Fujisan 富士山 + Hakone 箱根 = Kimmooochhiii!~

What a crazy-packed weekend! Being touristy takes a lot of work when there's so much to do with such little time! And ALMOST every minute was wonderfully spent doing the typical "tourist in Japan" activities.

Note to self: Plan every minute before going on a trip

Two days is not enough time for trip to Mt. Fuji (Fujisan/富士山) and a one night stay in Hakone (箱根), but that is all I can work with.

So, Sunday morning, I ventured off to the Shinkansen to purchase my ticket to Shinagawa where I hopped onto the Yamanote line to get to Hamamatsucho. That bus terminal was gaijin galore. I felt a little irritated with myself for doing such a touristy venture while I was being herded around following a flag in the air. I am definitely going to take my student's suggestion and wander around Japan on my own the next trip.

While I sat on the bus and getting nauseous out of my mind, my adorably kawaii tour guide told us stories about Japan land. He also taught us how to use a Japanese style toilet aka toire.

We kept getting closer and closer to Fujisan. We were lucky enough to get to the 5th stage and see Fujisan, but FYI, the so-called great 5th stage where you can take GREAT pictures doesn't really have that great of a view of the mountain. I think the best pictures that I took of Fujisan was on our ride to the 5th stage, toire pit stop, and when I was going up the Hakone Komagatake Ropeway.

I definitely feel like this was the perfect time to go to Hakone despite the limited time that I have with work. The infamous autumn leaves that the Japanese keep raving about was definitely worth seeing. The bright autumn colors looked so unreal. It makes me want to rethink my plan of getting married during the cherry blossom season or not. I would want to have my wedding on a boat out in Ashinoko (Lake Ashi/芦ノ湖) and have my reception at a hotel off Ashinoko. The view from my hotel room was breathtaking. When I woke up and opened my eyes, I felt like I was on a movie set. And there are outdoor hot springs!! I'm sure my family and guests would love it! The only problem is... the groom situation. HAH!

Anyways, back to my touristy adventure, the tour bus left the six of use who signed up for the two-day package. The next day was great. We were able to do whatever we wanted and did we! I went on the Hakone Ropeway and Hakone Tozan Cable Car to get from Togendai to Gora. I am still mad at myself for missing the opportunity to try kuro tamago (black egg) in Owakudani!!! I didn't realize the famous kuro tamago was there, and it was too late. I passed up Owakudani and went all the way to Gora. That's okay. I went to wonderful museums in Gora and had a great lunch at a cute Japanese restaurant.

The first museum I went to was the Hakone Museum of Art, which was BEAUTIFUL! I would want to have my wedding shoot here. I want to come back during the season where the moss garden is completely mossy! It looked like some sort of fairy tale in the brochure. The museum also had cute traditional Japanese architecture.

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The second museum I went to was the Hakone Open-Air Museum, which had great art that was very hands-on and interactive. It's a great place for a families. There are several artworks that were created for kids (and sometimes adults) to play in. There is also a hot springs foot bath that is located in an area that comes up at such a convenient time. There is so much walking in that museum, and when you get halfway through, you just want to quit. Well, you can. At the hot springs foot bath, and you can get a souvenir towel to dry your feet for 100 yen.

FOOD TIME!!

So, lunch was included in the tour, and the food was prepared in such an artistic way. I was also able to find special Fujisan special flavored Kit Kats, blueberry cheesecake!! And the lunch I had in Gora was located right before the Hakone Open-Air Museum. I felt like I was in a Japanese anime of some sort! The salmon over rice was delicious.

Lastly, I would like to share with everyone what "omiyage" is. Omiyage is a souvenir. And the best omiyage is something you can eat. Thus, Kitty-chan onsen cookies were the best omiyage choice for my co-workers.

And... Kitty-chan phone straps are the best souvenirs for a Kitty-chan lover like myself. The best way to remember the places I've been to in Japan are these phone straps. Who needs anything else! The reaction I got to my collection every time someone saw it was "SUGOI!" It sure is, and my collection continues.

Merry Culture Day!!

I seriously appreciate these Japanese national holidays. Today is Culture Day, which means no work for me! After wasting my weekend sleeping which was after 12 days of work in a row, Japan gives me more time to collect myself.

I would like to dedicate this entry about Japanese fusions and alterations. Culture day is celebrated to promote culture, the arts, and academic endeavors, but I will be promoting the art of food as always. Culinary arts. (Sounds fancier)

マクドナルド : macudonarudo : McDonald's

So, there are different types of flavored chicken sandwiches at McD's at the moment. I tried early October's flavor: Cheese Fondue. I am waiting for mid-November's flavor, Diavolo. Sounds spicy!

And, I've been craving the chicken mcnuggets. Thanks to the guy who is from Thailand who spoke Japanese flipped over the menu where there was English. I ordered my chicken mcnuggets. It was a five piece. Not four. Not Six. Five. Four is bad luck here in Japan. So, why not six? And there was only BBQ or spicy mustard for dipping sauces. Where is my sweet & sour???

ケンタッキーフライドチキン : kentakkii furaido chikin : Kentucky Fried Chicken

I love the advertisements at KFC right now. I get to see Matsujun's face. I was watching the mannequin Japanese show with Matsujun and his Arashi crew along with some other Japanese boy group modeling beautiful clothes, and a KFC commercial comes on. All I can say is that Matsujun makes the tomato cream pot pie look delicious. I love Japan's twist on the pot pie. You would never see a tomato cream pot pie, just the good ole chicken pot pie. After seeing him eating the pot pie, I just HAD TO get myself one the next day during my lunch break. And it was mmm MMMm good!

It's not just the food at the fast food chains that have a little Japanese flavor mixed in with the "norm" of what I am used to in America, sweets and other foods have a little Japanese kick to it. Who has tried an apple topped pie with sweet potato in the center? I love sweet potato. Who has cream corn flavored Doritos? And the chip was a little thicker, too! Who has tried Mi Xao Don (Vietnamese deep fried noodles) Japanese style? It's called champon, and even though it deep fried, the vegetables cooked in a light sauce makes it tastes so much healthier. I just needed sriracha sauce with it! Who has tried bubble milk tea with a hint of chestnut flavor?! I love chestnuts. Japan don't play.

I have tried so many yum snacks and Japanese cuisine. I love how Japan cutesifies everything. My pork bun from Chinatown was too cute to eat, but then I got hungry! And what kid could resist eating these fried potatoes? It's so way better than french fries! They're happy to see you! I definitely need to find cookie/potato cutters like these here in Japan.

And Japan makes everything so convenient for you! Who doesn't love eating omu rice? I love love love it! But it's very hard to eat something like that on the go. OH WAIT! There's omu rice onigiri at the conbinis for you to pick up and eat as you go. AND! I love love love my hot royal milk tea. I used to have to go to Tapioca House to order me some hot milk tea, but in Japan there are hot drinks for you in the vending machines! And it reminds me of the dramas where the guy buys two cans of hot beverages. One for the girl. One for him. Love.

I tried Japanese cold soba noodles. (Buckwheat noodles) It's definitely an acquired taste. I think I will stick with noodles in HOT soup. I felt like I was eating boogery whites of an egg. This meal did not settle well. I will stick with my well cooked, hot foods like yakiniku! I went to an all you can eat yakiniku for 2 hours. My favorite was the liver and the kimchi side dish.

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Enough about food, I want to talk about the Japanese culture a little bit.

I went to a dinner party for the first time here in Japan thanks to a lovely student of mine. It was at nice Italian restaurant called Vento. It was a nice dinner with two large tables filled with new friends! And my student's host mom from Australia made me want to go to Australia and live with her! Good times.

Halloween in Japan does not even compare to Halloween in America. I'm so used to partying three nights in a row. Thursday. Friday. Saturday. Different club parties. Different house parties. But in Japan, people don't even really dress up!! And if they do, they go take purikuras and that's it. What's up with that? I told a student that I was planning to be Hello Kitty ballerina, and that student told me that's not Halloween. Halloween is when you're supposed to dress up as whatever or whoever you want to be. They think it has to be Halloween related like I can only be a witch, pumpkin, ghost, or vampire. And if it wasn't for friends being sick and the oh so scary typhoon, I would have been a super hot Hello Kitty ballerina out in Tokyo. I guess I'll have to stay in Japan for another year to show Japan what's up!