Flying High in Japan!

Oh what is up! I climb mountains now? Another weekend in Ninohe and the landmark event this time was a serious hike up Mt. Himekami outside of Morioka. This time, the fabulous foursome, Patrick, Scott, Yoko and I were bound and determined to actually hike the hill and not just drive the whole way to the peak. And we did it! A 1,123.8 m peak!

Never mind that there were little tiny kids busting their way up back down the trail as we were scrambling up. Never mind that it’s only about a two hour ascent and never mind that it’s roughly a 2/5 rating of difficulty. It was still a serious feat for all of us! At each of the stopping points that mark how far you’ve gone and mockingly reminds you how much further you have to go, the trail gets progressively steeper. 

Sometimes, you have to stop and hug a tree

But the sights and sounds are well worth the effort. Between the giant ferns, bushes and dense trees and the cicadas, frogs, crickets and birds it’s unbelievable that you’re still on a mountain in Japan and not in a rainforest in Costa Rica!

It's raining sunshine!

 

Eventually at the top, the view begins to open up. Yoko and I were the first to see daylight after the dense green woods. There was a small opening between the bushes where we could stand on some rocks and feel the first crisp breeze coming up the side of the mountain. Mt. Iwate was there in front of us, it’s peak hidden in the belly of a large dark thunder cloud. Then the guys caught up to us beastly ladies and it was photo op time with a particular rock. 

Once we caught our breath, there was the last push to the peak and let me tell you something: we thought that first gasp of fresh mountain air and the amazing view was good, but the peak was even better! There were these mysteriously rectangular rocks everywhere, looking like something out of “Labyrinth” and with all of the butterflies (seriously, little clouds of butterflies) I expected Hoggle to come skipping around the corner, spraying the buggers with pesticide.

And yes, pun intended.

Was the hike good for you too?

What was uniquely Japanese was the stone shrine on the rocks where we sat and had our lunch. Inside the shrine were offerings of coins, bottled drinks, canned food and a bear bell to symbolically keep the shrine safe. It was a well-deserved break on the mountain top. Lots of other hikers were enjoying a rest. We noshed on chips, cookies, dango and plenty of water while other people downed homemade bento lunches and smoked a celebratory cigarette. 

For a while, we all stood and looked out over Japan. It’s so vast! And the undulating hills look wild and so spectacularly green! I fall in love with Japan every time I go out and see something like this. 

So that was Sunday. Saturday was Local Adventures Day. 

Home improvement centers in Japan a so much fun! Lowe’s has nothing on a Japanese Homac, which is my favorite, or any of the other big name stores. It’s not all lumber and rubber hoses. Oh no. There are giant orchids, kitchen gadgets, bedding, futons, tubs, pets, clothes, and the strangest things you’ve never seen. Just like second hand stores, home improvement stores are my new playground.

So let’s play a little guessing game! This is the WHAT THE HELL, JAPAN? GAME!

First, an easy one. What is this?

That’s right. The most amazing massage chair in existence. Robotic fists of fury kneading the frick out of your neck and back…and it unfolds into a table so your whole body gets to have as much fun as your torso!

Here’s a challenge. Kore wa nan desuka? 

Give up? 

A very glamorous toothbrush! The Japanese are fastidious about brushing their teeth after meals and that includes lunch. It’s not uncommon to see a crowd of teachers after lunch not catching up over paper cups at the water cooler, but at the sink in the coffee room with toothbrushes!

This is a cool one…or maybe it’s gross. We’re focused on the green gadget here.

Ready? Go go gadget breath freshness tester! 

Look at the cute indicators! Your breath goes from minty fresh to “Oh god, your rancid fart mouth is making me cry!”

What the heck is this?

This one’s actually easy. I mostly wanted to draw attention to the “Discomfort” meter. Way to be an optimist, Japan. “You’re going to be uncomfortable today. Here’s a way to measure it!”

Here you go, try this one on for size!

Okay, so what’s evident is the banana, raspberry and grape.

But should you eat it?

 

Unless you like the taste of fire and despair, probably not. They’re sparklers…or at least, I’m pretty sure they are. Either way, the Power Rangers endorse them so what could go wrong?

This was amazing!

A puzzle, duh, but what makes it so incredible is the magic within. Depending on how you put it together, you can get a few different results!

….

It’s not a butt-pill. It’s for exercise…but why it’s oblong is anybody’s guess.

And these are just cute.

And cake and sushi magnets!

That night, Scott, Hoi Ming, Kelly, Scott and Patrick threw a little to-do for their I.C., Sato. Essentially, the I.C. is the person who helps ALTs and NSs move into their new town and basically is a celestial being of saintly patience and generosity—just ask Scott: he got a free bike from Sato-san! We all met outside Patick, Hoi Ming and Kelly’s apartment while we waited for Sato-san. We passed the time with dance breaks and generally sticking out like American, British and Aussie sore thumbs. When Sato-san arrived, we walked to the Basilico, an Italian restaurant in town. 

Italian restaurants in Japan. They’re something. They’re either what you expect: Italian in atmosphere and essence. Or they’re like the Basilico: a small main room with Western tables and chairs and a small side room with tatami, sitting pillows, a book case full of manga and NO SHOES ALLOWED. 

The entertainment of the evening was definitely Scott, Mr. California himself giving us an enlightening lesson on wine-tasting. 

There was also karaoke of course with a full bar full of very genki singers. It should be noted that we came in and joined a group of women singing Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated” and we Westerners left singing N’Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye.” I’d like to think we were a hit…and that the two “rum cokes” in mah tummy were of some help.

Now I’m enjoying some wonderful me-time back in Kitakami before another push. The reward at the end of this weekend? Well, that’s a surprise. But I can say this: in two weeks, I’ll be back with the outdoor adventures club only this time…we’re going camping at Lake Towada! 

Camping. Hiking. Waterfalls? That’s right! It just gets better and better. I’ve done so much living in these past two months and I can’t wait to see what else is coming.