My First: Snow, Ski and Onsen in Japan

Akemashite omedetou gozaimashita! I can still remember more than a year ago, after setting foot on Japan, that one thing I ever wanted was to see and experience real snow. By the time you read this article, the snow may have already fallen once or twice in Kanto area. According to some of my Japanese colleagues who are Tokyo natives, snow falls three to four times every winter season in Kanto area. Last year, the chance of experiencing a snow was a long wait. It seemed that the more that you look forward to it, the longer it takes.


Finally one morning, I woke up snow falling in the terrace from the 3rd floor of my unit. I was filled with so much excitement. Snow fell yet an ignorant Filipino for the first time went out only wearing a piece of thin jacket without any gloves and wanted to touch and grasp it. My neighbor in the adjacent building looked strange at me. I didn’t mind at all. What I want was to relish the moment that it was my first time to see real snow. The snow fell from 630 until 1000 in the morning. By 7AM, I have decided to skip work just for this experience. After all, I wasn’t feeling that good. I had a terrible sore throat and slight cough. I then called the office by 845AM that I won’t be able to make it that day because I was sick. During the onset of snowfall, I went out to really experience the snow. I wore double layer of jackets to insulate me from the strong and cold wind that swept during the day. Of course, I took some pictures and videos for my Friendster and blog. By 10AM, snowfall stopped, and then the cold wind started to breeze. Snow was slowly melting and the air proved to be colder than the snow itself.



My experience was not enough. During February last year, along with my Filipino friends, we went on a skiing trip in Nagano. Again, trying to ski for the first time was a memorable one. It was my first time to try the ski. It really felt scary because I don’t know how to balance. My excitement gradually faded since it felt already tiresome and scary to have injuries or even to hurt someone as I could not control my direction. It was also my first time to ride a ski cable car. The view was magnificent. I was able to have a birds’ eye-view of Japan Alps covered in lush snow. After experiencing it, it really felt tiring. Having snow around makes you feel sloth and very sleepy.

That winter experience was also my first dip in the onsen (温泉). It really felt awkward and uneasy. First and foremost, we Filipinos are not accustomed with communal baths and the idea of dipping in a common pool naked with all the dirt coming from other people felt very unhygienic. The heck was I just tried and dipped. The facility for men and women are separated, of course. The bathing area is composed of four different pools. Each with semi warm and very warm water, and a lukewarm water (nurui / 温い) pool filled with natural herbs and aroma suited to rejuvenate health. And another pool was a little electrically charged. Unknowingly, I dipped in the electrically charged pool and I felt so funny having to react differently from the old Japanese men within the area. The facility also has a very hot sauna room. I didn’t bear for more than five minutes inside and I just went out for another dip because the heat was unbearable. After the bath, the following day, I had scratches of allergies which I maybe had contracted on the pool. But I guess it was worth a try experiencing an authentic Japanese way.

Aside from these experiences, the winter season proved to be hard to wake up during the morning and constant dryness of skin and cracking of lips. This added a few more minutes to my daily morning ritual which made it more time-consuming. Furthermore, when snow falls, train delays are everywhere. So prepare for alternate routes and listen to the forecast ahead of time for you to prepare earlier. Best things to do during winter season are to indulge steaming shabu-shabu, nabe, oden or anything with soup, or a several bottles of either beer or sake to keep you warm and of course deep sleep.


Article originally published on Jeepney Press January-February Edition 2009

One Winter Morning in Tokyo

It was my first trip to Tokyo after my gruelsome travel from Kansai via bus. Tokyo is pretty much the same. Except that Sundays have fewer people compared to regular days. Taking a pose near Shinjuku Station's New South Exit during the early morning winter. A day where another chapter of adventure has began for this year 2009.

Nihonbashi - Kilometer Zero

Nihonbashi is just several hundreds of meters outside of Tokyo Central Station on Yaesu Central side Exit. This place is called Kilometer Zero because this site was the focal point where modern road construction in Japan constructed way back in the Edo Period.

Bananacue

The most expensive deep-fried bananas in glazed brown sugar which I have bought in my lifetime. Bought outside St. Ignatius Church in Yotsuya after the Sunday Mass. Costed me 250 yen or approximately 125 pesos for this 2-piece of banana alone. I am sure my colleagues in Davao City would be shocked with this post.

Excess Baggage

Homeless people in Tokyo seem to increase as the day progresses. Here, a bike overloaded with personal effects and belongings of a homeless man is parked at the side of JR Chuo Line - Yotsuya station. Must be very hard for the bike to carry this kind of load. May God help them and Japan.

Tarou Aso Loves Akiba

This is a carton drawing in Akihabara. We recently dropped by to see how is Akihabara, Japan's Electronic Capital, after last year's random stabbing incident, and just to check how are the prices of electronic consumer durables have priced now, especially that Japan is on a recession. Prime Minister Taou Aso has been very vocal about his love and passion in reading manga, the Japanese comics. The drawing here depicts Aso as a true lover of Akiba's very known sub-culture, manga.

Balbacua (バーバークア)

Davao City's Taps Restaurant serves a P90.00 or about 180 yen Ox Feet. Balbacua or OX Feet are actually beef knuckles cooked to tender in spicy and semi-sour soup. The beef bones are actually stuffed with bone marrow. A truly invigorating meal after having a drunk night-out in any night spots in Davao City. I just missed this food so much, now that I am in Japan.

Waiting for the Snow to Fall

Sipping my mug of brewed coffee, I sat outside the faculty room, where some teachers make it their lung center. While savouring every sip of it, I was thinking, when will the snow fall in Northern Saitama. Leaves of most trees were already gone. It has been the 3rd week of January and snow is still a dream for us tropical-dwelling creatures. Compared last year, snow already fell in Tokyo during the mid of January. Our temperature here even reaches -3 degrees but when it rains, the temperature increases to 7 degrees (*sigh*). Well, everything happens with a purpose.

My Lunch Slept

School lunch is usually served 30 minutes ahead for the faculty here in the school where I teach now (East Junior High School). The result? My cream-based soup slept. Huhuhuhu....

Kinkan (金柑)

Our co-faculty distributed small orange-colored citrus fruit locally called kinkan. Kinkan (金柑), Kumquat in English, almost bear fruits in Japan usually during the winter season. Believe it or not, the rind of the fruit is sweet but the citrus itself is very sour! I actually tasted it. Being not so fond of sour fruits, I just gave it a shot to really confirm what my Japanese collagues say. Indeed it was true. My whole face crumpled to the sour taste of it. Yet the rind is really sweet.

Here is the fruit in its actual size. About a thumbsize.

This was how I looked upon swallowing the sour pulp.

Another bite inside the faculty room.

Read the detailed information about Kinkan or Kumquat here.

Authentic Curry Flavor

Real Indian-taste curry can be hardly found in Japan. As the Japanese have developed ready-to-cook curry cubes sold in supermarkets, the taste of real Indian curry is difficult to find in Japan unless eating in an authentic Indian or even Persian restaurants. But Shidax Karaoke, your neighborhood karaoke bar, is offering authentic Chicken Curry Pilaf in their menus. Tastes like real Persian/Indian curry. Its around 600 yen per serving. If you want to taste real curry rice, sing and eat at Shidax.