J-Town Bucket List

So while I may be slaving away teaching ungrateful, uninterested or disruptive kids (there are perks with every job) and dealing with feelings of inadequacy, frustration and isolation, there is definitely ample opportunity for growth and self discovery.

Studying abroad at Waseda University really was like getting a ride in the Cadillac of study abroad programs. We were extensively catered to- with group activities scheduled for every month- and did a lot of pre-organized, pre-paid traveling; our trips including: Nikko, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Okinawa and the hot spring resort area of Hakone at the base of Mt. Fuji.

As such, I feel a little set apart from a lot of other people who are clamoring with excitement to sightsee the really famous areas of Japan. Apparently, Kyoto is THE most requested area of placement.

Personally, I enjoyed Kyoto for its historical significance, the aesthetics of the city, and geisha-stalking. Otherwise, I felt it was a city meant for upper class, middle aged people, not young, wild and crazy 20-somethings. 

My personal goal while there in 2008 (Has it really been that long? Where is the time going?!) was to visit Oku-no-In cemetery. I had happened to see a brief snippet on the place in an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations” and was mesmerized.

It’s the burial place of Kobo Daishi, a monk who’s famous for a lot of things, but mainly for founding the sect of Shingon Buddhism. Basically, any Buddhist worth their salt is interred in this graveyard. It’s ancient, massive, sprawling, and the older tombs are worn and covered in moss amidst huge pine trees and a quiet stream. I went there in March and it was breathtaking  simply wandering among the ruins and exploring.

Since I was able to accomplish so much the first time I was in Japan (and the subsequent trips I’ve made during the winters), I had to put on my thinking cap to come up with my “Japan Bucket List”. I’ll probably be adding to this as more ideas come to me, but here they are- in no particular order:



-Eat the dangerous Fugu (Pufferfish)
-Climb Mt. Fuji CHECK
-Go to Nagasaki. CHECK
-Try my hand at a traditional Japanese art or sport- Ikebana, Taiko, Kendo or Kyuudou. CHECK (Kendo, for a little bit)
-Learn how to cook a Japanese meal (I’m giving myself a lot of leeway here) CHECK
-See a wild macaque.CHECK
-Go snowboarding!
-Go skiing! CHECK
-See Kumamoto Castle, which will complete the trio of the best castles in Japan.
-Go to Tsuujun Bridge
-Visit the rabbits on Okunoshima
-Get my nails did! CHECK
-See the Naruto whirlpools
-Watch Sumo CHECK
-Wear hakama
-Go to the Sapporo Yuki Matsuri (Snow Festival)CHECK
-See the Tottori Sand Dunes
-Eat Inoshishi Nabe (Wild Boar hot pot)
-Be physically present in each of the 47 prefectures in Japan
-Pass N4 of the JLPT CHECK
-Pass N3 of the JLPT CHECK
-Pass N2 of the JLPT