Spontaneous trip to Japan
Oct 1st, 2016, 02:16 PM
#21
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Sorry!! I work for an elementary school so have gotten wrapped up in school stuff. To continue!!
Left on a whim Friday morning to go to Kanazawa instead of Hiroshima. We boarded our Shinkansen with ease this time and enjoyed the scenery en route. Since we were only staying in Kanazawa for two nights, we booked into Dormy Inn, right near the train station. Google Maps took us on a roundabout walk (with much heavier luggage that when we left home) to the hotel, which is located across the street from the shopping mall attached to the train station. Of course, the hotel wasn't ready for us to check in (we were early) so we dropped our bags and went searching for food.
Our lack of preparation brought us to a "fu" restaurant in the station. I'm assuming it was tofu but there was not much English on the menu and no Japanese from us so we took our best stab at it. It was a fair to middling meal, but at a good price. We also checked out the local bakeries and convenience stores before making our way back to the hotel.
Again, we'd upgraded to a twin room over a double room. We had the largest room on the floor (judging from the emergency documentation on the back of the door) and with our luggage, there wasn't much room to get around. The room was stifling when we arrived but cooled down to a comfortable temperature in an hour or so. Can't fault them for being energy conscious! Dormy Inn offers an option to put out the trash and used towels and be supplied with fresh in a tote bag hanging on the door handle. Absolutely acceptable for us!
As it was now after 3, my teenager wanted to remain horizontal for the rest of the day. (Sigh) I went out to get some dinner/breakfast/snacks and we made plans for an early morning.
Bright and early the next morning, we set off for Kenrokuen Garden. We enjoyed the early morning cool temps, wandered through the Kanazawa Castle grounds, and arrived at Kenokuen shortly after it opened. Wow. What a beautiful, serene landscape, especially first thing in the morning when there are few visitors. A couple of Japanese ladies were gesturing to a family and then beckoned us to join them. They were very excited to show us a blue bird on the bank of Kasumigaike pond. Daughter googled it, but of course doesn't remember what it is called.
Second on the morning agenda was to visit the craft museum on the grounds. Although small, it was a nice overview of some of the decorative arts practiced in the region.
We walked to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, again, just as it was opening, and were quite amused by the exhibit "Xijing is not Xijing, therefore Xijing is Xijing". The exhibit closed on August 28... so sad!!
From the exhibit...
“Xijing” is a fictitious city-state. In 2007, three artists formed a collaboration team called “Xijing Men” meaning people who come from Xijing. The team started a project which tells the story of a city-state somewhere in Asia that is not Beijing, Tokyo or Seoul where art-loving people reside. The story of Xijing can be interpreted as a story irradiating modern society, not just a story of a fictitious state removed from reality. Here, out of their works, we proudly present Chapter 3: Welcome to Xijing- Xijing Olympics/ Xijing Winter Olympics, Chapter 4: I Love Xijing - The Daily Life of Xijing Presidents, and Chapter 5: Xijing is NOT Xijing; their latest work. Furthermore, out of the latest works created independently by each of these three artists of a generation living in the same age, we introduce works including installations which confront historic incidents and include philosophical considerations, project images, paintings and performances.
Left on a whim Friday morning to go to Kanazawa instead of Hiroshima. We boarded our Shinkansen with ease this time and enjoyed the scenery en route. Since we were only staying in Kanazawa for two nights, we booked into Dormy Inn, right near the train station. Google Maps took us on a roundabout walk (with much heavier luggage that when we left home) to the hotel, which is located across the street from the shopping mall attached to the train station. Of course, the hotel wasn't ready for us to check in (we were early) so we dropped our bags and went searching for food.
Our lack of preparation brought us to a "fu" restaurant in the station. I'm assuming it was tofu but there was not much English on the menu and no Japanese from us so we took our best stab at it. It was a fair to middling meal, but at a good price. We also checked out the local bakeries and convenience stores before making our way back to the hotel.
Again, we'd upgraded to a twin room over a double room. We had the largest room on the floor (judging from the emergency documentation on the back of the door) and with our luggage, there wasn't much room to get around. The room was stifling when we arrived but cooled down to a comfortable temperature in an hour or so. Can't fault them for being energy conscious! Dormy Inn offers an option to put out the trash and used towels and be supplied with fresh in a tote bag hanging on the door handle. Absolutely acceptable for us!
As it was now after 3, my teenager wanted to remain horizontal for the rest of the day. (Sigh) I went out to get some dinner/breakfast/snacks and we made plans for an early morning.
Bright and early the next morning, we set off for Kenrokuen Garden. We enjoyed the early morning cool temps, wandered through the Kanazawa Castle grounds, and arrived at Kenokuen shortly after it opened. Wow. What a beautiful, serene landscape, especially first thing in the morning when there are few visitors. A couple of Japanese ladies were gesturing to a family and then beckoned us to join them. They were very excited to show us a blue bird on the bank of Kasumigaike pond. Daughter googled it, but of course doesn't remember what it is called.
Second on the morning agenda was to visit the craft museum on the grounds. Although small, it was a nice overview of some of the decorative arts practiced in the region.
We walked to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, again, just as it was opening, and were quite amused by the exhibit "Xijing is not Xijing, therefore Xijing is Xijing". The exhibit closed on August 28... so sad!!
From the exhibit...
“Xijing” is a fictitious city-state. In 2007, three artists formed a collaboration team called “Xijing Men” meaning people who come from Xijing. The team started a project which tells the story of a city-state somewhere in Asia that is not Beijing, Tokyo or Seoul where art-loving people reside. The story of Xijing can be interpreted as a story irradiating modern society, not just a story of a fictitious state removed from reality. Here, out of their works, we proudly present Chapter 3: Welcome to Xijing- Xijing Olympics/ Xijing Winter Olympics, Chapter 4: I Love Xijing - The Daily Life of Xijing Presidents, and Chapter 5: Xijing is NOT Xijing; their latest work. Furthermore, out of the latest works created independently by each of these three artists of a generation living in the same age, we introduce works including installations which confront historic incidents and include philosophical considerations, project images, paintings and performances.
Oct 1st, 2016, 02:25 PM
#22
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After the museum, which includes the exhibit Swimming Pool, by Leonardo Erlich (also quite amusing from both sides of the water), we were on the hunt for lunch. I'd spied a restaurant highly rated in a shopping mall and took a photo of the listing. Of course, as luck would have it, I cut off the pertinent information. So much for trying to be prepared!! We made our way to Daiwa with no problem; just couldn't find the restaurant mentioned (which was on the 6th floor, and we were in the basement.) Never mind, we had a fine lunch at a ramen place.
We eventually returned to our hotel room for the late afternoon, turned on the TV (!! first and only time!) to watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. Eventually we emerged to stock up for dinner and breakfast, packed up, and prepared for our morning Shinkansen back to Tokyo.
We eventually returned to our hotel room for the late afternoon, turned on the TV (!! first and only time!) to watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. Eventually we emerged to stock up for dinner and breakfast, packed up, and prepared for our morning Shinkansen back to Tokyo.
Oct 1st, 2016, 05:18 PM
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Thanks, dgunbug! Considering that it was the second trip of the summer, it truly was a special two weeks. I really should get myself organized and do a trip report on our nearly 4 weeks in Ecuador, which started in June. Katy and I had such a great summer that we've vowed to spend the next 10 summers exploring the US and the world (with or without spouses.) Time is fleeting!
Oct 9th, 2016, 02:23 PM
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Last leg... back to Tokyo.
Because our first day in Tokyo was so spectacular, we couldn't wait to return. Early on Sunday, we checked out, sauntered to the train station, and took the next Shinkanshen to Shibuya station to return to the Hotel Excel Shibuya, really a great hotel location. This time we asked to upgrade to a room with a view. For $50 more, we were given a corner room on the 22nd floor overlooking the Shibuya Scramble. Huge room with large sitting area, right off the elevators. Score!
Our room wasn't ready, so we went out to find lunch. This is where our lack of prep time started to disintegrate. We wandered around a neighborhood that we hadn't explored yet, then because of the heat, returned to the Mark City mall where there were many restaurants. We decided on La Casa de Nao, an Italian restaurant. It was average, yet pricey food. There was, however, a sushi restaurant that had a long line nearby. If we'd had an hour to wait, I'm sure it would have been wonderful.
For the last 4 days, I'm going to summarize. We were pretty "templed" out from Kyoto, so we spent the last of our time in Japan exploring neighborhoods.
We visited Harajuki and Omotesando, just a couple of streets away from each other yet worlds apart. In Omotesando we visited Oriental Bazaar to find some Kokeshi dolls for my school library. Kyoto's Higashiyama District had many more shops specializing in traditional-style souvenirs and I highly recommend that you do your shopping there.
We had a lot of fun browsing on Kappabashi Street, where we picked up knives for hubby at Kamata. I bought two for hubby and one for his brother, but hubby claimed his brother's by saying "I could never break up a set!"
We visited the Tsukiji fish market, but there were so many people that it was hard to see the bigger fish. No worries, we enjoyed our stroll anyway.
Finally, on my daughter's birthday, we went to Roppongi Hills where we saw the Ghibli exhibit, had a very nice lunch at Rigoletto's (burgers!). We visited Mr. Harry AND Bunny Cafe'... where we were able to hold hedgehogs, bunnies, or chinchillas for $20 per 30 minutes. Daughter was in bunny heaven!
For dinner, we waited for Hakushu, in Shibuya, to open. The previous day, our hotel had tried to call repeatedly for a reservation with no success.
We were the first customers of the day, and enjoyed watching the chef trim the filet for the night. (Note: we observed the phone ringing with no one answering. When they're busy, they're busy!)
We ordered both filet and sirloin, and although filet is typically my favorite, the sirloin was incredible and my favorite here. The vegetables were good and the salad a bright surprise.
As the restaurant started to fill up (12 customers at this point) and more burners were turned on, my daughter started to feel affected by gas burning, although I had no issues with it. We'd return in a heartbeat, though!! Dinner was $70 pp and I wish I'd ordered the asparagus and mushrooms too.
All too soon it was time to head back towards Los Angeles. We took the limousine bus back to the airport with no problems, and were happy, finally, to be home for the rest of the summer.
Thanks for reading!
Because our first day in Tokyo was so spectacular, we couldn't wait to return. Early on Sunday, we checked out, sauntered to the train station, and took the next Shinkanshen to Shibuya station to return to the Hotel Excel Shibuya, really a great hotel location. This time we asked to upgrade to a room with a view. For $50 more, we were given a corner room on the 22nd floor overlooking the Shibuya Scramble. Huge room with large sitting area, right off the elevators. Score!
Our room wasn't ready, so we went out to find lunch. This is where our lack of prep time started to disintegrate. We wandered around a neighborhood that we hadn't explored yet, then because of the heat, returned to the Mark City mall where there were many restaurants. We decided on La Casa de Nao, an Italian restaurant. It was average, yet pricey food. There was, however, a sushi restaurant that had a long line nearby. If we'd had an hour to wait, I'm sure it would have been wonderful.
For the last 4 days, I'm going to summarize. We were pretty "templed" out from Kyoto, so we spent the last of our time in Japan exploring neighborhoods.
We visited Harajuki and Omotesando, just a couple of streets away from each other yet worlds apart. In Omotesando we visited Oriental Bazaar to find some Kokeshi dolls for my school library. Kyoto's Higashiyama District had many more shops specializing in traditional-style souvenirs and I highly recommend that you do your shopping there.
We had a lot of fun browsing on Kappabashi Street, where we picked up knives for hubby at Kamata. I bought two for hubby and one for his brother, but hubby claimed his brother's by saying "I could never break up a set!"
We visited the Tsukiji fish market, but there were so many people that it was hard to see the bigger fish. No worries, we enjoyed our stroll anyway.
Finally, on my daughter's birthday, we went to Roppongi Hills where we saw the Ghibli exhibit, had a very nice lunch at Rigoletto's (burgers!). We visited Mr. Harry AND Bunny Cafe'... where we were able to hold hedgehogs, bunnies, or chinchillas for $20 per 30 minutes. Daughter was in bunny heaven!
For dinner, we waited for Hakushu, in Shibuya, to open. The previous day, our hotel had tried to call repeatedly for a reservation with no success.
We were the first customers of the day, and enjoyed watching the chef trim the filet for the night. (Note: we observed the phone ringing with no one answering. When they're busy, they're busy!)
We ordered both filet and sirloin, and although filet is typically my favorite, the sirloin was incredible and my favorite here. The vegetables were good and the salad a bright surprise.
As the restaurant started to fill up (12 customers at this point) and more burners were turned on, my daughter started to feel affected by gas burning, although I had no issues with it. We'd return in a heartbeat, though!! Dinner was $70 pp and I wish I'd ordered the asparagus and mushrooms too.
All too soon it was time to head back towards Los Angeles. We took the limousine bus back to the airport with no problems, and were happy, finally, to be home for the rest of the summer.
Thanks for reading!
