So today I decided to look around for places of interest in and around Tokyo. Our hotel information for Tokyo has just been released (We're staying at the Hotel New Otani...this place looks awesome...it may be the nicest hotel I will ever encounter, just from the pictures), so I wanted to find out what was in the area. I'll post more on this later, but I have to tell you, in my search for things out of the ordinary, I believe that I may have just hit the jackpot.
It's the Shin-Yokohama International Ramen Museum. (by the way, this site is in Japanese...click on the English bar at the top to open up a detailed brochure about the museum)
Yes, you read that correctly. Yokohama isn't that far away from Tokyo...something like 35 minutes from a major Japan Rail station near the hotel, or I could opt to take a bullet train for about 800 yen more (roughly, that's around $8) and get there in about 15 minutes. Anyway, this museum is a tribute to all that is ramen, and specfically, instant ramen. Apparently you pay 300 yen to get in ($3), and then you go exploring. It's touted as a food amusement park...you go in, explore the museum side, and then there is a two-story exhibit hall designed to recreated the feel of 1950s Tokyo (apparently around the time that instant ramen was born). Here you find shops, an old-school Japanese candy store, and the highlight of 8 ramen restaurants. Apparently these are the creme de la creme of Japanese noodle shops, expressly chosen to be in the museum because of their fame in various parts of Japan. You're supposed to buy at least one bowl there to go along with your admission price. Whatever...I am sure that won't be a problem. But what am I most interested in? The make your own cup-of-ramen stand. Apparently you get to decorate your cup, pick your ingredients, and then it is sealed and packaged up for you to take home. Oh, YES!!! This is fantastic!!!
I figure a trip to the ramen museum would be a good way to incorporate several things into my trip. One, a visit outside Tokyo. Two, a ride on the bullet train, Three, my own cup of ramen? ABSOLUTELY!!! This, I think, is a great idea for an excursion after a day of seminar meetings in Tokyo. Game on!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Decisions, decisions...
Okay, with something like 187 days to go (not counting, really), I am occupying my mind with what to do on my free day in Japan. This is a toughie. The responsible part of me says to go visit a shrine somewhere, or a local museum, or do some shopping (ha! as if I won't get enough of that done every other minute of the day). There will plenty of opportunities to get out and see things. The fish market, for example. From reading past participants' blogs, I know that is a possibility one morning. You go on various sightseeing trips and go out exploring at night when the seminars are done for the day. I know I will get a good dose of culture. I know it!
For example, I could go see this shrine of Buddha...
It's in Kamakura, just south of Tokyo, and it is HUGE. 15 meters tall or something like that. It would be an amazing sight to behold.
I could go to Hiroshima, if I carefully planned out everything and EVERYTHING went according to plan. But this is me we are talking about...nothing ever goes according to plan.
But I have to tell you, where I want to go is so far from what I should do. I want to go to Disney.
I tell you, when I went to Europe, I did not allow myself to go to Disney Paris. I had a great day in Paris, went to all kinds of museums, climbed the Arc de Triomphe, ate a croissant as I walked down the Champs-Elysses...it was fabulous. But I still wished that I had gone to Disney. And now, I have this free day in Tokyo. It takes 15 minutes by rail to get to Tokyo Disney from the middle of Tokyo. There are two parks, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, which is supposed to be FANTASTIC. I want to go so badly! This is going to agonize me for a long while. Maybe someone on the trip (there are another 199 people going) will want to go, so I can justify it. But I am willing to go it alone, all for the sake of feeding my Disney needs. I may never make it back to Tokyo...I will go back to Europe. Seems only right that I take advantage of this opportunity now (and for those of you saying I could use this opportunity to take advantage of other things, sssh!) while I have the chance.
Today, I am going to Tokyo DisneySea.
This will change tomorrow.
What Have I Been Up To:
1. Filling out paperwork
2. I got my physical, so I am medically/physically ready to go to Japan
3. I thought about going on a diet so that I have more room in my airplane seat! But, I have only thought about it. Maybe I will work on that soon.
For example, I could go see this shrine of Buddha...
It's in Kamakura, just south of Tokyo, and it is HUGE. 15 meters tall or something like that. It would be an amazing sight to behold.
I could go to Hiroshima, if I carefully planned out everything and EVERYTHING went according to plan. But this is me we are talking about...nothing ever goes according to plan.
But I have to tell you, where I want to go is so far from what I should do. I want to go to Disney.
I tell you, when I went to Europe, I did not allow myself to go to Disney Paris. I had a great day in Paris, went to all kinds of museums, climbed the Arc de Triomphe, ate a croissant as I walked down the Champs-Elysses...it was fabulous. But I still wished that I had gone to Disney. And now, I have this free day in Tokyo. It takes 15 minutes by rail to get to Tokyo Disney from the middle of Tokyo. There are two parks, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, which is supposed to be FANTASTIC. I want to go so badly! This is going to agonize me for a long while. Maybe someone on the trip (there are another 199 people going) will want to go, so I can justify it. But I am willing to go it alone, all for the sake of feeding my Disney needs. I may never make it back to Tokyo...I will go back to Europe. Seems only right that I take advantage of this opportunity now (and for those of you saying I could use this opportunity to take advantage of other things, sssh!) while I have the chance.
Today, I am going to Tokyo DisneySea.
This will change tomorrow.
What Have I Been Up To:
1. Filling out paperwork
2. I got my physical, so I am medically/physically ready to go to Japan
3. I thought about going on a diet so that I have more room in my airplane seat! But, I have only thought about it. Maybe I will work on that soon.
Friday, April 4, 2008
In the last week....
it seems that I have become obsessed with all things Japanese. This really shouldn't come as a surprise to most people, because once I get excited about something, I generally don't let up until the obsession has run its course! And as I don't leave for another 190 days or so (but who's counting?), I can't imagine that this is going to let up anytime soon!
Obviously, I am running through all kinds of emotions, with most of the them running the gamut of super-happy-exhilarated to well, super-happy-exhilarated. Those of you who know how I love to make lists will be pleased to know that I have already started formulating packing lists (actually, you should know that from last time...but those lists have grown a LOT). Of course, of course, these lists will change substantially as time moves along, but traveling is a favorite thing of mine. Making a packing list helps move the trip into reality.
Of course, I also had to go out and buy some books about Japan as well! That shouldn't come as much of a shock! Who knows how many books will be added to the collection by the time October rolls around, but so far I have accumulated:
Culture Smart! Japan (covers customs and etiquette)
Insight Guides: Japan (published by the Discovery Channel...great pictures and info)
Insight Guides: Tokyo (see above)
I also picked up a series of CDs to learn Japanese in my car (I am sure I will get a lot accomplished every day during my two-mile commute) and a book on the Japanese language.
Of course, I am getting around to telling everyone I know about the trip, whether they want to hear it or not! And as such, I would like to take this opportunity to tell Sam and Phaedra that I am REALLY REALLY REALLY sorry that I won't be able to make it to your wedding in October! The program won't let me fly back for one day! But I promise to bring you back a fantastic wedding present (and I promise it won't be something from the 100-yen store!).
Next steps for me:
1. Start learning Japanese phrases
2. Write up professional leave forms soon
3. Present awarding of grant to the school board and beg them for the days off in October!
4. Make more packing lists!!!
5. Work on polishing my less-than-stellar chopsticks skills.
Obviously, I am running through all kinds of emotions, with most of the them running the gamut of super-happy-exhilarated to well, super-happy-exhilarated. Those of you who know how I love to make lists will be pleased to know that I have already started formulating packing lists (actually, you should know that from last time...but those lists have grown a LOT). Of course, of course, these lists will change substantially as time moves along, but traveling is a favorite thing of mine. Making a packing list helps move the trip into reality.
Of course, I also had to go out and buy some books about Japan as well! That shouldn't come as much of a shock! Who knows how many books will be added to the collection by the time October rolls around, but so far I have accumulated:
Culture Smart! Japan (covers customs and etiquette)
Insight Guides: Japan (published by the Discovery Channel...great pictures and info)
Insight Guides: Tokyo (see above)
I also picked up a series of CDs to learn Japanese in my car (I am sure I will get a lot accomplished every day during my two-mile commute) and a book on the Japanese language.
Of course, I am getting around to telling everyone I know about the trip, whether they want to hear it or not! And as such, I would like to take this opportunity to tell Sam and Phaedra that I am REALLY REALLY REALLY sorry that I won't be able to make it to your wedding in October! The program won't let me fly back for one day! But I promise to bring you back a fantastic wedding present (and I promise it won't be something from the 100-yen store!).
Next steps for me:
1. Start learning Japanese phrases
2. Write up professional leave forms soon
3. Present awarding of grant to the school board and beg them for the days off in October!
4. Make more packing lists!!!
5. Work on polishing my less-than-stellar chopsticks skills.
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