Our first trip to Japan in 2010 was sheer culture shock. I will never forget it. And I think because of the incredible slap in the face that is going to Japan for the first time, I can say that the first trip was the
best trip of the three. We returned two years later, to really soak ourselves in all the cool stuff we discovered during the first trip. We spent a full three weeks there in 2012. We both lost about ten pounds, and we did and saw more on that trip than any other trip we have ever taken. So in a way, the second trip could also be considered the
best. For the third time in 2015, it was like a reunion of sorts. The four of us really wanted to do it all again. Experience that same feeling we got from the first trip, and even the second. Was that accomplished? I would say, for the most part, yes. But, at least for me, the third trip landed right in the middle of several very stressful and tiring months. So even by the time we arrived in Japan, I was ready for a long rest. But Japan is not a relaxing place to go for vacation. You're on your feet bulldozing through the days as hard as you can manage. And it is exhausting, albeit, exhilarating. We spent two weeks in and around Tokyo for the third trip, and I definitely feel that if we ever return to Japan, I would really want to visit the Northern and Southern regions rather than return to Tokyo again. But how does one spend all that money, endure all that time on airplanes, arrive in Japan, and NOT visit Tokyo, at least for a few days?
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| Cooking Okonomiyaki is a great, great joy. |
Our third trip to Japan definitely felt familiar. It didn't slap me in the face this time. And I didn't discover anything really new that I felt like I just had to have more of. In a way, the third trip made me feel like I really wanted to be able to read and speak Japanese fluently, so I could take it to the next level. It's like doing something over and over and never getting better at it. This led to a little bit of frustration I think, at least for me. And some of the things I was really looking forward to, like enjoying some crazy Izakaya food, and drinking as much banana milk as I could find, and taking pictures of anything and everything, just didn't happen. I think this is somewhat due to the fact that I was, and still am at the time of this writing, incredibly burned out. Maybe I am just getting old, maybe I am just in need of a vacation where I don't do ANYTHING but relax and be creative, but if I am completely honest with myself, I can say the third trip to Japan was both easy and hard. The flights didn't kick my ass. But the walking did. I didn't have the energy and enthusiasm I should have had, and I think this is why, upon leaving, I felt done with Japan. At least for a while.
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| If that ain't the look of painful fatigue and hunger, I don't know what is. |
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| Beautiful urban landscape. |
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| Great lomo shot by Linda. |
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| Another. |
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| Stumpy. |
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| Any given day in Tokyo. |
In conclusion, Japan is a special place for us. After coming home from the third trip, I
thought that I definitely had Japan "out of my system". But looking
back now, months later, I can't help but completely and totally miss
it. Do I want to go back? Hell yes. Will we go back? Hopefully. But I
don't foresee it being any time soon. There are a lot of other places
we must see before we become skulls. I hope we can find another place that is as awe-striking and inspiring as Japan, but in all honestly, I doubt it very much.
さようなら日本
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