Stumbling upon Activities

We spent the morning at Sunshine Aquarium again.  It is a fun place and since we bought the annual membership, it is free.  My son and I enjoy the various shows, like the diver in the large tank and the sea lion show.  He's remembering more and more of the fish names and each time we discover something new.  Today we were impressed with the cuttlefish, squid, sunfish, and leaf headed turtle. The pelicans swimming overhead is also fun to watch.

The nice thing about the aquarium being on the top of a mall, we have lots of options for lunch after  a nice day at the aquarium.  Instead of a food court, most Japanese malls have an entire floor dedicated to restaurants.  Typically you can choose from popular Japanese favorites like tonkatsu (pork cutlet), ramen, soba or udon noodles, Chinese cuisine, weird pasta dishes, and donburi (rice bowls with various toppings).  We went to lunch at my son's favorite omurice restaurant.  He gets so excited to eat there. 

After lunch we headed for the musical fountain that was so entertaining last time we went to the aquarium.  Today they were having a little celebration of sorts for... cleaning.  Seriously.  I don't get it.  I even asked my husband and he confirmed it was for cleaning.  But they had some musicians, tons of balloons, a couple games for kids to play, and even face painting.  It was entertaining, especially when they brought out the mascot that was part Baymax (from Big Hero 6) and part washing machine.  The poor guy in the suit had to waddle sideways because he was so inflated.

We also discovered a ¥300 store.  It is like a dollar store, but everything is ¥300 and the stuff is  higher quality.  You can get all sorts of things for your home.  They have a huge selection of socks and even Halloween costumes (which is very surprising).  They also had an aisle of kitchen wares that I avoided.  I bought fabric laundry baskets and a fabric toy bin for my son's toys.  I get way too excited about these stores.  We also wandered through the Disney store and Studio Ghibli store.

The weather has been a bit crazy lately.  Sunny and hot one day and pouring rain the next.  Today it was both - sunny in the morning and downpours in the afternoon.  It was pouring when we left the mall and made me upset that I didn't bring our umbrellas with to the aquarium, as we would need them to walk from the subway to the apartment.  But it was just starting to drip when we got back to Azabujuban, and we made it back with just a drip or two on our shoulders.  However, when we headed out to the grocery store a few minutes later... downpour. 

Cute Food

Japanese people are known for cute stuff.  This is the land of Hello Kitty.  There seems to be an authentic admiration for all things cute.  This includes food.  And I admit, I am guilty of partaking in this appetite for cute confections (and savories, too).

Sweets in Japan are not the sugar laden doughnuts of the US.  For the most part, they are gently sweet.  You taste the actual ingredients.  It takes a bit to get used to, but I love it.  Taiyaki is a traditional sweet.  It is a thin fish shaped cake filled with red bean paste (adzuki).  There is a shop right around the corner from us, Naniwaya Souhonten, that was established in 1909!  I have to say that the taiyaki from this shop is the best I've ever had.  No wonder they have been in business so long.

When we went to Tokyo Tower, they made their own version of taiyaki.*  And they also sold the non-traditional custard filling.  It cracked me up that they inserted a pretzel stick in the top for a true point. 
(*Disclaimer: We didn't eat this one and can't vouch for it's tastiness.  I do have SOME self control.)

There are pastry shops all over the place here.  They are all French inspired with a Japanese twist.  I'm sure I will write and ode to the Japanese bakery at some point.  But right now I'll only focus on the cute characters my son loves to pick.  His favorites from the shop down the street are the savory lion and the sweet bear.  The lion's mane is made with sausages, and the head is filled with potatoes.  It's actually pretty darn good and I don't feel bad for buying it for his breakfast.  The bear is filled with chocolate custard.  It is not very sweet, but my son still loves it.

At the Sunshine Aquarium, we enjoyed the spotted eel roll cake.  A sponge cake wrapped around a log of black sesame ice cream.  It was cute, but not the most impressive ice cream (and I love black sesame ice cream).

The cute food is not limited to desserts and pastries.  Even kids meals are adorable.  At an omurice (thin omelet covering a mound of fried rice) restaurant, the kid's set or kid's meal was decorated with a smile.  Most kid's sets come as a complete meal with several items like veggies, a main course, and dessert.  This one had broccoli, potatoes, sausage (little crab looking thing), omurice, yogurt with strawberry jam, and a cookie.

Speaking of kid's sets, I took my son to a hamburger joint the other day called Freshness Burger.  The name cracks me up.  The menu was standard fare of hamburgers, fish burgers, chicken burgers, and some salads.  I ordered the kid's hamburger set for my son.  It came with the hamburger, potato wedges, chicken nuggets, and apple juice.  What?  Why the chicken nuggets?  No clue.  But the real surprise came when she handed me the toy - a traditional wooden toy!  I was floored.  It is an actual toy I'd give to my kid.  Wow!

So when you see the photos of the cute bento boxes that doting moms give to their kids for their school lunches, you know there is societal pressure to be cute.  I've read lots of stories about how Japanese kids are some of the best eaters in the world.  Maybe it's the kid sets that are mini versions of real meals, or maybe it's because everything is so cute you just want to gobble it all up.

Asukayama Park

A while ago I saw an advertisement for a really neat looking park.  I snapped a photo, as I usually do, and filed it away for another time.  Today I decided we needed to seek out the fun looking park. 

Turns out this park is just one train ride away from our current apartment.  A single train ride, no matter the length, is much more enticing to me than a maze of transfers.  Sometimes transferring trains can be quite confusing and overwhelming, especially if you have to change train companies!  I can do it, but prefer to avoid the headache.  Anyway, this park looked like a winner - including in the commute department. 

My son and I walked down to the subway station, paid for our ticket, and were waiting for the train to come when I suddenly realized I had left my phone at the apartment!  Grrr.  After trying to use the fare adjustment machine (which didn't work because we wanted a refund, not an adjustment), we then had to try to explain to the train station attendant that we just wanted our money back because I forgot my phone.  He was rather confused, but gave me the refund anyway.  At this point my son was quite distressed because he thought we were going to miss the one and only train that goes to the park.  Guess I'm going to have to refrain from saying "Hurry up or we will miss our train" in the future!  I reassured him that there would be another train, and we collected my phone. 

We got on the train and headed off for another day of adventure.  After almost a half an hour, we got off at the subway station and quickly found the park.  It is just a short 5 minute walk from the station.  When we first entered  the park, we saw a lovely fountain and creek area, as well as lots of walking paths.  I let my son pick one and we wandered around looking for the play structure.  It didn't take long to find.  As we approached, I couldn't believe the size of the play ground!  There were 2 full size trains for kids to climb on, a humungous castle play structure, a lovely sand pit, and climbing structures galore!  It kind of took my breath away.  My son, on the other hand, shot off like a rocket, immediately ready to play. 

He "drove" the train.  He climbed the castle and slid down the huge slides.  He made friends with the large elephant statue/slide.  He dug in the sand.  He swung on the swings.  He scaled the various structures.  He played and played and play for over 3 hours, only stopping for water and snack breaks. 

The park was a bit tired and well loved, but it didn't matter.  Everything was in great working condition for kids to explore and have fun.

On the way back to our apartment, we took the "fancy, crooked elevator" (better known as a small inclined monorail) back down the hill.  My son enjoyed the view, as we saw a Shinkansen pass by. 

We also passed by something that shocks me every time I see it - McDonald's delivery scooters, also know as McDelivery.  If you don't have enough time to go to "Mac-don-all-dough-z" yourself, you can have it delivered!  I've seen similar vehicles for pizza delivery and other things, but this one surprises me.  There were 3 parked at this location.

I'm so glad I took that photo of the ad for the park.  There's a couple more that I think I'll try, even if the journey to them is a bit more convoluted. 

Tired and Grumpy

Today was rough.  It just was.  I didn't sleep well.  My son is still waking up way too early, eager to start the day.  It is hot and humid.  And everything was pushing my buttons.  But life continues.  I still had stuff to get done and a little person to take care of.

After doing our morning routine of eating, brushing teeth, and getting dressed, we headed out to turn in my visa application.  I entered Japan on a visitor visa and am currently trying to change my status by obtaining a spouse visa.  Fingers crossed.  The walk should have taken 20 minutes, but instead took over 40 after having to stop numerous times for water breaks, snacks, and a bathroom pit stop.  We took the elevator up to the attorney's office and submitted our paperwork and documentation (thank you relocation team!). 

I wanted to swing by the American Embassy to ask for a referral for an attorney for some estate planning documents.  It was only about 4 blocks from the attorney's office.  I honestly forgot the security precautions of the Embassy.  I thought I would just walk into some main front desk, ask my question, and walk away with an answer.  The security guard blocking the sidewalk next to the Embassy was very nice, but was not going to let me anywhere near the Embassy without an appointment.  I realized this after I gave up trying to communicate with him myself and called my husband to have him translate.  So, I called the Embassy while sitting outside their building (outside the security perimeter).  They referred me to their website.  And everything I needed was right there.  Didn't even need to bother a human being.  I found this whole interaction to be sad.  There are reasons, but it still saddens me to be held out at a distance for reasons that don't have anything to do with me.

We then took the train back to the apartment because I didn't have the energy to get a 4 year old to walk back.  As we wove through the underground toward the train, I found myself wanting to yell at people for not following the "rules" and for other silly reasons.  Everything just seemed to take more effort than was necessary.  After the train ride, we picked up bento for lunch and finished walking back.  My husband joined us for lunch, giving me a brief smile in this grumpy day. 

The rest of the day was spent napping, folding origami, shopping, eating, and reading.  It wasn't a terribly eventful day.  Yet a grumpy cloud hung over me the entire day.

I have these days in the US, too.  It just seems a bit more intense here.  I don't have an outlet of yardwork or sewing that I can immerse myself into.  I also don't have any personal space, which is hard for me.  Last time I lived here, I would go on epic Starbucks quests.  There wasn't a Starbucks in Yao, so I would travel on the train over a half an hour to the closest one.  Once there, I'd order my coffee and pretend I was in the US for a short time.  It was just a little escape from reality.  But I don't drink coffee anymore and their other drinks are too sweet for me (their Hojicha Crème Frappuchino was a huge disappointment to me - way too sweet and not enough earthy flavor).  My old vice is gone.  I need to find a new escape.  A healthy one.  A productive one.  Suggestions welcome.

Reflections

I am sure that there have been a lot of changes to my beloved Osaka since I lived there 15 years ago.  But since moving to Tokyo, I am shocked by the differences of the two cities.  Tokyo and Osaka are the two largest cities in this country.  Not that I would really expect them to be the same, but some of the major differences are huge to me.

First, the diversity in Tokyo is shocking.  Coming from the US, a country full of immigrants, diversity is comforting to me.  Everywhere I go in Tokyo (which isn't very far), I see people from all over the world.  I hear lots of different languages on a daily basis.  I am amazed by this because I would go an entire week, sometimes two, in Osaka without seeing another foreigner other than the four American teachers I had meetings with every other week.  Technically, I lived just outside of Osaka in the suburb of Yao, but was in Osaka a couple times a week.  Sometimes I would go to the major tourist attractions and not see any non-Asian faces.  I remember the excitement of seeing another foreigner.  What were they doing in Japan?  Were they passing through or here to stay for a while?  Despite being full of curiosity, I didn't approach them.  That would be weird.  After all, I had people approach me all the time with comments,  questions, yearning to speak English, and sometimes even unwanted touching - because I was a foreigner pure and simple.  But Tokyo is shockingly diverse.  I wonder if it is just the area I am currently living in.  Time will tell since we will be leaving downtown for suburbia before October 17. 

Second, the food is so international.  I think my first revelation has a lot to do with this one, but it is still pretty interesting to me.  In Osaka, a town known as the food capitol of Japan, you're pretty much surrounded by Japanese food and Osakan food at that.  There are options.  I loved the Indian food I could get there.  My neighbor and I had a favorite Mexican place in downtown Osaka that really was a hole in the wall with amazing food.  Oh, and lots of burgers that never really satisfied the burger hunger because they really weren't that good, and pasta places with really weird concoctions.  But other than that, lots and lots of Japanese food.  Maybe my memory serves me wrong or my limited language skills didn't allow for me to venture out as much.  I would say that the international food is helping with the transition a bit, but, oh what I would do for my neighbor's homemade tortillas and amazing Mexican food right now...  Or Greek food...  Holy moly, I need to change the subject!

Third, Tokyo is beautiful compared to Osaka.  I used to complain about how ugly Osaka was - very little green space and tons of grey cement everywhere.  After I had lived there for a while, I learned how to seek out and see the beauty it offered, but it still isn't what most people think of when they think of how beautiful Japan is.  When my mother visited, she was working for a travel agency and she printed out the IATAN report (a report for travel agents that gives them the low down of a city).  I will always remember the first line from that report.  "Osaka is the ugliest city in Japan, filled with cement buildings and power lines."  When she showed it to me, I laughed so hard because I had been saying that very thing for months.  Osaka has a lot to offer, but aesthetics isn't on that list.  But Tokyo... Tokyo is full of trees and fascinating architecture and fun little additions that bring beauty.  I know this is just though my glasses (I am from Seattle and nature just makes me happy), and maybe I'll feel differently once I've been here for a while.  But right now, I am appreciating the beauty I find.

I'm not saying I like Tokyo more than Osaka.  It's just different and new to me.  There are a lot of things I miss from Osaka.  Mainly, Osaka feels like my Japanese home and I feel like I'm visiting Tokyo.  With time, I will get more comfortable and used to the differences.  Maybe at some point, I'll even stop comparing them.