Day Two:
Today was a long and exciting day filled with many new experiences and sights tastes. Today the group went to Team Lab Borderless, Ueno Park, Âmeyoko Street, and Sky Tree. We started off our day with an amazing breakfast buffet that introduced me to some of the best food ever invented Japanese Rice! Along with an assortment of salad, broccoli, croquettes and the most delicious apple juice I’ve ever had! After eating we headed down to the train station to collect our tickets for the day and head on the yellow train to the monorail. We got to see so much of the study and the views were exceptional. After a series of transfers on the trains and stumbling around a bit we found ourselves upon the TeamLab Borderless exhibit the waiting process was relatively painless and the exhibits were in a word astounding! Between rooms filled with floating balloons and walls covered in flowers this experience is one that I am sure to never forget. After leaving we journeyed into the mall space below to a restaurant that we had reservations at. There my trip mates and I had some pancakes that were beyond delicious for me specifically I had some that were Caramel with bananas and an amazing espresso mousse! When we exited the restaurant I felt renewed and once again ready to explore all that the city had to offer. We went back to the train station for some more interesting rides and transfers (We even saw Tokyo tower!) we arrived at Ueno station and went to Ueno park where we visited the most beautiful shrine and looked at winter peonies, I even bought a talisman for happiness! At Ameyoko street we walked around what used to be a black market and my senses were immediately submerged in all the sounds and sights readily provided by the fluorescent lights and people working the stalls, after doing some light shopping and picking up a modest dinner at family mart (karage with rice and pudding) we made our way towards the sky tree. This was without a doubt the most perfect way to end the night with the breathtaking sights leaving me momentarily speechless (an incredible feat) we stayed for about an hour before heading back to the hostel where my trip mates and I washed up, bonded a bit and then went immediately to sleep. What a great second day in Japan!
Day Three: Today started off with another amazing breakfast although the absence of potato croquettes was slightly disappointing it was offset by my discovery of furikake a seasoning put on rice that makes it beyond delicious! After breakfast we headed out for the day, it was both exhilarating and nerve wracking due to the fact that it was my groups turn to lead the day trips today. The location that we were in charge of was called harajuku and although we didn’t get to see much what we did see was beyond amazing! We started out at Meiji shrine and although our entire visit was marked by heavy rain I have never seen anything more beautiful. The experience was very cathartic and the process of following the customs of entering the shrine (washing your hands and mouth with water), stepping over the threshold, and finally praying left me truly struck with the amazement with what we had experienced. After leaving the shrine we walked for fifteen minutes to Takeshita Dori a famous street known for its quirky fashions and delicious crepes, although I didn’t have time to try any crepes the experience of seeing the variety of fashions that Japan had to offer was beyond amazing and as a plus I got some super cute clothes as well. A couple of train stops later we were in Shibuya where I tried conveyor belt sushi for the first time which is something I had never experienced before suffice to say egg sushi is the best sushi. After this we went to an amazing robot show that included everything from samurai battles, to lasers, and a robot lead world domination. I was shocked to say the least but the experience was ridiculously fun! We finished out the night at a department store near Shibuya crossing where we dispersed to go find dinner ( I had soba and tempura). Now us trippers are heading into the mountains to see the ryokan and experience our first ever authentic onsen. Each day has been better than the last and I can’t wait to have more experiences in Japan!
Day Four
Today was as exhausting as it was fun! Today I rode the Shinkansen for the first time and the experience was interesting to say the least. The experience of not being on the ground and almost floating above the track while on the train was one of the oddest feelings that I’ve felt thus far.Before boarding the train we had purchased the premade lunches known as obento in Japan we each choose our selection and I found some delicious strawberry milk along the wayAfter we boarded the train (very hastily I might add) we sat down to enjoy our food. The bento although cold was still delicious and so was the strawberry milk. During the ride which was strangely smooth I caught up on my blogging and did some light reading before I knew it we had arrived in Hoshino and were on the shuttle bus to Oirase Keiryuu.This ryokan is in a word GORGEOUS from the building to the snow to the food it’s a once in a lifetime experience. The highlight of the buffet table was of course the apples, apple pie and ice cream which has to freshest ice cream I’ve ever tasted with the components of milk and sugar being perfectly balanced. After the delicious meal which left me feeling satisfied and warm we headed out to the waterfall illumination tour which was cold but still very beautiful we got to see two waterfalls in array of very beautiful blues, oranges and reds. After returning I went to the onsen and the feeling of being cold and hot at the same time was more enjoyable than I expected the waterfalls surrounding the onsen were beautiful and the entire experience was very cathartic.
Exhausted and ready to sleep I went to my room and fell into sweet oblivion looking forward to tomorrow!
Every night I go to sleep and think that each day can’t be better than the last and every night before I go to sleep I have been throughly proven wrong. Today’s adventures included snowshoeing, snowball fighting, and more delicious food
We started the day off with breakfast at the buffet which was a real treat, seeing as the ryokans specialty was apples I made sure to eat everything apple flavored. I was not disappointed! The food continues to be so amazing as with everything else .
After breakfast I was I had the honor of getting to snowshoe for two hours. I have no words the sheer beauty of nature is unmatched by anything that I’ve seen so far. The silence of the area combined with the, beauty of the snow, and the chill made for a special experience one that I will remember for the rest of my life.
When we returned to the resort we were treated to some of the most delicious curry I had ever had, made even better by the fact that the curry was the apple kind! I’m most likely going to be sick of apples by the time that the trip is over! For the time being however for the time being they remain my favorite treat
After a quick lunch the group headed to one of Japan’s mountains where we took pictures and had a massive snowball fight. People were getting hit left and right and I fell knee deep into the snow several times. It was beyond fun. The view and the freshness of the air required a couple moments to fully take in which I gladly enjoyed. Once we returned from the snowball excursion (we walked back). I took a nice long soak in the onsen which has quickly become a daily must!
We finished off the day with an amazing dinner and after completing some work and packing up for the next day headed to bed.
I absolutely can not wait for what tomorrow holds I just know that it will be amazing!