Coming and Going

It had been two years since Jan had been to Japan and with her last visit here to see me, I am surprised she had another go at it.  But I think it payed off in the long run.  During this visit she I actually had days off so I could spend time with her, so as not leaving her alone to fend for herself.  Also, I am not living in Miyagi anymore, and there is significantly more to do in Tokyo than there was in and around the remote bath house I was living in the last time she came to the land of the rising sun.

We got to see and do some touristy things that I never do and had never done.  For example, this giant pole, erected over the course of the past three years or so, but only recently finished, is known as the Tokyo Sky Tree and is the second tallest structure in the world, I think.  We went to it and saw it, walked around it, ate at the McDonalds at the base of it, and decided not to stand in line for 2 hours to pay to go up in it.  

We had some hot tea at the Canal Cafe by the river and enjoyed the chilly autumn weather.

Luckily, there was a dancing contest going on near my apartment the day after Jan arrived and we got to see all sorts of dancers competing all over the streets.

Jan wanted to see some sumo wrestling so we woke up bright and early to go to the nearest sumo practice spot, where they were going at it.  It is funny to watch, but they take it very seriously!

Here is Jan enjoying Shibuya's famous scramble crossing, the busiest crosswalk in the world!! 

Here is Jan not quite enjoying or knowing what to do with green tea ice cream.  At least you can say you tried it!

Jan and myself at the Sensoji temple on a perfectly crisp day to visit this famous tourist spot.  Bye now!

Well, Jan came and went and it is back to school for me!  And time for report cards and fake smiles because I have to have my picture taken with all of my students!  

Summer School

Isshiki Beach

Here are some pictures of the beach from last weekend.  It was the first time I was able to go this year.  I had been planning to go with some of my coworkers and friends for about three weeks.  The weather was finally perfect for it last weekend.  We had a lot of fun but we went to a beach that was kind of far.  

Tokyo Summer

Tokyo is in the midst of a hot summer and it has been very humid so far.  Every time you step outside it is like stepping into a sauna, with thick and syrupy air.  I forget every year how hot it gets, but I am quickly reminded when the humidity rolls around and you can't even walk to the station without breaking a sweat, no matter how casually you are dressed.  I have been trying to stay inside for the most part because it is really miserable to try and get out and do stuff.  Aside from work, I have been hanging around my neighborhood and I decided to snap a few pictures from around where I live.  

I popped into one of my favorite local restaurants, Ootoya, for their delicious chicken nanban and some green tea.

But after being outside for a little while, even just popping out for dinner, I quickly decide that it is more comfortable in my air conditioned apartment and head back.  Even after the sun goes down, the humidity just doesn't stop.  But it has been a good summer so far.  I haven't been able to make it to the beach yet, but I am planning on going next weekend!  I need a break from the hot city and all of it's concrete!

And a Japanese cemetery outside of the city, on my way to work.

Recently

I recently discovered a nice little cafe on the river called Canal Cafe and here are some pictures:

                                      

You can pay around $6 and take a boat out on the river.  The weather was nice but a little hot and I didn't want to get sun burned, so I didn't do it.  Maybe next time.

This is the newest addition to my living room!  It's a tiny little bonsai tree.  It is really small and has tiny white flowers blooming on it.  It will live for a long time, probably longer than me!  But they can be very temperamental, so I have to take care of it and water it often, as well as let it outside for fresh air and morning sunlight.  I have had good luck with the other plants so I thought it would be okay.  The lady I bought it from said it could get bigger and I might have to buy a new pot!

Went for a stroll in Ginza recently to go to the Apple store and get a new iPhone since mine had some weird blue line pop up on it.  This is the fanciest and most expensive part of Tokyo and they close the streets for pedestrians during weekends so they can shop at the ridiculously expensive stores!  I went to the 13 story Abercrombie and Fitch flagship store!  That was a headache.

                                          This is one of my students this year.  He is so silly!

Delicious mango dessert in Sunshine City!

New Stuff

I recently got some new things for my apartment.  I got a new sofa, a new rug, a new clock, a new bookshelf, a new table, and a little black bear from my Mom (thank you!).  

My apartment is barely recognizable from when I first moved in.  I threw away a large white sofa that looked like it had been fished out of the trash and a TV that didn't work along with a TV stand and a vacuum cleaner that didn't work.  I also organized the books that were just laying everywhere and in no particular order, wiping the ridiculous layer of dust off of each one and throwing the useless Tom Clancy's and Dean Koontz novels away in the process (actually, I didn't throw them away, they are on my balcony in a box, waiting to be taken to the used book shop).  

Just yesterday, my new sofa bed was delivered and it is a nice addition to the living room I think.  It is kind of small, but the arms and back fold down to make a bed for any visitors!

And my little black bear from my mom is relaxing on the bookshelf beside the bonsai book.  He smells like home!  Speaking of home, I finally have my tickets home in August and I can't wait to see everyone!  

Me at my Friday school in the English room during my two hour break between classes, playing with my iPhone!

Yokohama, Chinatown, and Sumo!

I went to Yokohama to shop at the Landmark tower and saw a performance of some guy climbing a ladder and juggling things dangerously.  Then it started raining and I had to run back across the street and head towards Chinatown.

Chinatown was fun because there were a lot of shops and things to look at, but it was so crowded because it was Golden Week.  But we had nice Chinese food and got to see some cool shrines.

This is 8 bit cafe, a little cafe that is video game themed.  You can play video games here, too.  They have drinks called Metroid, Donkey Kong, Princess Peach, etc.  A really neat place.

Transferring at Ochanomizu (tea water).  The water is really green like green tea, though, so I guess it's named appropriately.

Went to Ryogoku to meet a Japanese friend and eat sumo food but he didn't show up so I just saw some sumo things while I was there with my other friend.  Now I want to see a sumo match!!