was an interesting experience because my girlfriend’s family drove us there in the snow! We actually had to put chains on the tires because the car was having a hard time manuvering in the snow. Also spent time at an Onsen in Shizuoka. Going to an onsen is always relaxing as well as good in healing the body. It is so relaxing when you are coming from the constant cold and then dipping into a naturally heated onsen. During our time there we would go into the onsen about 2-3 times in the day. Its relaxing because you are always walking about throughout the hotel in your yukata not having to worry about what clothes you are going to wear, you go to dinner in your yukata. And then through out the day you can relax by dipping in the relaxing onsen. Sometimes our meals were served to our room. And there is always that experience of sleeping on the traditional Japanese futon. Also spent time at my girlfriend’s house(in Saitama) and her relatives house in Ibaraki. Sometimes it was difficult because my Japanese is not too good. And they only speak Japanese. Did some minor sightseeing in Shizuoka, visited the Joren Taki, the Kadowaki Tsuribashi Bridge, Kadowaki Zaki Todai(lighthouse), Minamoto no Yoriie tomb, and also visited an all you can eat strawberry farm (Izu no Nagaoka). All in all it was fun but always exhausting traveling during the holiday time in Japan. There was always traffic, and so much people going out to celebrate the New Year. But it’s good to be back in Hawaii.
