JAPAN CHRONICLES ~part four~
Mar. 18th, 2006 04:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
atrandumHiya ^O^" Back from the dead O_O This week has been complete hell for me and I've just been....dead X_X But I'm sorta revived now because the week has ended! Now I can rest (for only two days but whatever). So here you go part four! We started out with going to Hamana Lake, the biggest lake that exports eel throughout the whole country. Despite the weird exports, it's actually very beautiful ^O^ Next was a pleasure boat ride! On a pirate ship! WooO! Then it was off to the Smelly Mountain! ^O^" Lol, it's not really called that (though it should be), but yeah ^~^" We were lucky it didn't rain today and we got to see Mt.Fuji!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We went to a department store after that to shop around ^O^ Then we reached our ryokan (traditional Japanese hotel)!
JAPAN CHRONICLES ~part four~
Today we woke up rather late but we still left on time, at 8am. We headed towards Hamana Lake; a very very very very big and pretty lake that raises eels and exports them all over the country. It really was incredibly peaceful and beautiful ^O^ We only had about 30 min, unfortunately. We walked around the little park they that looks over the lake and took some pictures ^O^
They also had few shops that sold food, mainly food concerning eels, of course. They say that eels' bones are very good for one's health...I almost bought some for my dad, but I thought it was a tad too creepy ^~^" Hamana Lake is also very famous for their Unagi Pie (eel crackers, I don't know why they call it pie...); I didn't buy it but our guide bought some and passed it around to everyone. It was actually very good =^O^=
The weather actually that cold today, yippy! The Sun was out and I only had to wear two layers ^O^ There was still a lot of wind though X_X But it got UBER COLD when we went on our pleasure boat ride on a pirate ship!
Aye matey! (O_O?)
It was a ride to go across the bay (not Hamana Lake..we were somewhere else now...) but instead of going down into the boat (where it's warm), my friends and I went up to the deck to look at the view ^O^ It was very pretty but so cold X_X Well, after a while we all sorta froze so we decided to go down into the cabin where it was UBER WARM and we were all squashed into one little section XDD
After we reached our destination, we ate lunch. It was only okay...not as good as the other previous meals~After that, we went to Smelly Mountain ^O^" Okay, so it's not really called that but it sure could be. It's actually called the "Owakudani." I don't really know how to explain so here: (http://www.usarj.army.mil/archives/archives/2004/sep/10/cultural/story01.htm)
"Owakudani in Hakone features a volcanic area created by the eruption of Mount Kami about 3,000 years ago. Visitors can still observe hot vapors belching out and smell the offensive sulfurous fumes. It is selected as one of best 50 scenic beauties in Kanagawa Prefecture. Owakudani area was originally named Ojigoku, or Grand Hell, was renamed before the Meiji emperor and empress visited the area in 1876. Owakudani is also known as a good spot to view Mount Fuji on clear days."
Grand Hell O_O I can imagine that ^~^" So yeah, the mountain has smoke rising from it all over the place; it's actually pretty neat ^O^ If only it didn't stink so much...You could actually climb to the top of the moutain where there's a place for one to boil an egg using just the natural spring water of the volcano. Just goes to show how hot it is ^O^" Unfortunately, the roads were blocked due to a landslide so we were unable to go up. So we just looked at the view and spent a lot of time in the gift shops XD
Smelly Mountain.
And we did see Mt.Fuji! She was very pretty ^O^ The Japanese refer to Mt.Fuji as Fuji-san, and also refer to her as a female. We were very fortunate to see her ^O^ She's not always visible, on some days the clouds cover her. On days like that the Japanese call her "Shy Fuji-san" (it's probably Hazugashii Fuji-san or something...not sure..) because when she feels that she is not beautiful enough, she will pull a veil of clouds over her and she won't show herself until she feels beautiful again ^O^
On our way down the Owakudani (we had to drive up the hill around it to get there), we saw a glimpse of Fuji-san through the trees and eeeeveryone tried to get a picture but the bus was going to fast and the damn trees kept getting in the way! When there was finally a clearing, the driver pulled over and said that we could take pictures now ^O^" hehe =P
Then we headed towards Bell Shopping Center. They had a 100 yen shop there ^O^ I got a few neat stuff. The center also had a magazine store so I browsed through and saw a few pictures of Jun ^O^ I also saw a Tokyo Tower book (for the movie that Jun and Okada were in!) but it only had pictures of Tokyo Tower -_-" If it had a backstage pictures of the movie shooting or something, I would have gotten it.
We then went down to the supermarket. I was going to get some chocolate crackers and a Meiji chocolate bar, when I saw a KOICHI DOMOTO poster advertising DARS! I didn't even know what DARS was until then XD I immediately abandoned my Meiji and grabbed a DARS and a photo!
Bwahahaha XD
(When I came back from Japan, I was browsing through youtube.com and discovered that KinKi Kids have actually been endorsing DARS for a very long time now ^O^ Check some CMs out here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=hkhF1tP-aWg&search=kinki%20kids
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BJsWjhwekZI&search=kinki%20kids)
We then came to the ryokan, the Japanese traditional hotel at Hakone. Everything's so small X_X You couldn't walk anywhere without bumping into someone else. Even in the hotel room, I kept running into my roomate and bumping myself into the low tables XDD Despite all that though, it's actually very nice, albeit a bit creepy O_O It's called Hotel New Century, and it sits right next to Lake Kawaguchiko, one of the five lakes that surround Mt.Fuji. It was already evening when we got there so we couldn't see her then.
We got to sleep on futons! It was sooo soft and comfyyy *_*
Just to show how small it is XD Here's the bathroom (well just the bath). The toilet was another room the size of a cup board that had the toilet ^O^"
We were told to change into our yukatas, but no one knew how to wear it XD It took a long time to figure out, and in the end, our teacher had to come helps us put it on =P We then went out to eat after we got sorted out. Dinner was okay...some rice, tempura, and a mini-hot pot per person. We took a lot of pictures though ^O^ After dinner, our guide told us that we can go take a bath at the onsen, Japanese hot water springs!
Everyone wanted to try it, but no one wanted to ^O^" Because at the onsen, you can't wear anything except for a towel that's about...20x60 cm ^O^" VERY SMALL. Just enough to cover the privates.. ^~^" You're not allowed to bring anything else but that into the onsen. So everyone's gotta be naked and well, it's sort of embarrassing -_-" At least they divided male and female. We were all unsure if we were going to try it out or not, but we all wanted to see what it was like. So ten of us (all girls) went up to the onsen (it was on the 7th floor) and went in. Before entering the onsen, there's a changing room and everything. No one was there. So we all sneaked into the onsen (with all our clothes on..if anyone saw us we'd really get in trouble XDD) and took piccies XDDD!
It looked so nice *_* With the water steaming a bit and stuff...well after that we all wanted to try it out XD Everyone was deciding to come really late when there'd be no other people ^O^" I wanted to go into, but I wanted to go alone ^~^" Well, in any case, we all retreated back to our rooms and I took a shower. I watched TV afterwards and saw Gakkou e Ikou! An episode with Inohara and Ken go model for a manga drawing club at a school. IT WAS SOOOO HILARIOUS!!!!
Inohara and Ken ^O^
I got to eat Koichi's DARS during that; it was very yummy ^O^ I like how all the blocks are already cut up for you, so you don't have to crack our teeth eating a big chunk ^O^" Other shows came onto but I went up to the onsen. My roommate was too lazy to go up, so I went up alone while she went to the convenient store out with some other people who didn't want to try out the onsen.
When I got up there, I bumped into some other people from my group (much to my dismay) but luckily, they had just finished =P So they left and I entered the onsen. There were two other women there but eh, whatever. I quickly got into the tub, and exclaimed a bit becuase it was so hot O_O A lady who was rinsing herself next to the tub smiled at me ^O^" She probably though I was weird ^O^"
The onsen felt sooo good *_* It's like taking a hot bath (which it is). The water is very light (because it's filled with minerals) so you just sorta float in the water. Everything feels kinda prickly because the water is very hot *_* And you feel really really lightheaded X_X I sweard I could have nodded off (and drowned myself -_-") I only stayed for about 15 minutes because I was afraid that my roommmate would come back and couldn't enter the room (there was only one key that the hotel gave us, and I had it). When I came out, I weighed myself (apparently it's what you do after a bath at the onsen; you're supposed to lose weight) but I only lost a pound ^O^" I think I stayed too short =P
I felt really really light though. I barely had any strength to redress myself and my heart was beating very fast and I was tingling all over ^O^ It felt really good ^O^! I walked back to my room but I was completely dazed and I couldn't walk straight XD I ended up walking into a wall XDDD! I just wanted to flop onto the futon after that. But I got back to my room and watched some TV (still dazed though =P). I felt completely drained of energy XDD
Some show was on that had Tackey; it was something about a couple who had divorced a long time ago and were meeting up again...and another show was on another channel; it had the Hey!x3 hosts and they were dressing up as people they admired XDD Pretty silly XD
Tackey washing dishes.
It looks like Nakai is hurling, but I think he was eating something XDD
I also saw Tackey & Tsubasa's "Venus" PV ^O^
My roommate returned and we just lazed around for a while and went to bed ^O^ So there you go! Day 4 ^O^!
JAPAN CHRONICLES ~part four~
Today we woke up rather late but we still left on time, at 8am. We headed towards Hamana Lake; a very very very very big and pretty lake that raises eels and exports them all over the country. It really was incredibly peaceful and beautiful ^O^ We only had about 30 min, unfortunately. We walked around the little park they that looks over the lake and took some pictures ^O^
They also had few shops that sold food, mainly food concerning eels, of course. They say that eels' bones are very good for one's health...I almost bought some for my dad, but I thought it was a tad too creepy ^~^" Hamana Lake is also very famous for their Unagi Pie (eel crackers, I don't know why they call it pie...); I didn't buy it but our guide bought some and passed it around to everyone. It was actually very good =^O^=
The weather actually that cold today, yippy! The Sun was out and I only had to wear two layers ^O^ There was still a lot of wind though X_X But it got UBER COLD when we went on our pleasure boat ride on a pirate ship!
Aye matey! (O_O?)
It was a ride to go across the bay (not Hamana Lake..we were somewhere else now...) but instead of going down into the boat (where it's warm), my friends and I went up to the deck to look at the view ^O^ It was very pretty but so cold X_X Well, after a while we all sorta froze so we decided to go down into the cabin where it was UBER WARM and we were all squashed into one little section XDD
After we reached our destination, we ate lunch. It was only okay...not as good as the other previous meals~After that, we went to Smelly Mountain ^O^" Okay, so it's not really called that but it sure could be. It's actually called the "Owakudani." I don't really know how to explain so here: (http://www.usarj.army.mil/archives/archives/2004/sep/10/cultural/story01.htm)
"Owakudani in Hakone features a volcanic area created by the eruption of Mount Kami about 3,000 years ago. Visitors can still observe hot vapors belching out and smell the offensive sulfurous fumes. It is selected as one of best 50 scenic beauties in Kanagawa Prefecture. Owakudani area was originally named Ojigoku, or Grand Hell, was renamed before the Meiji emperor and empress visited the area in 1876. Owakudani is also known as a good spot to view Mount Fuji on clear days."
Grand Hell O_O I can imagine that ^~^" So yeah, the mountain has smoke rising from it all over the place; it's actually pretty neat ^O^ If only it didn't stink so much...You could actually climb to the top of the moutain where there's a place for one to boil an egg using just the natural spring water of the volcano. Just goes to show how hot it is ^O^" Unfortunately, the roads were blocked due to a landslide so we were unable to go up. So we just looked at the view and spent a lot of time in the gift shops XD
Smelly Mountain.
And we did see Mt.Fuji! She was very pretty ^O^ The Japanese refer to Mt.Fuji as Fuji-san, and also refer to her as a female. We were very fortunate to see her ^O^ She's not always visible, on some days the clouds cover her. On days like that the Japanese call her "Shy Fuji-san" (it's probably Hazugashii Fuji-san or something...not sure..) because when she feels that she is not beautiful enough, she will pull a veil of clouds over her and she won't show herself until she feels beautiful again ^O^
On our way down the Owakudani (we had to drive up the hill around it to get there), we saw a glimpse of Fuji-san through the trees and eeeeveryone tried to get a picture but the bus was going to fast and the damn trees kept getting in the way! When there was finally a clearing, the driver pulled over and said that we could take pictures now ^O^" hehe =P
Then we headed towards Bell Shopping Center. They had a 100 yen shop there ^O^ I got a few neat stuff. The center also had a magazine store so I browsed through and saw a few pictures of Jun ^O^ I also saw a Tokyo Tower book (for the movie that Jun and Okada were in!) but it only had pictures of Tokyo Tower -_-" If it had a backstage pictures of the movie shooting or something, I would have gotten it.
We then went down to the supermarket. I was going to get some chocolate crackers and a Meiji chocolate bar, when I saw a KOICHI DOMOTO poster advertising DARS! I didn't even know what DARS was until then XD I immediately abandoned my Meiji and grabbed a DARS and a photo!
Bwahahaha XD
(When I came back from Japan, I was browsing through youtube.com and discovered that KinKi Kids have actually been endorsing DARS for a very long time now ^O^ Check some CMs out here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=hkhF1tP-aWg&search=kinki%20kids
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BJsWjhwekZI&search=kinki%20kids)
We then came to the ryokan, the Japanese traditional hotel at Hakone. Everything's so small X_X You couldn't walk anywhere without bumping into someone else. Even in the hotel room, I kept running into my roomate and bumping myself into the low tables XDD Despite all that though, it's actually very nice, albeit a bit creepy O_O It's called Hotel New Century, and it sits right next to Lake Kawaguchiko, one of the five lakes that surround Mt.Fuji. It was already evening when we got there so we couldn't see her then.
We got to sleep on futons! It was sooo soft and comfyyy *_*
Just to show how small it is XD Here's the bathroom (well just the bath). The toilet was another room the size of a cup board that had the toilet ^O^"
We were told to change into our yukatas, but no one knew how to wear it XD It took a long time to figure out, and in the end, our teacher had to come helps us put it on =P We then went out to eat after we got sorted out. Dinner was okay...some rice, tempura, and a mini-hot pot per person. We took a lot of pictures though ^O^ After dinner, our guide told us that we can go take a bath at the onsen, Japanese hot water springs!
Everyone wanted to try it, but no one wanted to ^O^" Because at the onsen, you can't wear anything except for a towel that's about...20x60 cm ^O^" VERY SMALL. Just enough to cover the privates.. ^~^" You're not allowed to bring anything else but that into the onsen. So everyone's gotta be naked and well, it's sort of embarrassing -_-" At least they divided male and female. We were all unsure if we were going to try it out or not, but we all wanted to see what it was like. So ten of us (all girls) went up to the onsen (it was on the 7th floor) and went in. Before entering the onsen, there's a changing room and everything. No one was there. So we all sneaked into the onsen (with all our clothes on..if anyone saw us we'd really get in trouble XDD) and took piccies XDDD!
It looked so nice *_* With the water steaming a bit and stuff...well after that we all wanted to try it out XD Everyone was deciding to come really late when there'd be no other people ^O^" I wanted to go into, but I wanted to go alone ^~^" Well, in any case, we all retreated back to our rooms and I took a shower. I watched TV afterwards and saw Gakkou e Ikou! An episode with Inohara and Ken go model for a manga drawing club at a school. IT WAS SOOOO HILARIOUS!!!!
Inohara and Ken ^O^
I got to eat Koichi's DARS during that; it was very yummy ^O^ I like how all the blocks are already cut up for you, so you don't have to crack our teeth eating a big chunk ^O^" Other shows came onto but I went up to the onsen. My roommate was too lazy to go up, so I went up alone while she went to the convenient store out with some other people who didn't want to try out the onsen.
When I got up there, I bumped into some other people from my group (much to my dismay) but luckily, they had just finished =P So they left and I entered the onsen. There were two other women there but eh, whatever. I quickly got into the tub, and exclaimed a bit becuase it was so hot O_O A lady who was rinsing herself next to the tub smiled at me ^O^" She probably though I was weird ^O^"
The onsen felt sooo good *_* It's like taking a hot bath (which it is). The water is very light (because it's filled with minerals) so you just sorta float in the water. Everything feels kinda prickly because the water is very hot *_* And you feel really really lightheaded X_X I sweard I could have nodded off (and drowned myself -_-") I only stayed for about 15 minutes because I was afraid that my roommmate would come back and couldn't enter the room (there was only one key that the hotel gave us, and I had it). When I came out, I weighed myself (apparently it's what you do after a bath at the onsen; you're supposed to lose weight) but I only lost a pound ^O^" I think I stayed too short =P
I felt really really light though. I barely had any strength to redress myself and my heart was beating very fast and I was tingling all over ^O^ It felt really good ^O^! I walked back to my room but I was completely dazed and I couldn't walk straight XD I ended up walking into a wall XDDD! I just wanted to flop onto the futon after that. But I got back to my room and watched some TV (still dazed though =P). I felt completely drained of energy XDD
Some show was on that had Tackey; it was something about a couple who had divorced a long time ago and were meeting up again...and another show was on another channel; it had the Hey!x3 hosts and they were dressing up as people they admired XDD Pretty silly XD
Tackey washing dishes.
It looks like Nakai is hurling, but I think he was eating something XDD
I also saw Tackey & Tsubasa's "Venus" PV ^O^
My roommate returned and we just lazed around for a while and went to bed ^O^ So there you go! Day 4 ^O^!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-18 10:15 am (UTC)thanx for posting all these nice pics... *sniffle*
(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-24 05:59 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-19 05:49 am (UTC)The lake does look very pretty!!! I've never tried eel before but I'd be up for trying some.
Aye matey is right!! What a cool ship!!
*happy squeal*What a cute story about Mt. Fuji, err, Fuji-san. I didn't know that at all.
OMG!!!! *faints* How big is that Koichi DARS poster? I would have fainted like right there....to see Koichi's beauty right in front of me. WOW!!!! Sexy sexy boy!! =) Which candy is his favorite? Is it the red one? I think that's what I've heard. That he likes the red one.
Oh, the other V6 guy. In the picture you have it looks like it's Ken.
The onsen sounds sooooo nice. I'd be very embarrassed too but it sounds so nice. It would be hard to resist.
Thanks for sharing.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-24 05:58 am (UTC)The Koichi DARS poster was half the size of a poster about..so not small at all ^O^ My friend thought I was insane, taking pictures of a candy ^O^" I don't know whch one is his favorite though..? I hope it's the red one!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-19 06:14 am (UTC)100 yen stores? Sugoi-ness! Plus Hey3x not on a computer screen and/or badly subtitled. Awesome! And you got to see DARS everywhere, it seems like. (Not to mention an actual music vid on tiv!)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-24 05:56 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-21 10:07 pm (UTC)Can i add you pwease?
(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-24 05:48 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-23 10:37 am (UTC)I found you over on the Trax forum! I admire translators <3
- sorry ^^; haven't read your post yet so I can't comment on that xD
I will at school tho.
I can write my name in Thai! -is proud-
Yea, and Rosier is an awesome song *_*
(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-24 05:55 am (UTC)I love Rosier *_* I also love Ryuichi, but he just got married Q_Q I'm still trying to get over it...I know I should be happy for him! Y_Y
(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-24 06:28 am (UTC)I think I knew that >.> Haha.
S'about TIME tho.
I've never tried keeping up with the members =/
I love his voice. It slices my cheese xD
I also love all this Traxness I'm falling into *_* (reason I found you) Their songs were playing in my head ALL DAY at school.. I couldn't think of anything else o_O
(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-27 11:43 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-27 04:54 pm (UTC)lol