June 2023 Waterford Japan Trip!!!
And other June happenings...
It all started when Tim proposed a Japan trip and 30 students signed up to go! He didn't think they would all be able to make it, but after everything was finalized, only one student dropped out, so that left 29 students. It's a huge group, and so Waterford agreed to let me go along too, as well as K's wife, and the art teacher and the school counselor. Six adults in all.
Day 1
We arrived at Narita on ZipAir and exchanged money. The exchange rate was fabulous, about 142 yen to the dollar. We saw a FamilyMart, and the first thing I ate was something I'd been craving for a long time-A TUNA ONIRI!!! And it did not disappoint! Just as I'd remembered-YUM!
We had a good trip flying over and after checking into the hotel, we went to a festival in Akasaka (Red Hill). Up on the platform, there were beautiful lanterns set up and several taiko drums with musicians playing folk music. Around the platform, Japanese dancers dressed in yukata were doing a traditional dance. It was amazing! Such a beautiful coming-together-of-the-community.
The students tried festival food (yaki-soba, karaage chicken, etc.) for dinner.
I had the karaage chicken and it was YUM!
We went up the stairs to see the lanterns and the museum.
It was a spectacular ambiance at night!
Everyone was exhausted from the trip, but we managed to get a group photo.
We came back to the hotel and settled in for the night, waking up at 2 am with jet lag.
We did some laundry since we were awake.
There was a rumor that our hotel was haunted and we helped out by making some noise, ha!
Day 2
Breakfast was at the hotel and it was so good! I had curry rice, a salad, ham and a roll. It was delicious! Honestly, the food in Japan is divine, so I'll try not to overly obsess over it, but that is hard because it really is extraordinary!
Shinjuku and Akihabara
We went to the Sensoji Temple and it started to rain (June is the rainy season in Japan).
It rained hard-so beautiful with all the colorful umbrellas.
We went to the Kabukicho Tower (entertainment complex).
It is new, modern, and open 24/7.
We saw Godzilla who roars with smoke coming from his mouth and his eyes light up on the hour. We also saw the cat billboard where the cat looks like it is coming right off off the sign. Hard to get a "full effect" picture of it! So fun!
Lunch was at Kura-a conveyor belt sushi (etc) restaurant.
The students ate all they could hold and loved the atmosphere of the restaurant so much!
We went to the Living Planet Exhibit-a modern, interactive experience with wading in water, and different textures and smells.
I loved the "koi" swimming all around our legs.
The orchids were REAL and smelled lovely.
One of the students lost their backpack at the museum and it took a bit to find it, so we ended up dividing the group of students into those who wanted beef bowl for dinner, and those who wanted McDonalds. Got to bed late and woke up at 3 am.
Day 3-14
We left the hotel early and picked up delicious train station bentos for breakfast.
Amazing as always!
We took the bullet train, the subway, the bus, and a cable car up to Koyasan.
And arrived at a quaint little town, where they were having a festival.
It was raining, but the townspeople carried on with the celebration.
So beautiful!
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