japan excursion

matt and i visited japan for a couple of weeks.  we checked out big cities on the well-worn tourist path, mostly staying in tokyo and kyoto.  (we also spent a night near mt. fuji and in osaka.)  it was hot and humid.  good times were had.

• delicious and memorable food.  highlights include a splurge at yuzuya ryokan in kyoto;  ramen at nagi in shibuya;  cold soba noodles in ginza;  tea flavored plum wine at a quiet bar in ebisu;  unagi in kyoto;  sweets everywhere;  heaping bowls of ramen and udon in osaka;  eating over a gushing river near kibune shrine and much more...
• the sights!  in (and around) tokyo, checked out the chaotic tsukiji fish market, ghibili museum, museum of emerging science and innovation, and the ramen museum.  in (and around) kyoto, we escaped the crowds at eikando temple; took a nice walk between the shrines in kibune and kurama;  walked underneath the many red gates of fushimi inari shrine; scrambled up a hidden hill in nara;  played with the monkeys and wandered the bamboo groves in arashiyama.
  
• while the sights were intereresting, everyday experiences made japan memorable!  it was a delight to travel on super-efficient railways (shinkansen bullet train), also frustrating to be lost around massive train stations.  it was fun to try out all the vending machine drinks, marvel at the toilets, pay for food and tickets at computer terminals.  we stumbled upon cute boutiques and handicraft shops, but also hostess bars and love hotels as we wandered around different neighborhoods.  we also took many japenese-style baths -- a public onsen near kyoto, the communal and private baths at the inn.
  

i thought a lot about where my ideas of japan come from -- haruki murakami books, anime & manga, animated films of my childhood, nintendo and consumer electronics, iron chef, san francisco sushi restaurants, and college history classes.  i'm not sure visiting japan dispelled any "myths", but it was interesting to finally see this place, of which i have so many strong impressions!