さようなら、日本。

日十九と二十：Day 19 & 20

Saturday was our last full day in Japan. It was a free day so my group decided to take a tour around Tokyo, gathering up last minute gifts for friends, family and ourselves.

Our first destination was Ikebukuro, because Corina wanted to find a Toys R Us as in Kochi she had seen a large Spirited Away jigsaw puzzle at one, which turned out to be quite an adventure when it came to finding our way out. After almost a full loop around the building, we found the main street leading from Sunshine City and then hopped into an arcade so us girls could take some プリクラ photos.





We had a lot of fun trying to find our way around the booths and then deciding on the decorations. It gets a little difficult when it comes to getting four people into the frames.

A lack of photos today because since we planned on heading out to Harajuku, I had an excuse to dress up. So instead of taking photos, I spent the majority of the day having photos taken of me insead.




After Ikebukuro, we headed to Harajuku. I gleefully ran around the stores, happy as can be. We attempted to go visit KiddyLand, but it was shut down for remodeling or something of the sort.





Second to last menu item… We could not figure this out.

After Harajuku, the group returned to the hostel as some members of the group wanted to change shoes/coats and then separated. Lina and I headed to Shinjuku to get her Japanese textbooks and then to Shibuya as she wanted to see the statue of Hachiko.



Once all was said and done, the group rejoined in order to go out for our last dinner in Japan:


What better way to end than with a delicious bowl of ramen.

Overall, it’s been yet another wonderful trip to Japan.
Although, I must say that I am genuinely disappointed and even appalled by some of the students in the group, their disrespect and their sheer disregard for a culture different from their own, despite this being a culture study class.

However, I convinced myself not to dwell on that, but on the good experiences I have had in this country once again. I do love being here, I love having the opportunity to visit this country.

For the those people that I spent time with on the trip, Corina, Lina, Sarah and Jason, thanks for being amazing people that can appreciate such a thing.

And Sensei, I am very glad that you were our instructor for this course and for tolerating us.
どもありがとうございました。<(_ _)>

I did have an amazing time.

東京、ただいま～！

日十四と十五番：Day 14&15

In the morning, I was very reluctant in getting out of bed because it was soft, the blankets were warm and the room seemed chilly… and then when I finally did leave the room, I got the answer as to why that was…


Snow!



Sarah, Lina, Corina, Jason and I took a nice walk in the morning to a local café (which turned out to be closed) and that was full of snowball fights.







We had another busy day lined up in front of us, starting off with a visit to Fushimi Inari Taisa (my suggestion, hehe)

<(*o*)>









So beautiful.
It’s such an amazing, wondrous feeling walking through all those orange gates…
As if you’re about to emerge on the other side of a Miyazaki movie.





Afterwards, we headed through the little market they had in front of the temple where I purchased a rose quartz stone bracelet that now sits on my wrist alongside my black onyx.



(Not a photo of the bracelet XD)




Afterwards we went to Kiyomizu and while it was wonderful to witness the contrast between summer and winter, I must say (despite summer heat) it is far more beautiful during the summer.








Same view from this summer



Unfortunately, after we returned to the bus stop… the buses were late. And we were forced to wait for almost an hour. I am pretty certain I was a popsicle by the time.

We were planning to stop by Gion for some time just to look around (and perhaps try to see some maiko) but the lateness of the bus forced us to cut the day short.

Instead, we headed straight to Ginkakuji, the Silver Pavilion.








I found that despite the sheer striking appearance of Kinkakuji, the subtleness and simplicity of Ginkaku was far more beautiful to me.

We ended the evening by going around the center of Kyoto and losing Corina ^_^;;;;
But we found her~

Poor thing went to take a "three second picture" and got separated by the crowds of people. Apparantly, she started practicing asking for help after a while:
"すみません。。。まいごです。うたのユースホステルはどこですか。ごめんなさい、がいじんです。"

As for today, we left Kyoto and took the Nozomi bullet train to Shinagawa, followed by a bus to the part of Shinjuku where we’re staying.






We’re staying at the Tokyo International Hostel, my least favorite of the three we’ve been in.
But we do have a pretty fantastic view:



The aforementioned group and myself headed out to central Shinjuku for the evening, mainly because I wanted to pay a visit to Marui One and its Sparkling Sale. Hehehehe >.< Bad idea.
On the subway

The following photos were stolen from Lina because I was too busy being wide-eyed over the displays.

高知に行きましょう！

日一番: Day 1

When I left Japan at the end of July, I knew I was going to come back. I simply did not except it to be so soon. I got into the hostel around nine pm, after two flights (during the second I was too exhausted to try to flirt with the very cute boy next to me) and collapsed in bed after a long shower.




In the morning, I headed off on a tour of the town of Kochi, starting off with a visit to the Tsutaya, where Molly got me a cute little bear phone strap which I attached to my purse.


I also purchased the third and fourth volumes of Crimson Spell.




Afterwards, I dropped by the near Sunny Supermarket and went through town toward the market place.












Kochi is actually a lot bigger than I expected ^^;

I passed by Kochi Castle and will visit that on later days.








Afterwards, I headed to the marketplace for lunch, where I bought myself some Takoyaki.




I needed shoes because the only winter shoes I had on hand had heels and become very hard on my feet after a few hours.

So I bought shoes for ¥1,500. They’re nice and flat and I’ll see how they will work out tomorrow.

After walking and a couple impulse purchases, one of my groupmates, Sarah, pointed out a Jam store in an upstairs building and all I saw were the Angelic Pretty racks.








The night activity is supposed to be a sake tasting. However, since I don’t drink I just sat in and toasted with some ocha instead. One of the Japanese girls at the hostel played violin for us, like the theme of Spirited Away and Pokemon ^_^

All I can say is that I am so happy to be back in Japan.

And because I love Japanese foods, the meals of the day: