going back

i didn't think i'd ever get to use this blog again, but guess what? hubby and i are going back to japan!! i could not be more excited.

this time, we've decided to time it to see the cherry blossoms. that's something that was on my original must-do list, but we couldn't make it work. only problem is that the planning time is more rushed. we are aiming to go for the end of march/early april. i've got a lot of work to do. like last time, i'm unemployed, so i've got the time. i've just been... in a funk. extreme laziness is the main symptom. better get started now.

my only ideas this time around, so far are:

hanami (cherry blossom viewing party crashing - ueno park?)

revisiting some of the same places as last time - wandering akihabara, tokyo station, fushimi inari taisha

ghibli museum (missed it last time - best to buy tickets at the same time as getting the JR pass because they sell out) 

more temples and shrines

gundam cafe

imperial palace

and maybe head out to nikko or kamakura~

edo wonderland

daibutsu

things i want to buy:

toilet slippers

uwabaki

eco powder for used cooking oil (katamete-pon)

bull dog sauce

heated toilet seat?

wagashi

konpeito

i love how i wrote out precise instructions on obtaining an exchange order for the JR pass. i was doing it to help out other people (even though no one reads this blog), but as it turns out, i helped myself. there is no way i would have remembered all that. i just hope the process hasn't changed in 5 years. (has it really been that long?!)

i'm still trying to update the days from my first trip... i SWEAR, i will stay on top of it this time around. even if it's just point form with pictures, i WILL post something every day when we're there again.

some things i absolutely have to do whilst in japan

i wrote this several days ago and have been adding to it. i still am but i decided to post it anyway. (all the pictures were "stolen" from google images so i'm not putting credits.)
in no particular order~

stay in a ryokan ~

for tips, check out this site ~ http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/about/ryokan/plans.htm

purikura (aka "print club" or photo booth stickers) ~ see TJG's video

buy weird candy/chocolate at konbini ("covenience store") ~ perhaps unusual kitkat flavours and puccho~

(if you're interested in j-snacks, check out Japanese Snack Reviews ~ http://japanesesnackreviews.blogspot.com/)

buy... whatever... from a vending machine ~ they have EVERYTHING! (but i'm thinking pocari sweat since i haven't tried it yet... and maybe some sort of hot drink ~ just for the novelity of it)


buy soba, ramen, takoyaki (octopus balls) and other japanese treats from street stalls ~


go to an izakaya (japanese pub) ~


eat at a kaiten zushi shop (sushi on conveyer) ~


go to the Studio Ghibli Museum ~ (My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away are my favourite movies)

http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/welcome/

go to shitamachi museum ~

http://www.taitocity.net/taito/shitamachi/

go to edo-tokyo museum ~

http://edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/english/information/index.html

visit hachiko! ~

check out the shibuya 109 building ~

stay at night at a capsule hotel ~

"check out" a love hotel ~

go to a few maid cafes ~

http://www.cafe-athome.com/pics/?lang=en

http://mailish.jp/

http://koakuma.littlebsd.com/


visit sensoji temple and asakusa shrine ~

and nakamise dori ~

ride the shinkansen ~

see (kinkakuji) the golden pavillion and fushimi inari taisha shrine (the "torii maze")

participate in peter macintosh's geisha culture walking lecture ~

http://www.kyotosightsandnights.com/walking.html

see geisha perform ~
http://www.kyoto-maiko.jp/info/index.html

see the gion kaburenjo theatre ~

and gion corner ~

participate in tea ceremony ~

shows daily @ hosomi museum http://www.emuseum.or.jp/eng/index.html

see the ichiriki teahouse ~