The Midtown Mood

One of the memorable places I was able to visit on my sunny holiday is named "Tokyo Midtown." It's a wonderful little escape hidden among the many other towering buildings of Roppongi. It holds a special place in my heart because in spite of the rich surroundings (and subsequently high prices inside), one can manage to find some good snacks on the ground floor and carry them out for a cozy picnic among the flowers and trees. The interior galleria is worth a walk around if you're like me and at times stunned by the modern aesthetics that billion-dollar properties tend to bring about. It would be simple and satisfying to spend the latter half of a day around the area, then head out to Roppongi or another lively spot once night falls. My visit was in the spring, and the cherry blossoms were gracing the outside with their snowy color and some winery had incorporated their flavor into the bottles they were selling. Up for grabs on the inside were the less tame rape blossoms - I regret not sampling the flavor when I had the chance.
The area isn't limited to shopping and eating, there is both space for living and working in what appears to be the tallest building I've stood under in a long while. Staying a night in a hotel that likely costs more than my monthly salary is only tempting if the company is offering. Dotting the surroundings are pieces from the Suntory Museum of Art, which also has a home inside.
I inform you not because I'm sponsored to, but because the Midtown is one shining example of Japan's ability to mix often conflicting elements and leave you feeling good about it. As always, more info can be found on the pages of Wikipedia.

Monomyth: the Return

During the latter half of this hiatus, I was able to do a whirlwind tour of the Japanese mainland. Accompanied by my family, we traveled as far East as Nikko and as far West as Miyajima. The stops in-between were some of the most famed and popular of tourist destinations, including Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, Himeji, and Hiroshima. The timing of the trip couldn't have been better, and we enjoyed mostly calm, clear weather and cherry blossoms without any hassle from vacationing student groups.

We enjoyed exploring the country and its massive transportation network, utilizing buses, cars, trains, planes, ferries and our own feet. Our lodgings ranged in price and luxury from compact capsule hotel to royalty-worthy ryokan. In addition to sight-seeing, traveling without a fixed schedule allowed us to leisurely walk the back streets and get a feel for the culture away from the tourist traps. We were also able to go beyond simple stop-and-stare and instead actively participate in some cultural obsessions such as karaoke, pachinko, and even lunch at a maid cafe. I worked to ensure that we covered a good variety of restaurants and unique foods, and I was elated that my family was willing to try most of what was presented to them - natto included.

The time spent traveling together went by so quickly, it's hard to look back and recall that nearly two weeks had passed. Each day was a new adventure, but one that could never be adequately described by the mere page or two in my journal. I want to thank my family for their bravery, patience, and understanding that made this trip one I'll never forget.

Hopefully this much-needed refreshment will serve to energize my efforts for this blog once again. So thanks for your patience, dear reader; I hope you enjoyed your vacation from subjecting yourself to my ramblings as well!