Reporting in

I haven't written for a while, mostly because I haven't had time and haven't been anywhere miles away etc. Then I realised that I can still write about other things I get up to (Also, the more revision I should be doing, the less I feel like doing.) To keep me satisfied whilst working, I have been making lots and lots of Matcha green tea Latte, which is probably the best thing ever. (Ume-shuu, Plum liqueur comes second.) You can buy instant powder which you just add to water but it doesn't taste milky or very like matcha, so I then discovered how to make it using milk, matcha and sugar. I will bring lots home so I can make it when I'm back.

On Friday night I went out dancing with some of my friends from back home which was really nice as I haven't seen them for ages and also haven't been out dancing for ages. I came home on a train at 5.01am, but didn't get in until 7.20 am, which is not normal as it is not that far. I had fallen asleep on the train, and ridden to somewhere miles away and back again without knowing it which was annoying but still quite amusing. That day I went to meet another friend from home (Dan-san for those of you who know/ have heard about him) so I could copy his notes as he is at a more intensive university and learning much more than me. I also had my very first Freshness Burger. This is like a deli burger chain which does an amazing Tofu burger which consisted of grilled tofu, tomatoes avocado and pesto which was lovely. I also experienced something called Taiyaki which looks like a fish shaped piece of wafer and has different fillings inside. Normal ones are chocolate or the very vague "red bean paste." I decided to have their new special which was sweet potato and "red bean paste" which was really really yummy and did not taste like healthy vegetables at all (probably because it was filled with sugar like most things despite the widespread "Japanese people don't like sweet things" lie.)

Yesterday was our last trip with Yohei, the nicest Japanese guy we know, because he is going to Germany for a year in 2 weeks. We went on a tour around the area of Tokyo he comes from, which included delights such as temples, rivers and lovehotels. Afterwards we went to his house to eat with his mum which was really nice of them.

My Monkey Trip. Nagano, Lots of Snow and a bit of Fire.

After getting up very early to take trains then a bus to Nagano, luckily we were not disappointed by the snow.It was snowing, which I think is the best way to view the Japanese style, it was so pretty.
The pictures speak for themselves. The guidebooks all seem to say that there is nothing really in Nagano apart from places to stay if you want to go skiing. They forget to mention how beautiful it is in winter.


That evening we went into the countryside to see a fire festival which was possibly the most dangerous thing I have ever seen.
There were loads of people there and SO many Australian tourists who were being so annoying and idiots. I don't have a problem with Australians though, just those ones.
Near the end, the men all fight with firey sticks, some trying to light the big wooden thing on fire, others trying to stop them. People were actually getting hit in the face with fire, but it's all fun (despite having a slightly angry mob feeling.)
Unfortunately we didn't get to see them light the big thing on fire as we had to get our last taxi and train home.

The next day we took a train then a bus then walked for ages through a very very snowy forest into the middle of nowhere until we reached the monkey park I have wanted to visit for ages. It was like a small pocket of tourism in a wilderness of snow.

This was the valley. On the right is onsen for humans. I would have loved to go there as it was so remote but we had free entry to a different one with our train tickets...

The monkeys didn't disappoint.

They were all remarkably human like, especially with their facial expressions. I wish I knew what this one was thinking.


After our return journey, we decided to finish the day in the same monkey style, by going to onsen. I sat outside in the hot water watching the snow and of course ate a little bit when I felt a bit thirsty. It was perfect to have the cold snow on my top half because the water was so hot. All in all, a good trip!

I Love Sumo

You can all stop clicking refresh, the time has finally come. Today I went to see sumo.

The word sumo may conjure up an image of fat men rushing at each other and hitting, grabbing etc, after squatting lots and lifting on leg up to the side then the other. This is actually exactly what sumo is like. I was very pleased. It is probably the most Japanese thing I have seen so far.

We managed to get cheap tickets because we have all just become adults so for one year you can go for 16 pounds instead of 25. The most expensive tickets were ridiculous and then you have the very real danger of a sumo-san falling on you.

First impressions were pretty much exactly the same as what I have seen in films, although they have much easier lighting to work with in films which aids better photographs. We were right up in the cheap seats but that didn't matter as I have a large zoom on my camera.

We were very excited for the first match, which didnt begin until much walking in and out of the ring has happened and lots of salt throwing (to purify the ring.) We were so excited in fact, that we missed it. It lasted 3 whole seconds. The rules are very simple- The first player to step out of the ring or touch the ground with anything other than feet loses. The other player receives a huge wad of cash as he walks off the podium.
Here is one of my favourite photos- the Leg thing is one of those "that's so sumo" images of Japan in my mind.
The final match was very exciting and I was very glad I went further forward to photograph it like an idiot tourist.
I also managed to get a video which just gives a small idea of what it's like.

Year of the Rabbit

Happy New Year Minna-san. Omedetou, it is now the year of the Rabbit officially. I decided to celebrate by joining a different university's party (I was invited by 2 people so I definitely didn't gatecrash.)

First of all we went to this temple in order to wait for the countdown. We didn't manage to get any closer because of the mass of people in front of us. This didn't stop more people trying to get in though and we were thoroughly squashed. Eventually the clock hit twelve and we counted down and lots of people let balloons go (tsk tsk environmental hazard and they weren't even colourful.)
They also lit up Tokyo tower with the date to save anyone asking what year it was.
After that we went to an Izakaya for 4 hours of drinking and eating and fun. Then the next day I was up bright and early. I say the next day, but really I mean the next next day. We were meeting to go to a temple and shrine in the good old fashioned tradition for the first few days after the new year. Yohei and me were the only ones not to sleep in/ be late so we bought beer to drink as we wandered our way towards the shrine. I was a little unsure about going into sacred ground with a can of Asahi in my hand but he assured me it was fine, they even sell it at the top. I suppose it is like having mulled wine at a church concert at Christmas.
There were lots of stairs and lots of people at the top. I had to put the beer in my pocket to pray after queueing for a while. No one batted an eyelid. Or they did but I'm so used to being stared at here that I'm oblivious (Apart from when a boy on a bike today literally screeched to a halt in front of me to have a good stare and then carry on his way.)
Despite the new year crowds, it was very pretty and certainly quite Nihon-poi:
In the pond there were lots of koi all waiting to be fed but i didn't have anything to feed them.

After that, we went to a temple which turned out to be the same one from Friday but this time I managed to get right into it. I prayed with a 5 yen coin but noticed someone had put in 10000 yen for one wish. I hope he doesn't get his wishes granted more quickly just for flashing the cash.
We had some soba noodles (with mystery "mountain vegetables" which were very nice) and then went to an imperial garden near Tokyo bay yet still central.
They even had some winter sakura which was very nice. I think this photo is actually Ume (plum) blossom rather than cherry.The next stop on our routemarch was Ginza, one of the most expensive areas in the world if you wish to rent a building for your shop. It was very posh but with the sales some of the shops looked a bit like primark x 10000 yen.

Finally we went to Nihon-bashi/Nihombashi (this is the same bashi from Hitotsubashi- my university. It means bridge.) This was the first bridge in Tokyo (Edo at the time) and was replaced in the 18th century by a very European looking bridge. In the true Japanese style, old architecture is very much respected. A motorway bridge has been built right above it, so low down that the decorative streetlamps poke through to the motorway bridge, which somehow didn't encourage them to build it a foot higher.

Who is copying who's look?