Dinner in Fukuoka

On Tuesday, I traveled into Fukuoka after work to visit with my friend one last time before they flew back to the US. 

[insert story of wine stained LV bag]

I took a Limited Express train from Orio to Hakata and made it into the city by 6:20 p.m. The Limited Express train is unbelievably comfortable. There is so much leg room, storage, and there's no standing -- ever. I'm a huge fan!

When I arrived to the station, I put my school bag into a coin locker (so convenient) and then raced to the top of Hakata Station where the rooftop garden is. I was hoping to bring my friend there, but I wanted to visit it by myself first. It's my favorite part of coming into Fukuoka. I make sure to always stop by.

When I came back down to the station terminal, I walked outside to hail a taxi to Canal City. I guess I'd never been in Fukuoka during commuting rush hour, because I was surprised to see such a long line at the taxi stand. Usually, I can walk right up and get into a car. This time though, I waited in line and felt much more like the "Japanese salary man/woman" I always hear people talk about. It was a cool feeling. I didn't feel like a tourist. I felt like a local & kind of like Gossip Girl all at the same time.

When I finally met up with my friend, we grabbed a taxi together and headed to dinner. I had picked a sashimi restaurant for us to try --- click here to see the website. I used GURUNAVI (ぐるなゔい) the night before to look for restaurants that were foreigner friendly. Basically I was looking for places that had both English and Japanese menus, because I didn't want to be too surprised by whatever we would encounter.

The taxi ride to the restaurant was a little difficult because the address I had wasn't written in Japanese. 

[insert story of our conversation with the Taxi driver] 

It was written in romaji and it's not always guaranteed that taxi drivers will be able to decipher that character system. Next time I'll make sure to have both versions. Our driver was able to get us close enough, though. My friend and I found the restaurant by happen chance. The building was easy to find, but the floor it was on was more difficult. After we had unsuccessfully climbed all the way to the top, we were making our way back down when my friend turned the knob on a random door. We were both shocked to see the restaurant right in front of us. So lucky! -良かった!

Let's eat! - いただきます- itadakimasu

For dinner we ordered assorted sashimi, sushi, and edamame. As for our drinks, I had an umeshu (plum wine) and they had Asahi beer. The restaurant staff was patient and very helpful. I'm looking forward to going back to this restaurant in the future.

Thank you for the meal! - ごちそうさまですした - gochisousamadesushita

After dinner we walked through Tenjin and the Solaria shopping district with umbrellas that we picked up from the Family Mart across from the restaurant. Clear umbrellas are the standard in Japan. Everyone seems to have one. I was happy for it because it was easy to not only see my friend while we were walking and talking, but I could see everything else. Something I really love about Fukuoka is all of its city lights. I was already feeling nostalgic for Christmasas when we were walking around, because I remembered how beautiful Tenjin Christmas Market was last year. I can't wait to go again in a couple of months.

From Tenjin Station we took the Kuko subway line back to Hakata Station. Our train wasn't terribly crowded, but we did have to stand. Luckily, it was a quick ride.

[insert story of what its like to have me as a tour guide]

At Hakata we took the elevator to the 10th floor where the rooftop garden is. Even though it was raining, we still went. We walked through the Japanese garden and saw the city from the viewing center. When we heard thunder we headed back down to the station terminal. 

Instead of taking a taxi back to Canal City we decided to walk. There's a Starbucks across the street from Hakata Station and I was able to order a tall soy latte for the walk back. I was thrilled. Starbucks is still my one of my absolute favorite places.

The walk back was enjoyable, but definitely bitter sweet. Like I said in my last post, seeing a familiar face is great, but the homesickness that follows is something that I wasn't expecting. Still though, I'm so thankful for these visits I was able to have with my friend. I really can't believe that they were in Japan --- small world. And I'm selfishly hoping that they come back. Fingers crossed.

Day trip to Sasebo & Nagaskai

Yesterday, I took a day trip to Sasebo and Nagasaki to visit an old friend who is here for work. When I heard that they would be in Japan, I expected them to be in Tokyo or Osaka. So, I was thrilled when I found out they were in southern Japan like me. Even though Sasebo is about a 3 hour train ride from my apartment, it didn't matter because I was excited to see a familiar face in this country.

In the morning as the sun was rising, I caught a train from Orio to Hakata Station. When I got to Hakata instead of transferring trains, I headed for the bus terminal to purchase a highway bus ticket. My main reason for taking the bus was that I had never done it on my own before. I thought it would be a good challenge for me. Also, it was a little cheaper. I spent the night before researching bus time tables and how to purchase tickets. Like many things in Japan, I found out that tickets could be purchased at many locations and purchased at kiosks that had an English option. So when I got to the bus terminal, I was able to purchase my one-way ticket without any problems.

Hakata Bus Terminal 3F, automated ticket kiosk --- English friendly.

The bus ride was really enjoyable. I had both seats to myself, plenty of leg room, and the announcements were made in both English and Japanese. I'll definitely use the highway bus system again.  

View of Fukuoka from the highway bus.

View of Sasebo from the highway bus.

Once I arrived to Sasebo Bus Terminal, I walked across the street to Sasebo Station to meet up with everyone. I cannot tell you how funny it was for me to see someone I know in Japan. It didn't feel real.

After searching for a trash can --- people aren't kidding when they say they're hard to find in Japan --- we bought our tickets, some snacks and umbrellas, and headed for Nagasaki. It didn't really hit me until we were purchasing train tickets that I would have to be a semi-tour guide for the day. Up until then, I'd always been adventuring by myself, or being led around by my own tour-guide or group. This was the first time where I was the one who knew (or thought I knew) how things worked.

Our train ride from Sasebo to Nagaski was about an hour and a half. Once we got to Nagaski we walked about 15 minutes to the Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims. The museum was definitely worth touring and it left an impression on all of us.

Here are some pictures ...

Museum Website, (200 yen/adult)

Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims

Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims

Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims

Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims

Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims

After the museum, we headed back to Sasebo to have dinner at Skinny's. Our trip from Nagasaki to Sasebo was extremely long and I'm sure it tested their patience. [Insert story of my mishap as a tour guide.] But we made it, finally.

Skinny's is a well known restaurant among the foreign residents of Sasebo. Mr. Skinny makes some of the best fried chicken around --- seriously.

Sasebo, Japan

Tanabata Tree

I wrote a wish and hung it up.

Windmill "Skinny's" Restaurant, Sasebo, Japan

Skinny's half order of fried chicken. 

Shooters Shot Bar, Sasebo, Japan

Happy Hour - Grapefruit Chuhai

Shooters Shot Bar, Sasebo, Japan

Shooters Shot Bar, Sasebo, Japan

After our drinks at Shooter's, I headed to Sasebo Station to catch a train back to Orio. Since this was a long distance trip, I had to take a Limited Express train. It was so much nicer than riding on the commuter/local trains. For the first part of the trip, Sasebo to Hakata, there was hardly anyone on the train. It really felt like I had it all to myself. When I switched trains at Hakata though, my train was packed. I still had my own seat, I just had someone next to me. It was still a really nice ride and it reminded me of my Shinkansen ride to Tokyo. 

Limited Express Train, Sasebo to Hakata

Limited Express Train, Sasebo to Hakata

Limited Express Train, Sasebo to Hakata

Picked up my favorite to-go Starbucks from Family Mart for the train ride home.

I'm really happy that I was able to take this trip. Getting to see a familiar face was something I never pictured happening while I'm here in Japan. It was such a great surprise and I'm so grateful for it. 

However, I realized two things early on in the day.

1) Speaking English with native English speakers is a skill that I need to keep practicing. It was actually difficult for me to say what I wanted to say sometimes. I found myself a little tongue tied. I've become too used to speaking text book English, or simple English with the people around me. 

2) Being around people who were familiar to me, and being in places that had western culture or American decorations made me homesick. 

This is the first I've actually been homesick and really felt like I was missing something. I always miss my family and friends, but it's different. I expect to miss them because even if I was living in the US I wouldn't necessarily see them everyday either. The homesickness that I'm feeling now is different. I'm missing cultural aspects and things that I once found familiar but are now foreign to me. I think I finally realized how much I've changed. 

"A lot can change in 10 months." - What I wrote in my first blog post.

A lot has changed.

Right now, I'm homesick now for the US and a life that I could have been having. But one day, I'll be homesick for Japan and a lifestyle (teaching English as an expat) I used to have.

So like Gilmore Girls says, I'm going to wallow and acknowledge this feeling, but then move on. I still have about 8 months left in Japan and a laundry list of things I want to do. I know that time is going to continue to fly by and I'll be trying to keep up. 

This trip was a trip I'll never forget. I'm really, really glad it happened.

XOXO,

M

Wakamatsu Hydrangea Festival

Monday's English Conversation 

Student: Mickey, how was your weekend?

Mickey: It was great! I went to Mt. Takato. I saw a beautiful view from the top. 
How about you, what did you do?

This afternoon I met Shoko-san and K at Tobata Station. We had plans to go to the Wakamatsu Hydrangea (ajisai, あじさい) Festival. I had been looking forward to this trip since we planned it because hydrangeas are my favorite flower. They come in a variety of colors and sizes, but I like the large white-ish green ones the best.

I was pleasantly surprised when I found out we were taking the ferry from Tobata to Wakamatsu. I had assumed we were just going to ride a bus like we normally do. I should have known better though, because Shoko-san always has everything planned out perfectly. 

We picked seats on the second level and enjoyed the ride. It was a perfect day to be on the water.

From the port we took a free shuttle bus to the top of Mt. Takato where the festival was being held.

Our drive up the mountain was stunning. There were hydrangeas everywhere! The colors were brilliant --- bright purple, pink, and blue. They looked like large pompoms. I couldn't get enough.

Maybe one day, when I'm feeling ambitious enough, I'll climb the stairway from the base to the top of Mt. Takato. I'm sure the pictures would make it well worth it. But for today, I was really happy that were riding in a bus and not walking up the stairway to heaven. 

Here's how we spent our afternoon ...

View from the top of Mt. Takato

View of Wakamatsu Hydrangea Festival grounds

Snack Break - soft cream & black coffee , 400 yen

View of Wakamatsu Hydrangea Festival grounds

わかまつ あじさい まつり

Wakamatsu Ajisai Festival, June 2017

View of Wakamatsu Hydrangea Festival grounds

みきさん、 けいこさん、 と しょこさん

View of Wakamatsu Hydrangea Festival grounds

Today's Robot Spotting: Automower 330X by Husqvarna

Click here to check it out.

After a full afternoon of sightseeing, we boarded the shuttle and headed back to the port to catch our ferry. I'm already looking forward to our next outing. I really love spending time with Shoko-san and K. Even though there is a language barrier, we are still able to share so many special experiences together. I laughed so hard today too --- of course, you had to be there. But I'm telling you, it was the laugh out loud, uncontrollable laughter that you can't contain. It was the best.

とても楽しかった

View from the Wakamatsu Ferry

One last thing. I couldn't resist sharing this ...

Japan's public restrooms are amazing. They're so clean and inviting. When I saw this toilet today it made me want to re-visit the TOTO Museum in Kokura. I think I'll probably go this summer.

Afternoon at Slow Resort

This afternoon I ventured out with my friend H and her two daughters.  I thought they would be picking me up just to take me out for a quick lunch. I figured we'd try a new local restaurant somewhere close by. Instead, they surprised me with a trip to Slow Resort*. 

*I visited Slow Resort with Shoko-San and her friends back in March and had an exceptional time exploring the grounds of the vineyard. The gardens and event spaces were stunning even back when everything wasn't in full bloom. Field Trip to Ashiya Beach

I was so excited when they told me where we were going. I already knew I loved this place.

As we stepped onto the resort grounds I could tell that today was going to be even better than my last visit. Everything was in bloom and there were a lot more families roaming around. One of the event spaces was even being used for a wedding ceremony later in the evening. 

Before deciding on which restaurant to eat at we looked at all of the shops and wandered around the grounds.  Once again I was in awe . . . 

Slow Resort, Ashiya, Kitakyushu, Japan

Event Space at Slow Resort, Ashiya, Kitakyushu, Japan

Wedding Chapel at Slow Resort, Ashiya, Kitakyushu, Japan

Event Space at Slow Resort, Ashiya, Kitakyushu, Japan

Decorations to welcome Japan's Rainy Season 

"Say cheese!"

Very thankful for her friendship.

Just pretending to be their older sister for the day.

We talked about music, fashion, and social media.

Loved every second of it!

Lunch: Japanese margherita pizza, salad, and fresh grape juice.

Not pictured: cold brew iced coffee

After lunch we headed to the sea and I couldn't have been happier. On our drive we listened to the soundtrack to Beauty and the Beast. And I'm not gong to lie, we ended up putting the Ariana Grande and John Legend track on repeat. 

Ashiya Seaside, Kitakyushu, Japan

Ashiya Seaside, Kitakyushu, Japan

Ashiya Seaside, Kitakyushu, Japan

At the end of the day H asked me what I like to do in life. I answered by saying, "Traveling. Traveling to any place, taking in the sights, and visiting a coffee shop. Pretty much exactly what we did today."

XOXO