Our Last Day in Japan, Narita-san Shinsho-ji Temple

Dec 17, 2005

Jason and I got up early and got dressed up for the flight out of Japan, but we didn't plan on going straight to the airport. Heath was taking us in to the city early so that we could visit another beautiful Temple.

The Narita-san Shinsho-ji Temple was founded in 940. The legend has it that a Goma rite dedicated to the image of Fudomyoo, which had originally been enshrined at Takaosan Jingoji Temple in Kyoto, help to miraculously suppress a revolt against Emperor Suzaku. An oracle proclaimed that the image, which had been transported from Kyoto to Narita, should stay where it was to relieve the locals from suffering. Emperor Suzaku then ordered the creation of the Narita-san temple to enshrine the Fudomyoo image.

There were some of the most beautiful gardens surrounding the temple grounds and buildings, but Heath and Jason both assured me that they were even beautiful in the springtime when the flowers were blooming. A few highschool students were out jogging the garden trails, and Heath told us that in the summertime they were a more common sight.

We stayed for a couple of hours, wandering the garden and temple grounds before we had to get back in the truck and head to the airport. We thought we had plenty of time before our flight, so we had McDonalds with Heath while we waited. It wasn't until we were standing in a HUGE line for customs that we discovered we'd made a mistake. We noticed several Japanese girls talking to people in the lines, and when they reached Jason we discovered that they were actually looking for us! Our plane was about to leave, and we weren't on it!

Surrounded by Japanese girls on radios we were suddenly on a mad race through the airport to make our plane. They held the transport buses until we could get there, and broke the crowds ahead of us, all the time telling us that they were really sorry and that there was no way they could get us there in time.

To our surprise and shock they actually held the plane for us, much to the dismay and fury of our fellow passengers. We got hordes of dirty looks as we made our way to our seats and sat down. Thankfully we slept most of the flight home, and Jason admitted that he would be glad to sleep in his own bed again. I was a little less pleased to be on my way home, if I had my wish I would have stayed another week!

Kannon Statue Goddess of Mercy over Tokyo Bay

Dec 16, 2005

Shige spent the entire day with us, driving us all the way up to see the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy overlooking Tokyo Bay. Just like the statue of Liberty the Goddess has interior stairs for visitors to climb, but unlike Liberty the Goddess has beautiful shrines and prayer boxes along the way so that you can offer incense to the gods or goddesses that represent your needs. Within the Crown of the Goddess is a rickety ladder that you can climb to reach a small alcove with a book of goals or wishes left by past visitors. Most of them were written in Japanese, but here and there throughout the book you could find one in English.

We walked around the beautiful gardens for awhile, looking at all the statues and floral arrangements before taking a brief stop at the gift shop and heading back down to our vehicle.

I was dying to see the beach after standing out on the rails near the Crown of the Goddess, so Shige drove me clear out to one of the few beaches that weren't completely destroyed by polution from the city. From what Jason and Shige claimed, most of the beaches have become unpleasant due to the amount of waste being washed up on shore from the big cities. But the beach we visited seemed to be pretty clean, although completely empty of visitors. I collected a pocketful of shells as a souvenire before we made the long walk back to where we'd parked, and made our way homeward.


Next: Our Last Day in Japan >>

The Sega Center in Chiba

Dec 15, 2005

Jason had been telling me about a huge arcade center in Chiba where Desi and Rumi had gone earlier to win some Disney stuffed animals and other prizes, so today they took me down there to check it out.

Heath had to stay back at the house to teach his English class, but everyone else piled into the car and headed out to Chiba. I was surprised by the actual size of the place, it was like an arcade mall gone Vegas style. There were three or four seperate gigantic rooms. In the first room were every gambling style attraction that you could expect to find in a Vegas casino. That seemed to be where the men liked to hang out while the women headed over to the center room, which was a huge arcade center full of arcade cranes to tempt the passerby.

The third area was a big restaurant on one side and a small childrens area on the other. Kids ages ten and under could get their pictures taken in the photo booths or play in the fun areas provided there.

I was surprised by how generous the Japanese workers turned out to be. If they saw you trying to win a stuffed animal on the arcade cranes, and you'd put in what they considered the worth of the animal to be (about $2 and up) they'd come over, open the machine, and either give us the animal or place it dangling on the ledge where we could knock it down the chute in one or two additional tries. We all left with at least one toy and a bag full of candy.

Rumi and Desi decided to stay home, but Shige showed up and joined us for a trip down to a local Ramen restaurant. I was fascinated by the way the workers made the noodles right on the counter so their guests could see the process. The food was delicious.

Next: Kannon Statue of Mercy >>

Greater Tokyo and the Akihabara Temple

Dec 14, 2005

Desi had to fly home today, so Rumi took her to the airport while Heath dropped off Jason and I at the train station. We took the train in to Greater Tokyo and the Akihabara Temple area. It was amazing!

There were literally hundreds of people filling the area around the tourist booths all up and down the walkways between the street and the temple buildings. I adored all the pagoda roofs, and original statuary. Jason showed me how to correcly purify with the incense and water from the fountain before going inside the temple. I was surprised to see how honest and open religion was for the worshippers there. Nobody made fun of anyone as they dipped the ladel and washed their hands. Nobody laughed or pointed, or whispered behind their hands. There was true respect between the people, whether they were there to worship or simply there as tourists.

Inside the temple was an amazingly beautiful room, which unfortunately had to be barriered off from visitors due to the amount of gold and gold filigree throughout. We tossed our coins into the enormous freestanding collection box and stepped back out into the sunlight once more.

We walked around the gardens for awhile, noticing all the prayer notes tied high up in the branches of beautiful trees. Something else that caught my attention was the way that the Japanese clothed the statues around the temple gardens. Jason explained that they believed there were spirits in the statues, and that the clothing is a way of honoring and giving consideration to the spirits. (If you click on the picture you can see a close up of these two statues wearing warm red bibs)

We stopped to buy our own prayer note on our way back towards the railway and I adored the way that they had it set up. You picked up a box full of marked sticks and shook it a few times, then reached inside and pulled out a stick. You looked at the markings on the stick and then found the matching markings on a drawer along the wall. You open the drawer and receive a small prayer roll. Each stick is different and will give you a different prayer. You pay for your prayer and are supposed to tie it onto a prayer string nearby, despite all the prayers we saw tied in the trees.

On the way home we stopped and just talked for awhile at Starbucks. It was a perfect day!


Next: Sega Center in Chiba >>

The Yokota Airbase in Japan

Dec 13, 2005

Heath needed to go to the Yokota Air Base, so everyone decided to tag along and turn it into a tourist site. It was pretty much another shopping trip, but at least I can now claim to have seen the airbase my grandfather built.

I bought some postcards to send back home, and had a good time checking out the great shopping center they had on base. I also got to meet some of the people that Jason kept as friends back when he lived in Japan a couple of years ago. I think the stories that I heard from Heath and Jason on the way to the base set me up for the event however. By the time I met their friends, I had a very rich, and not by any means untarnished, picture of them in my mind's eye. They didn't let me down.

I bought a new book to read on the long flight back home, and we picked up some cheap souvenirs at the market before heading back to Chiharadai.

Rumi made sushi for dinner, which was spectacular! She taught Jason how to make California rolls, and a few others, when he was living their before. It was obvious she had culinary talent. After dinner Jason and I snuggled on the couch and watched the television show "24" in Japanese. It's amazing how popular the show is in Japan. Rumi had purchased the entire series collection, and from what Shige told us all of his friends were avid viewers.


Next: Greater Tokyo & the Akihabara Temple >>

Jason and I visit Chiba Japan

Dec 11, 2005

Jason and I were up early the next morning. Apparently jet lag was still affecting our schedules. We took showers and got dressed while we waited for our hosts to emerge from their beds. We found that Heath and Rumi wanted to spend the day together at home, which was no surprise considering how long Heath and Jason had been on their security tour. Desi decided to stay with them, so we called on Shige to take us around town and show us the sites. It's always nice to have a native at your side, especially in Japan the first time you attempt their notorious rail systems!

Both Jason and Shige were worried about my being able to walk for any period of time, so we divided the day up with lots of sit down time for me. We ate at some fun restuarants, and did a lot of window shopping at the more popular market places.

Shige was eager to introduce us to a waitress at the Chiba Outback Steakhouse, so we made that our final destination. It was a lot of fun, I only wished I'd been more physically fit at the time so I could take advantage of some of the walking tours of the area. Jason quickly promised we'd come back again, and not to stress over anything I might miss on this trip.

We arrived back home a bit late, and as I was physically exhausted, I went straight to bed while he stayed up late talking to our hosts.


Next: Yokota Airbase >>

Tokyo Disneyland

Saturday Dec 10, 2005

Desi, Rumi and Aika decided that I just had to see the shopping center at Tokyo Disneyland. Rumi particularly loved the Disney stuffed animals.

As we were walking through the shopping center we came across one of the most amazing Santas I've ever seen. He was dressed all in gold and white, rather than the traditional red and white. Rather like the Father Christmas image, but carrying a gold bag full of toys and surrounded with beautiful elves, also dressed in glistening gold silk, golden tinsel and sequins. I didn't have my camera with me, but Desi asked one of the elves to get pictures of us with Santa.

Unfortunately I wasn't really up to a full day of shopping, and found myself sitting down every few minutes, wherever I found a seat. Soon my feet and hands were tingling, which was a good sign that my damaged nerves had reached their limits. We had to call it a day earlier than we would have liked.

Jason and Heath got home about 10:30 that night, and I was very happy to snuggle up against the man I'd been missing for the past few weeks. We didn't get to sleep until midnight, as we had a lot of catching up to do. It was fun listening to his stories of bodyguarding for the Japanese rock star Gackt, and hearing all his crazy adventures.

Next: Touring Chiba Japan >>

My Arrival in Japan

Dec 9, 2005

I was surprised by how big and commercialized Japan actually was. I understand that there are a lot of people living on an island that can only grow vertically, but it was amazing trying to navigate through the crowds.

Jason had warned me that the minute the passengers of the plane landed there would be a massive rush, almost run, for customs. He told me to get off the plane as quickly as possible and try to stay at the front of this racing crowd. I didn't realize how important that was until I fell behind. Fast movements combined with a crushing crowd and I was soon suffering terrible pain along my damaged spine and through my neck. I tried to surf the sidelines, but was pushed further and further back. When I reached the customs gates I was left standing in long lines which took almost an hour to pass through.

As I at last passed through the gates and walked out into the main body of the airport, I was immensely grateful to see Desi there waving to me. She had been worried when I hadn't appeared quickly, thinking I may have missed my flight, or that I had passed by her without notice.

I was glad to retire to my temporary room that night. Jason was still on his security tour, and wouldn't be meeting up with me until the following evening, so I had plenty of time to relax and recover from the gruelling day. I snuggled up in some blankets and read until I heard Desi come up from teaching her English class in the city, then drifted off to sleep.

Next: Tokyo Disneyland >>