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I went back to Japan after 21 years in March of
2002. I'd like to share my experience and pictures with you!
Click on the pictures below for a larger version.
turbulent flight in - We experienced some major turbulence, the
worst that I have ever been thru, towards the last hour of our flight into
Japan but naturally since youre reading this....we made it ok.
Bidet - Got my first experience with the water spraying toilet. The
first two times, I used the wrong one - the bidet which is intended for
females, squirts a length pattern rather than a straight stream.
Basically, I had a lot of drying off to do! I'm sure you females are
rolling on the floor right now! The other button had a picture of a spray
pattern of a fan so thats the reason why I didnt choose that one first, so
for you guys heading to Japan, take note.
train ride/station/cramming-butt rubbing- I always thought to
myself how inefficient we are in public transportation. You can take the
train virtually anywhere and the trains are pretty much on time. Puts the
San Francisco BARTsystem to shame! But the only draw back is that everyone
uses it and as many of you have experienced - it sucks during rush hours!
It sucks having some dudes ass rubbing up against you as the train bounces
on the track. Besides feeling like youre in a sauna.
breakfast/food experience - well after all our ''gourmet'' airline
food and checking into our hotel, we had to go hunt for some ''REAL''
food! I had a major craving for katsu (pork cutlet) so we headed down into
the Diamond Chika under Y'hama station. The next morning, we awoke at an
amazing 6am (yes, while on vacation!) showered up and headed back down to
the ''chika'' and found a pastry shop with all the ''usual Japanese
style'' pans like koroke, curry, corn portaju, potato au gratin and the
likes. I did try all the above except for the corn. In fact, I ended up
having the same for the next 2 mornings. All I can say is that I
filled my craving (still can eat more) of katsu, curry and sushi!!!!!!
yokosuka – Y’suka was the 1st place we went to. Got
off at the Chuo Station and walked it to the gate. We got there about 30
minutes early. Since all contact was done by email, I really didn’t know
who was supposed to sponsor us onto base. I asked the guard and all he
could tell me was to wait outside the gate. About 11am, a tall, caucasion,
dressed in a suit walked up to us, looked at us, then proceeded back
towards the gate but stood right at the entrance. I figured this has to be
our sponsor so I walked up to him and asked if he was with the Public
Affairs, which he was, and by golly….we were on our way on base! We had
to fill out the visitors form and the female guard named off "Delta
Memorial Hospital". I was like…..whaaaa? That hospital is where I
live. Small world, she was born in the same city that I live in! So the
sponsor led us up to the small hill facing the gate where the command
buildings are and took us for a ride in the van! I was tingling all over
as he drove down the hill on the opposite side where the Officers Club
used to be. He took me thru the hospital area and exited right in front of
the pool (sorry cant remember the name of it…Green something?) Then went
down memory alley! First the bowling alley, then McDonalds (yes, there’s
a McD’s where Hayaku Inn was about), the cafeteria, and Yohi! Nothing
like what it used to be! Had to check out the football fields and Thew
Gym! Then he took me around the rest of the base which was totally new to
me…..bunch of Towers and new buildings. I guess they had a growth spurt
and had to accommodate the increase in population by building more Towers.
The other side of the base was pretty much the same. Fleet gym was
replaced by a more modern building which is going to include more
activities. A-33 building was still there but no longer in use but for
storage. All I can say is "wow"!
kamakura - After Y'suka, we headed to Y'suka station (never
realized that it was that far, almost as if it moved) and headed for
Kamakura. All went smooth until after we saw the Buddah and headed towards
one of the many temples....we apparently took the wrong turn and walked......and
walked! We ended up at the Kamakura station(if youve been there, you know
how far that is!). At the station, we found a mapboard and saw that the
temple was 1.1km so we decided to walk....at the end of that distance,
there was another sign that said another 1.1km! So what do you think? We
looked at each other and said we came this far! By this time, my 5 year old
boy says ''he's tired and cant walk anymore''. With 60 lbs on my back, we
continued. Then....the last 1/4 mile or so was all uphill! So we saw the
temple and headed back down. Towards the end of that street we saw a sign
(somehow we missed on the way going) that said another temple
130m.......so what the heck......with my 60 lbs weight back on my back, we
climbed.......the last half was all stairs!! Felt as if I was playing the
part in the movie ''Rocky'' After a short rest, we made our way back to the
station. After that point, the 8 or so temples on the other side of the
station were nooo longer interesting....at least on this trip!
marie/hitomi/shibuya
- On our second day, we headed out to Meguro to Hitomi (Peters) house.
We met up with Marie Cochrane at the station and walked over to Hitomi
& Steve's huge house. We chatted for awhile and Steve cooked us up an
awesome bbq. After the food settled, Steve took me to an ATM so I could
get some yen and apparrantly in the meantime, Hitomi brought out the
yearboks. When we got back, we heard bunch of giggling...I'm sure you
can imagine the situation! Afterwards, we all headed out to Shibuya/Harajuku.....In
Shibuya, we crossed the crosswalk where probably hundreds try to cross
all at the same time in every direction, amazing! We checked out
KiddyLand, a 5 story (I think or maybe 6) toy store where I had to check
out the Godzilla inventory, well my son did too!
- condommania
-amazingly this store in Shibuya is a major hit! This
store was packed with customers!
disney sea – On our 3rd day, we headed out to Maihama
where the Disneyland is. Had to take our son there but we decided to go to
DisneySea which is their newest attraction. Unfortunately, we went there
on a Sunday so all the rides had massive wait times. DisneySea is similar
to "California" at the Disneyland in Anaheim. But much more
marine oriented. There was a volcano roller coaster ride but had over 2
hour wait times….so we had to pass on that. But over in all, we had a
great time! The train ride home was another story! My son fell asleep
around 9:30pm and I had to carry him thru half the park and on the train.
The trains were pretty busy and to my amazement, no one ever offered me a
seat (unJapanlike) and had to carry him all the way to Y’hama station
and up to our hotel.
Imperial Palace/Asakusa – On our 4th day, we ventured
out to the Imperial Palace and as soon as we got there, we were asked to
step aside…some VIP’s were formally escorted by horse carriages and
police cars. Then we headed out to Asakusa….amazed myself making it out
there without getting lost. Out of all the stations that I’ve visited,
Asakusa was the only station with full English routes and fares. And
probably the most "westerners" I’ve seen besides Y’suka.
y'hama stn – Yokohama station is no where near what I remember it
as. I had to ask everytime for the first few days and I’m sure the
employees were wonderering if I was illiterate asking stupid questions
like how much to "so and so" station in Japanese. Oh well, at
least I got to the final destination.
styles/dress/blondes/blue haired elders – there are so many
styles…..blonde is definitely the hair color, with elders having blue or
red hair due to using the wrong type since blue and red tones are in many
colors. Females wearing mini-skirts and leather. School girls wear
leg-warmers. The guys are anywhere from the baggy hip-hop to punkish with
blonde hair being the color of choice. I joked around with people at my
work about not having to worry about losing my wife in the crowd….the
joke was on me!
bus ride to honmoku (MyCal), didnt recognize anything till I saw
the hills and street configuration. KMS and surroundings is now a shopping
mall called MyCal. The field above KMS is now a parking lot. Area 2 still
looks similar with large houses and there’s still a park in the middle
of Area 2. You would never know you were there unless you look at the
configuration of the streets and hills.
bayview- a park now that runs all the way thru to Americazaka (fire
station hill). I had to see it, and actually ran by myself from the top of
the hill from KMS to Americazaka and back. What a view!
negishi-got a quick jaunt thru, pretty much the same except the P
houses are gone. The P house that I lived in was all boarded up ready for
leveling and the other two houses that I lived in are gone due to a
landslide a few years back.
Motomachi/Isezakicho - Motomachi and Isezakicho is pretty much the
same as I remember. The KFC at Motomachi is still there but across the
street and the ''New Odeon'' is still there at Isezakicho. My aunt tells
me
that some of the anchor tenants left due to competing new shopping areas.
Overall, I had a dream-come-true experience, a trip that had me almost
sleepless many nights for several weeks before our departure. It was very
exhausting but worth every minute of it. Just wish I had more time but I
feel that it was plenty for our first time. Now my wife and son know what
to expect. My son is a Godzilla-maniac but on this trip, he also became an
Ultraman-maniac too! The trip was pretty emotional for me, spent a lot of
time reminiscing all the different spots and hangouts.
And now for
the pictures below!!!!!!!!!
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