On Monday I went out to Odaiba to see the “DMM Planets” Exhibit. Odaiba is a man-made island in the Tokyo Bay, just east of the city. We wanted to get there early, which meant taking the train through central Tokyo during the morning rush hour. Holly hell, it was insane! “Sardine trains” to the… Read More A complete, sensory experience: DMM Planets Exhibit, and the Statue of Liberty
On Sunday I went to the Kiyose Sunflower Festival. Kiyose is pretty far out in west Tokyo, where there is actually open space and agriculture. I had to take a bus to get there, and it was my first time taking a bus in Japan. Thanks to Google Maps, I made it to my stop… Read More Kiyose Sunflower Festival
On Saturday, I got to experience two very different sides of Tokyo – the sacred and the profane. First, I went of a private tour of the famous Meiji Shine, and was able to watch a Shinto religious ceremony. Then, literally just steps away from the Shrine, I went to the famous shopping district of… Read More The Sacred & the Profane: Meiji Shrine & Harajuku and Golden Gai
On Wednesday night/Thursday morning, I pulled an all-nighter to go to the Tsukij Market Tuna Auction. The Tsukiji Market is a large wholesale market for fish, fruits and vegetables. It is one of the largest fish markets in the world, handling over 2,000 tons of marine products per day. To attend the Tuna Auction, you… Read More Tsukiji Fish Market & Tuna Auction
This weekend, I climbed Mt. Fuji. It was an absolutely amazing experience, one that I will never forget. It was an adventure and a half, and a serious challenge, but I’m so glad I was able to make it happen. An important item checked off my Japan bucket list! At 3,776 meters (12,389 feet), Mt.… Read More Mt. Fuji
Imperial Palace Gardens The Imperial Palace, located in the central Chiyoda ward, is the official residence of the Emperor. It is a huge complex, surrounded by beautiful gardens. My friend Mel and I toured the East Gardens. The total area of the complex, including all of the gardens, is 4.31 square kilometers (1.32 square miles),… Read More Imperial Palace Gardens, Asakusa, Sensō-ji, & Oueno
In between taking care of everything I need to do to get myself established here – registering my residence card, signing up for phone and internet, getting a bank account, buying furniture and appliances, etc., I’ve had some free time, as I have not starting teaching yet. Here’s some of what I’ve been up to! (When I’m not… Read More Exploring Tokyo and trying not to die of heatstroke
