I can’t believe it has been 1 year since Chris and I arrived in Japan. The time has gone by so quickly, but it has been quite an adventure! Although I am only finally posting this now, this blog post was written in our final days in Japan. Here is a list of things we will miss (part 1) now that we have returned to the US, and I’ll soon post things we look forward to (part 2).
Things we will miss
1) Kamo Gawa
One of the things Chris and I will miss the most about Japan is the Kamo gawa, the river that runs through Kyoto and along my route to work. It is absolutely beautiful. The river always seems alive and full of life. Throughout the year, you can see dozens of cranes and egrets wading through the water, and even catching fish!
Awesome picture of a heron catching a snack
Ducks swim together in groups, as kites (tonbi) and crows soar from above. Pigeons and chickadees explore the grassy lawns and hop through tree branches, while bikers, joggers, and parents with strollers travel along the river banks. To the south, the river takes you near the Gion district, famous for old cobbled streets and geishas, where young people sit along the water at night, play guitar, and even have bonfires. If you travel up north, the river forks into two, and people hop across large, turtle-shaped stones to a small delta. There, children play near the water, friends have picnics, and people of all ages lie in the sun and enjoy the river.
In the background is a picturesque view of the mountains, which has continued to amaze me, even after all this time, particularly at sunset. In addition, I love that every season offers something new, and a range of flowers (from cherry blossoms to hydrangeas) bloom throughout the year. I will miss autumn in particular.
2) Our apartment
I will definitely miss our apartment. It is located in the middle of Kyoto city, relatively close to the river, and within walking distance to restaurants, a craft beer place, and the famous Teramachi shopping district. Less than a block away is Sanjo arcade, where I can buy produce for relative cheaper prices. The apartment itself is a little barren (we didnt want to spend money on fancy furnishings for only 1 year, and we are not allowed to hang anything on the walls) but the tatami room is great, and the balcony offers an amazing view of the city, the mountains, and Nijo Castle, surrounded by trees.
3) Temples and shrines
Kyoto has been such a great place to live, and one reason is because it so perfectly represents a beautiful mix of the old and the new. I love that there are SO MANY temples and shrines, wherever you turn. While after almost a year, we have seen more temples/shrines than we could have imagined (and honestly, can sometimes get a little “templed out”), each one offers something different, and I will miss them.
4) Jizo bodhisattva statues
I love seeing these adorable statues in temples and shrines. These guardian statues are so kawaii, and they make me happy. I especially love going to this temple, just to see them.
5) Biking
At first, I was nervous about living in Kyoto and biking everywhere (given my bad knees), but after biking every day to work, my knees have strengthened. Now, I know the freedom of biking wherever I want to go, and it feels so liberating. I hope to continue biking when I return to the US. Oddly enough, neither Chris nor I really miss cars, except during these very humid and hot summer months, when AC would be a godsend. Still, biking along the kamo will always be a lovely memory.
6) Japanese microwave ovens
Japanese households rarely have ovens, which I miss; however, most people own what I call magical microwave ovens, which have specially settings specifically for “toast”, “drinks”, “rice” etc. And who could forget the “magical red button”, which seems to know exactly how long to heat anything!
7) Tea
Gorgeous view from a tea hike
Our friends, Alex and Liz, told us that tea in Japan would be fantastic, and they were spot on. I never was a really big green tea fan, but green tea here is amazing! Chris and I even had the chance to go on a tea hike (shown above), to see how tea is grown, and to sample fresh genmaicha, hojicha, and sencha. Also, matcha, a powdery green tea, often used in sweets as a green tea latte, is delicious! I will matcha so much.
Hiking around a tea field
8) Really good wasabi
I had no idea what I was missing until visiting Japan. Fresh wasabi paste in Japan tastes so delicious, and is much better than the flavored horseradish in the US. Not to mention, wasabi-flavored snacks in Japan are “streets ahead”.
9) Really good ginger and ginger ale
Again, I had no idea what I was missing. Pickled ginger here is really really good (a great additive for cooking), and the homemade ginger ale in select restaurants has a spicy, sweet, robust flavor.
10) Sesame
Sesame ice cream in Arashiyama
From roasted sesame oils, sesame seed spice packs, sesame crepes, and sesame ice cream, I am in love!
11) Yatsuhashi
These triangle-shaped mochi pastries are delicious. Sure, my stomach sometimes hurts when I go overboard on samples, but I will definitely miss these. I especially love the chocolate and cinnamon flavored yatsuhashi.
12) Ichigo daifuku
These round mochi balls filled with fresh strawberries and sweet bean paste (anko) are delicious! Most commonly found at festivals during the holidays, I really like the ones that use white bean paste (much better than the original anko, in my opinion). Sometimes, you can even find different flavored mochi, like strawberry, blueberry, and melon; however, I tend to be a traditionalist.
13) Japanese pears
These Asian pears are fantastic, sweet, and juicy, and worlds better than classic American pears, or even the Asian pears we have in the US.
14) Sushi
This is for Chris. As a vegetarian. I’ve heard that sushi in Japan is amazing, and Chris is a big fan, so I will take his word for it. The conveyor belt sushi cafes, which resemble toy train systems, were rather fun though.
15) Fantastic sake
Having never had sake before Japan (in the US, it always smelled too sharp and strong for me), I can now say that Japanese sake is very nice, smooth, complex, and delicious. I have learned to train my pallet, I have tried many styles, and I even discovered my affinity for unfiltered (cloudy) sake. I will especially miss our little sake bar near Momoyama, our helpful sake bartender, and the wonderful, wonderful sake flights.
16) Japanese karaoke bars
Japanese karaoke is an activity that really lives up to it’s reputation! Being in a room filled with friends, singing solo, in pairs, or with everyone together as a group, is so much more fun than waiting forever in an American bar to get 1 song in. For those who are shy, this is a great place to finally break free. Add some tambourines and unlimited drinks, and you have yourself a fantastic evening.
17) Tofu
I may have had more than a lifetime’s worth of tofu over this year (and I have definitely gotten tired of it at times), but tofu in Japan is worlds better than in America. I will miss visiting traditional tofu shops, where you can buy sesame tofu, tofu balls filled with veggies, and powdered brown tea and green tea tofu donuts! I will also miss the little tofu restaurant off Sanjo dori, with its delicious tofu sets, including its yummy lemon tofu, and the Japanese kitsune served at Anzukko.
18) Festivals
Gion Matsuri
Everyone loves festivals, but Kyoto seems to host them all the time! Between fire festivals, moon festivals, festivals to celebrate the new year, festivals to celebrate ancient times, festivals to celebrate old-timey costumes, festivals to celebrate specific towns, etc., etc., each was unique, and I have so many great memories.
Hyakumangoku Matsuri
Festival of the Ages
Japanese light show festival
19) My friends in Kyoto
People in Japan, in general, are so kind and helpful. I stil remember my first day of work- Chris and I were lost, had no idea where to go, and were caught in the middle of a typhoon. A kind old lady gave Chris and I an umbrella and escorted us to the lab. When I tried to give it back, she said it was a gift for our time in Japan.
In particular, I will miss all of my wonderful friends that I have met in Japan. My lab has been so kind, and I have such fun memories with you all, especially going out on the last Friday of each month to dinner and karaoke bars. You all have been so wonderful, and I will miss you greatly. Please feel free to visit any time you come to America!
Maya, Noriko, Naoko, and I at a machiya house
Teru, Naoko, Noriko, Walid, Genichi, Miho, Kosuke, Takahashi sensei at karaoke
Chris, I, Lina, Laura, Leila at Shirahama
Ayuko, Chris, I, Noriko, Naoko, and Hideo sensei at traditional machiya house
Junya, Tei, and I at lab
Lina and I singing She-wolf!
Walid and I being weirdos like always!
Our Kyoto Year 