We're turning Japanese, we really think so

Our friends from London, Mario and Abby, decided to visit us in Asia over Spring Break. We met up with them during their layover in Hong Kong, and thus began our adventure to Nihon (Japan). 

Japan has a reputation for being surprisingly efficient, and for the most part it is well deserved. However, our first experience at Narita airport was a bit hairy. We landed at 8:30pm, and the last train to Tokyo leaves the airport at 9:45pm. It's over an hour to get to the city by train, and even longer and much more expensive by taxi, so we had to make it. After disembarking the plane, we sprinted on the people movers to get stamped in at immigration, grab our bags, clear customs, pick up our Japan Rail passes, and then get to the train on time. Unfortunately, no one else seemed to think this was as pressing of an issue as we did, and they took their sweet time processing us through the aforementioned tasks. Fortunately, we made it with exactly 2 minutes to spare (no thanks to you, Mr. Yamamoto!).

Phew! We made it. 

We were so lucky to have Eiko, a former ASL colleague, who was coincidentally also in Japan and an authentic Japanese person, guide us around the city. Eiko was such a kind and gracious hostess, and we appreciated her immensely. Also, we didn't have to think, which is always a bonus. She zipped us around the city, organizing our train tickets, ordering our food at delicious restaurants, and answering all our cultural questions about Japan. 

Here we are with Eiko, tour guide extraordinaire! 

A trip to Japan is worth the food alone! We loved everything from the elaborate dinners to Shabu Shabu to fresh sushi to mochi.  Even the waxed food looked delicious! 

Convenience stores have cold coffee in  refrigerators
AND hot coffee - excuse me,  hotu cohee - in warmers.
So advanced! 

A green tea donut with a green tea latte
turns Mario into The Hulk.

After an excellent day in Tokyo touring temples and eating food, we were off to Kyoto. One fast and comfortable ride on the shinkansen (bullet train), and we arrived in Kyoto. Abby had reserved 2 nights at a traditional Japanese ryokan, a bed and breakfast (and dinner!) of sorts. Our very cute room had a tatami mat, futons, tea and mochi to greet us, and yukatas (Japanese robes).  

"Dinner is at 6:30pm," informed the manager.

"Should we wear our yukatas?" I asked.

"Yes," he replied.

"Do other people wear them?" 

"Yes."

Sporting our Japanese best and feeling very traditional, we arrived to dinner in our yukatas. "Try to blend in," whispered Ryan. Apparently, the Japanese patrons hadn't talked to the manager because we were the only ones wearing them. 

No matter, we enjoyed our meal and retired to bed early. Warning: Japanese futons are very comfortable to sleep on but Japanese pillows are not. They are the equivalent of sleeping on an empty dinner plate. If you go to Japan, bring your own pillow! 

The next day, we let neither the major neck kinks nor the rain stop us from seeing the sakura, cherry blossoms. We were so lucky that everything was in bloom, and the streets were lined with beautiful pink and white flowers. Bucket list item: see the cherry blossoms in Kyoto. Check!!

Philosopher's Walk. 

In front of the Ryokan Yamato. 

Our room at the Ryokan Yamato.

We headed back to Tokyo for one more evening. Eiko once again greeted us and took us to onsen, the Japanese baths. It's basically a huge room with several large, steaming bathtubs. First, you sit on a plastic stool and take a shower. Then, you soak in a bunch of different kinds of tubs - hot water, super hot water, cold water, water with medicinal herbs, water with bubbles....you get the idea. Did I mention that you and everyone around you is naked? No, it's not co-ed. Yes, it was a little awkward. But everyone walks around like they've been doing this their whole life, which they have, so I guess it's OK. You can also opt to go to the massage room, or have a salt scrub, or other types of equally relaxing spa-like activities. To summarize, it was awesome. 

In front of the onsen.

There is even onsen for dogs!

Apparently, this is to keep out the Japanese mafia. No yakuza allowed!
I am so glad I never got a tattoo in college. Tattoo = no onsen = so sad.

After another fantabulous dinner overlooking the Tokyo harbor, we ended the night with karaoke. Let me tell you, I absolutely loathe karaoke (I can't carry a tune, and I don't want to listen to other people who are equally terrible)....except in Japan.  For one night, I lived out my fantasy of being a rock star with the privacy of a small room, the company of good friends, and the confidence of 2 mojitos.

Mario sang in a choir in a men's a cappella group in college.
He put us all to shame. 

When I was in high school, I did a homestay in Japan for six weeks during the summer. I also took a semester of Japanese in college, and although I was never even close to being fluent, I was surprised by how many words and cultural idiosyncrasies came back to me. Ryan never even knew he had his own little geisha living under his roof ; ) It felt nice to come back and observe this incredible land of contradiction again. I absolutely LOVED Japan, and I cannot wait to return. Also, from now on I refuse to live in a country where toilet seat warmers are not the norm.

Many thanks to Mario and Abby for flying halfway across the world to spend Spring Break with us. Several of the photos in this post were taken by them, and a few have been touched up by Instagram. 

Stay tuned for part 2 of this Spring Break post, "Mario and Abby Take on Hong Kong."