Bummin’ in ‘Hama.

We had the best intentions to be adventurous on Saturday. There was even a [failed] attempt at taking a weekend trip to Hakone.

After a quick lunch, we stopped off for dessert. They do this weird thing here involving corn flakes & soft serve, that I had always meant to try. Today’s the day! (it wasn’t that good!)

Eventually, Jon & Will & I headed off to the Red Brick Warehouse to check out a photography gallery, and to meet up with Brian (another co-worker of jon’s) & Emi (brian’s girlfriend). The photo thing was so cool. At first we were a little skeptical, because it was formatted more like a portfolio review than a gallery. And Jon hates talking to strangers.

…but eventually we warmed up to it, poked around, and found out that a few of the artists spoke english. Very cool. I can’t wait to check out some of their portfolios online.

I remember thinking this during my first few days here last year: art is the great cultural equalizer. Art always behaves the same way, regardless of what country you’re standing in. It’s a really comforting fact.

After the photo bit, we wandered around China Town for a bit, commenting to each other about how easy it is to get lost within the hanging lanterns, roasted chestnuts, and curvy streets. Also, they eat weirder food in that part of town than in other areas. Duck, anyone?

chinatown

I know it may sound odd that we went to chinatown in japan. But the largest chinatown IN japan happens to be 2 subway stops away.  So of course we have to go…

As many of our adventure do, we started out trying to find a brewery.  As there aren’t really *addresses* or *street names* in japan, we didnt’ have the best of luck. We’ll try again soon, as we got a bit of advice from an English-speaking bartender later that day.

While wandering down to the chinatown, we walked past a little sushi stand.

As it turns out, they only served three kinds of sushi, all vegetarian. Our choices were: inari, kanpyo maki, vegetarian futomaki, or a combination box with all three. One combo box and a park bench later…

(as a sidenote, we’re watching the sumo tournament on tv now. Asashoyu is such a douchebag. I feel cheap and dirty to have his signature.)

As the wise words of the 7-11 lady rings true… “first walk, walk, walk, then suuuuuushi, then” chinatown!!!!

Overall, it was good with the busy, narrowly packed streets full of vendors selling roasted chestnuts and chinese sticky buns. It was much better decorated than the Seattle International District, but I can’t say that it was like… spectacular.

I’m not sure. Maybe we missed something but it just seemed like lots and lots of streets with WAY to many people (in true japanese form) and the same things.

We did find a temple of some sorts. I don’t know much about Chinese religion, but there was incense burning and old men tossing coins into boxes.

Between this temple and also the one that we visited on sumo day, I’ve become interested in learning more about Shinto, the native Japanese religion. I like it. It reminds me of paganism and seems very approachable. While I really like the teachings of Buddhism, I find it to be way to strict for an average western – meat-eating – lady. I think that’s a post for another day though.