日本 2004-2007

Narita, Japan

We landed.
Obviously jet lag hasn't set in yet. It's still just this meandering hum of exhaustion thinning out our perception as we stumble about getting our legs back under us.
They're putting us up in a hotel for the night. The rub is we've gotta pay for L's portion. If I could I'd get us a single room and we'd just share a bed, but no: in Japanese hotels, you pay per head. I guess this is pretty much normal for most of the world though...my head's just too fuzzy to think clearly about it.

Yukata robes in the closet. We tried them on and are watching some Japanese TV. L's got on some children's anime.

Get this: the double room has two twin-size beds pushed together! Otherwise it's just a big hotel room! (Actually, a lot like a suite. There's an entryway, a dining room, a living room space and the beds, all sorted in an L-shaped layout.)

written by

tokealt on August 8, 2004 from Narita, Japan

from the travel blog: 日本 2004-2007

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Toke, Japan

After easily waking up with the sun (4 a.m. here is still 2 p.m. to us) and walking around the hotel grounds a bit, we got to meet my supervisors, 原田先生 and 青西先生. We packed our luggage in their vehicles and our caravan set off for 土気, where we'll be living.

The countryside is much greener than I had expected. Chiba has more rural landscapes than Osaka, that's for sure. Heads still buzzing with sleepiness, I was thankful for the heavy air conditioning in the van--it's muggy out today!

We started at the high school where I met the office staff and principal and signed papers and paid money for our first month's rent and moving in, etc. I also met Louise, my co-ALT.

Our apartment is small but lets in abundant light and with the screen windows open it might be breezy enough to keep us from feeling sticky. No curtains. No fans. No carpet (tatami, though!). Electric outlets are scarce. The walls are the old wattle and daub style. Kitchen sink is big enough. Stove is not. Two burners and the "oven" part is either a practical joke or we'll only be using it as a toaster! The building we're in was built in 1972, I believe. Right now the humidity is such that if you walk on our kitchen flooring barefoot, it feels like it will come off the floorboards. The neighborhood is peaceful and looks safe.

We're excited to get out and begin exploring our new town...after it cools off.

The supervisors took us to Coco's to cool off a bit. Had Calpis from the drink bar. Will come back often, I think.

written by

tokealt on August 9, 2004 from Toke, Japan

from the travel blog: 日本 2004-2007

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Kamakura, Japan

For my birthday this year we're going to travel in lieu of material gifts. We've got 2 days' in Kamakura planned.

Hachioji, Japan

L wasn't feeling well so we nixed our overnight at the hostel in Kamakura and went home. This morning I had the Bright idea of climbing Takao-san over in Hachioji, west of Tokyo. So we hopped on a train.

a travel blog by tokealt

Landing

Narita, Japan

To Toke

Toke, Japan

To Kamakura

Kamakura, Japan

A Change of Plans Leads to Takao-san 高尾山

Hachioji, Japan