Japan | Bits & Pieces

And now for a random assortment of photos and GIFs that didn’t fit anywhere else.

My first glimpse of Japan as the plane prepared to land in Fukuoka. I took a train to Busan, flew into Fukuoka, and then transferred to Tokyo Haneda Airport.

At Haneda Airport, burning time while I waited for my SIL to finish up some appointments with the kiddos. I had planned to meet up with her later in the day so I stuck around the airport after landing since the airport had food, free wifi, and shopping. It also took me a bazillion hours to figure out how to buy a SUICA card as none of the machines seemed to accept bills. I went to the nearby 7-11 to purchase a rice triangle (onigiri) and used the change to purchase my subway card. 

At the top of a lighthouse in Yokosuka. As you can tell, it was quite windy at the top. I couldn’t resist a selfie.

A Japanese electric bidet toilet … with instructions. In English! YES! Some things to note about this detailed instructional poster:

1. “Equipment to cleanse the buttocks with warm water”
2. “Will not function unless you are sitting on the seat.” (I wonder if this prevents stupid people like me from pressing the buttons ‘just to see what happens’ while standing over the toilet.)
3. A music note that, when pushed, plays a flushing sound. You can also adjust the volume. In Korea, many bathrooms have a little doorbell-like contraption inside bathroom stalls that plays chimes or music to cover the sound of … well, you know. Isn’t pushing the music box almost as bad? I guess the Japanese solved it by replacing the chime doorbell with a flushing sound. That way nobody knows what’s going on.
4. “During power outage emergencies, push the blue button to flush.” Does this happen enough to have a blue button?

One evening we ate at an inexpensive family style sushi-go-round with our SIL, nieces and nephew. The sushi itself was just ok and not too varied, especially considering we were in Japan, but the overall experience was fun. In addition to grabbing whatever sushi came around we ordered off the touch screen menu. The specially ordered items were delivered via a bullet toy train on the track above the main sushi-go-round conveyor belt. 

TIP: If you’re ever in Narita Airport, there is a really good, cheap sushi-go-round restaurant in Terminal 2. It’s not THE BEST sushi you’ll ever eat in your entire life, but pretty damn good airport food if you ask me.

One night, on our way back to our apartment, Sly and I stopped inside a 7-11 in search of one of his favorite snacks: Japanese hot fries. Convenience stores in Asia always have the best snacks! We found the hot fries, picked up a few drinks, and went back to our place to watch some Japanese tv. PS: The hot fries were delicious.

This was what was on Japanese tv. Apparently this band – Sekai No Owari – consisted of a guy singing in English, in falsetto (?), a guitarist with Harry Potter glasses and a top hat, a virtuoso blonde piano player, and a clown. Amazing. And I mean that without the slightest bit of irony. We couldn’t take our eyes off the screen.

I found the official music video on YouTube. It’s equally mesmerizing. 

I cannot stop watching their videos… Like this one. Or this one. 

This was either a game show or a J-pop group. The girls were separated by type, including “dream,” “happiness,” and “flower?” I don’t understand.

Hanging fake food display at Narita airport!

And finally on my way home, flying JAL. This is what airline food looks like on a Japanese Airline that gives a shit: a beautifully wrapped box with a lid containing an assortment of delicately prepared Japanese food. 

I feel like this trip only scratched the surface of all that there is to do and see in Japan. At the same time, I’m glad I had the opportunity to visit and see what I did. From what I’ve seen and experienced so far, I love Japan! As luck would have it, I’ll be meeting up with my sister next month to celebrate her birthday in Japan. I can’t wait!