Difference in the Sameness
Giving an interview in Tokyo…
Forgot to mention that I was approached at my Tokyo hostel by a journalist for a local magazine 😂 I was preparing the $1 noodles that I purchased earlier in the day for my dinner, and I guess I looked interesting (“Duhhhh… what are the instructions…? Oh!! You pour the water out?!! I thought with ramen you leave the water in!! Okay!”) The reporter sent me the link to the article today – he writes for a magazine called “News Post Seven”… ‘read’ it right here.
From what I can tell, it talks about the rise in foreign tourism and is describing the things that the foreigners do when they visit Japan, what they like to see, etc. The lady who is with me, and who the article is about, is Tomo, and she is the blessed soul who got me the Sumo match hook-up!!😍 Google translate tells me the caption under the picture says: “Kamata-san and foreign tourists to enjoy the chow mein noodles”. This is a photo that didn’t make the cut:
eat, foreigner, EAT!
This experience had me thinking about the things I’ve noticed that are just a little different in Japan, compared to the U.S. For example – I haven’t seen many small children, compared to the % of parents/kids you see in the U.S. out and about. I’ve noticed that men and women (and boys and girls) usually aren’t hanging out together, unless they are obviously together as a couple. Everyone is really nice and helpful – similar generalization can be said for the people in the southern U.S., but not for the northeastern folks (Sarah).
And now for the important stuff.
American futon vs. Japanese futon. Not the same! Totally different!
American futon
Looks okay, right? Comfy enough, convertible, two-things-in-one – everyone loves multi-purpose items. Now look at this!
Japanese futon
Totally different! Japanese futon = mat on the floor (I’m laying on one right now… feels a lot like laying on the floor). Closer to air mattress than American futon.
American air mattress
Also extremely important. Coffee isn’t readily available. And sometimes when it is, it’s only *gasp* instant coffee (THE HORROR)! Also, Where is the peanut butter?, you ask… Well, there is no peanut butter. What is available instead?, you wonder… Something called ‘peanut cream’. I bought some, hoping it would be peanut butter by a different name. NOT peanut butter! It’s something strange that I can’t really comprehend. And it leaves me missing my Perfect Peanut Butter World of Jif and Peter Pan.
NOT peanut butter
Not that all the differences are U.S.-better.
The public transportation system here is simple, clean and amazing. For me, it’s been easier to get around the entire country of Japan than navigating NYC subways. They are clean, people don’t talk on their phones, don’t eat, don’t make noise, homeless people don’t take their shirt off & scream to everyone that the government gave them cancer & show the burn marks, they are always on time, and a lot of the train stations have HEATED TOILET SEATS. OMG, can you even imagine? I can. Because I’ve used ’em. Japanese public transit is incredible.
Fuji apples. So we have Fuji apples in the U.S. It’s what I normally buy. I think it’s the 3rd or 4th most popular apple sold. Fuji apples here are not the same. They originated here of course, but farmers started growing them in the U.S., and unfortunately they haven’t retained their original deliciousness. The Fujis here are almost twice as big, much sweeeeeeter, and crispier.
real fuji
I truly love learning about the culture. I was talking to someone here about language differences and how interesting I find it that there are words in some languages that don’t directly exist in any other. He told me about a Japanese term called “wabi-sabi“. It describes a concept and way of living that focuses on the beauty of imperfections in life, that nothing is ever finished, and that nothing lasts. What an amazing term to consider. And so different than any American ideology. And one I don’t think I would’ve ever known existed without my travels here.
Difference in the sameness. It’s a big part of why I love to travel. And thinking about it, for me, invites a way to appreciate the contrasts, while also finding more gratitude for the ordinary.
Next up: Hakone & Kyoto
Go to the Nature☺️
After almost a week in Tokyo, I was ready to get out of the city and into the countryside.
I took trains and buses, including two Shinkansens (bullet trains), to Nikko.
Bullet train (shinkansen)
They’re super comfy – lots of leg room, seats that recline, and some of them have power outlets. I have the Japan Rail Pass, so my trip from Tokyo to Nikko was totally ‘free’. Without the JR, it would’ve cost around $50 one-way.
My hostel in Nikko was a tiny building with traditional Japanese design, called Nikko Guesthouse Sumica.
mi casa
The owners were super friendly and invited me to a dinner the evening I got there for their friend, Tomoko, to celebrate her marriage. They have a friend who is a Chef, and he cooked the meal – it was delicious! They were all really sweet and funny; I was so grateful for their hospitality.
he’s showing us a picture of a pumpkin:)
Here are some pictures of Nikko and the area…
Nikko cemetery
Nikko main street
mountains
Shin-kyo bridge
For the most part, I was a few weeks late to see the leaves changing colors, but there were still some bursts of red here and there😊
On the second day in Nikko, I went to Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji in Nikko National Park. It was freezing and windy, but it was totally worth the trip. I ‘hiked’ around the lake (not really hiking b/c it was all sidewalk), and I saw the womens marathon.
Lake Chuzenji
Kegon Falls
After two days in Nikko, I came to Kusatsu – that’s where I am now. Kusatsu has one of the three best hot springs in Japan, and it is really amazing. My hotel has six different baths – two are open air, and one is “with bubbles”. The town is hilly, with mountains in the background, and the hot spring water is running everywhere. There is a park up the hill, called Sainokawara Park, that has a lot of pools, one of which you can actually bathe in.
it’s cold out here, people!
The town itself is the most unique town square I’ve ever seen. It has the ‘Yubatake’ at the center, which is the main source of hot spring water for Kusatsu (but it originates on the top of Kusatsu-Shirane mountain, which is an active volcano😁). The water comes out of the ground at 170*, and the wooden vessels carry it up to get cooled by the air before it is distributed to the onsens nearby. The water is super acidic (pH is around 2), which is why it’s good for skin conditions, arthritis, and other ailments. The wooden vessels are made of pinewood because apparently that is the best material to stand up against the great amount of acid in the water and not get destroyed within a few days!
yubatake in center of town
mineral salt deposits
cute street
coffee!
omg, this is a manhole cover❤️
I’ve been taking baths three times a day😍
kimono
I ventured up to see the Shirane Shrine, which is overlooking the town…
warding off evil!
Cool view from my room…
View out my window
peace out….
bro, do you even lift
Next Up: Hakone
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