I wasn’t in Japan for very long, so how long can my reflection even be? My trip was jam-packed with so many things to do that I didn’t have much time to think about it or find more insight during the trip. Looking back now, I do have pieces of memories or moments where I …
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Day 6: Kyoto
Life is full of uncertainties, perhaps one day some unforeseen circumstance would bring her into his life once more Murasaki Shikibu It would have been a huge regret of mine if I didn’t take the hour long train up the olde town road to Kyoto — the former capital of Japan. The train stations might …
Day 5: Shinsaibashi & Dotonrobi
Find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which that thing provides. Junichiro Tanizaki The hotel in Osaka had a buffet breakfast as well. Served in a restaurant, there a variety of foods, both Western and traditional Japanese. The hotel in Osaka had a …
Day 4: Osaka Castle & Shinsekai
Pessimism is a losing strategy. Leadership demands both confidence and optimism in abundance. Toyotomi Hideyoshi It’s undeniable that Osaka Castle is a famous landmark — I would be a failure of a tourist if I didn’t visit the area. I went early in the morning to enjoy the nature and parks around it as well. …
Day 3: From Tokyo to Osaka
Today was a pretty mild day. I had planned to head to the Tempozan Area after arriving at the Kansai International Airport and dropping off my luggage in my hotel. However, my flight was delayed (again) an hour and it took us an hour to get to our hotel. By the time we were in …
Day 2: Tsukiji Market & Harajuku
Our lovely hotel package came with a buffet breakfast, and since it’s a back-alley hotel that targets Japanese locals, they served mostly local Japanese cuisine. Food like gyoza, mackerel, miso soup and chicken curry being eaten for breakfast was really immersive: The food was homemade, there was a chef behind the counter who made the …
Day 1: Shibuya
Those who cannot feel the littleness of great things in themselves are apt to overlook the greatness of little things in others. Okakura Kakuzo We landed in Japan at around 3 PM and arrived at our hotel at 4. I was exhausted. Even with such comfy bedding, good food and the comfort befitting a duchess, …
the Flight
Flying is super not fun! me I absolutely hate flying, I abhor it — it’s crampy, it’s dry, it’s just blegh. I’ve flown economy/coach for all my life, having to decide which way to lean your head to maximize sleep comfort and minimize the risk of a disk slipping, sitting in an uncomfortable position for …
Pre-Trip: Learning Japanese
To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world. Unknown (Chinese Proverb) To prepare my trip to Japan, I bought a hefty book on learning the how to somewhat fluently speak Japanese, it felt bad last time to see people trying to explain things in English to …
Pre-Trip: Itinerary
For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned. Benjamin Franklin What a hopeful quote, makes me really want to put in more time to organize other parts of my life (although just the sheer horror of other people’s face is motivational enough). Today, I spent my time preparing for the trip to Japan, …
Ivy In Japan 