Japan Overview
Daily Journal
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Week 4
Japanese Vocabulary
Tokyo Mon. 6/30/86
Arrived in Tokyo about noon after a long, long flight (through Seoul). Steve’s friend, Ken-ken Hatanaka picked us up from the Airport. We hung out at Ken-ken’s very tiny apartment and partied for a while. Ken-ken’s very beautiful (and tiny) girlfriend Emi cooked us tongue stew.
Tokyo Tue. 7/1
Spent six hours in a Japanese bath house with Ken-ken and Brett Hon, and old Navy buddy of Steve and John.
Got scrubbed, massaged, and water-logged. Met Emi at a Yakatori restaurant and proceeded to feast and
drink Sho-chu Sours. Went to Henry Africa’s, where Steve threw crackers at all the pretty women he could find.
Yokohama Wed, 7/2
Went sightseeing in Tokyo. Went to the Akihabara Electronics District to look for good deals, but the prices were no better than in the U.S. due to the poor yen exchange rate. Ate the largest bowl of Ramen I’ve ever seen for lunch. Next we went to Asakusa Kannon Temple, which
is surrounded by an outdoor shopping area. Met Isao Jugaoka and went to dinner(s). First stop –
a great Yakatori restaurant. We then moved on to a very cool little Sushi/Sashimi place.
Barely made the last train back to Brett’s house in Yokohama.
Tazawako Thu, 7/3
Left Yokohama for Tazawako (with Brett). Took the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) from Ueno Station
in Tokyo to Morioka, cruising up to 240 kmh (150 mph). Took the local train to Tazawako, then
a school bus up to the Minshuku (Japanese style hotel, where you sleep on Tatami mats).
The owner drove us up to the Onsen (Hot Springs) in the back woods, where we relaxed for a while.
Returned to a fantastic meal of I’m not sure what, but it included bamboo shoots in all different forms.
Akita Fri, 7/4
Left Tazawako after another great meal at the Minshuku. Arrived in Akita around 10:00. Spent the day wandering around town. Saw a neat local fish market where we got a lot of surprised looks and laughs - we Gaijin (foreigners) stood out like sore thumbs! Went to
the castle grounds and the Buddhist Temple. Found a beer garden on top of a large hotel
and closed the place. Went to the station to catch a night train, but they wanted 8000
yen each for a sleeper car, and that’s all that was available. Went back to town to Hotel
Hawaii, and got sucked into a Karaoke Bar by some locals that saw us passing by (this
became a regular occurrence) and closed it down too. Finally got to sleep on a real
(western) bed, but was too wasted to appreciate it. Bummer!
Matsumoto Sat 7/5
Crawled out of bed and made the train from Akita to Naoetsu. Naoetsu to Nagano to
Matsumoto. Met Isao and Yasukochi, who rented a car and drove about 2 ½ hours into
the mountains on one of the narrowest, windiest roads ever (and on the wrong side, of
course). Arrived at the Minshuku about 7:30. Went out in the rain to the outdoor Onsen,
ate dinner, and collapsed.
Takayama TSun, 7/6
After another typical Minshuku breakfast, the five of us went to the Emperor’s Onsen.
We then drove to Takayama where we met Yasu’s wife and her girlfriend Sachuko. Walked
around Takayama for a while before meeting Mieko and Akiko and inviting them to lunch.
Got dropped off at Yamakyu Minshuku before everyone else left. Walked around town for
a while and had a few beers. Bought my dad a toothpick dispenser and a Noren (door hanging).
Were massively overcharged at the Karaoke Bar in the red lantern district.
Watched the Sumo Wrestling on TV.
Contact me at: rf6gunz@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2008, Rick Fletcher
