Starstruck at Ebisu

Ever had one of those moments when you think, "Well geez, this sure ain't Kansas anymore"?

I think the reality of where she actually is, finally hit Haru hard across the face - in a good way of course. She was just surprised really, but I had to remind her not to leave her jaw behind as she traipsed her way through the Ebisu Garden Place （恵比寿ガーデンプレイス）with her friend, Yuan.

Before I get to that, how about I tell you why we were in Ebisu in the first place. For those who don't know where it is, it's close to the middle of Shibuya and close to Roppongi as well. In other words, it's a pretty famous place around here with museums, stores, restaurants, and gardens around.

In our case, there was a class field trip this past Saturday to the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography. It was a tiny place inside a huge building. But I think the archives were most impressive – behind the librarian’s desk was an automatic double door. And behind those doors, it looked like it would lead into the Matrix. I was almost expecting Neo or Agent Smith, to stride out of there with a rocket launcher in hand.

While we couldn't take pictures inside, here are some photos of the enormous plaza leading to it. Everything was just so... grand.

But here's the really fun part - watching Haru and Yuan go goo-goo-eyed as they struggled between melting and exploding at the same time. Here's a photo taken from my point of view of what got them so excited. It just looked like a stick of rotten swiss cheese, with square holes instead of round ones.

It really didn't seem like anything to me, other than another monument stuck in the middle of brick desert with random people trudging around. I made my exasperation quite clear, so Yuan decided to break the news to me about why Haru would stand comatose for one moment and then go into a photo-shooting frenzy the next.

"That's where Tsukushi Makino and Tsukasa Domyouji met for their first date!" Yuan bubbled, as she jabbed her finger towards the stone monument, "That's where Tsukasa waited hours and hours in the rain for Tsukushi to show up. It's romantic, don't you think?"

I guess, I can't say what I think because I don't know. I'm just a kid after all! And only after asking more questions, did I realize Yuan and Haru were talking about characters from a famous Japanese drama, and not about real people! But I couldn't help but wonder why the girl character from Boys Over Flowers, or Hana Yori Dango (花より男子) would think to stand up the guy character in the first place. Didn't she realize that standing up friends was a bad thing? Then again, I don't know their whole story.

While Ebisu Garden Place may have been a famous set for a famous drama, luckily, we didn’t spend our entire time standing there, gawking. For instance, we met a sweet old lady walking her dog! He's in his sixties in dog years, but in human years, he's nine. Haru thought he had a dashing personality, and Yuan was more than happy to play with him and talk to his friendly owner!

Yuan got hungry so we followed her to Saint Germain Bakery for some tasty pastries. I tried talking Haru into getting something, but she was saving her stomach for dinner. Everything they were selling looked so yummy though!

After that, we went about touring the grounds. It was such a big area! People looked so tiny milling about.

And beyond it was the famous Taillevent-Robuchon restaurant, catering to gourmet food lovers and お金持ち, rich people, or at least anyone who can afford to eat there!

It wasn't open when we were there, but we still went ahead and looked around. Here's a photo of Yuan scoping the place out!

It was getting late, and the girls had to hurry back to Minato to meet up with their friends for a dinner Haru planned earlier in the week. But here are some twilit scenes at Ebisu Garden Place. It looks totally different than those earlier photos, huh? The place took on such a completely different feel when day descended into night, it was almost like magic was afoot there.

On the way back to Ebisu Station, we took the Sky Walk route. It was scenic as well as convenient, like most things here in Tokyo.

Not only was it a walkway that spanned several blocks, it was also somewhat of an underground mall - or rather, an “overground” mall.

Here are some photos of a flower shop Yuan and Haru passed.

It was stocked full of expensive, freshly cut flowers; an explosion of color and scents.

There was a very nostalgic air in there for Haru, as it reminded her of a local flower shop near her home back in the States. But this time, the knowledge of being in another country came with an intense feeling of severe homesickness.

On the way back to the Minato area, Yuan and Haru took the wrong train and ended up in Naka-Meguro, when they should have been going in the other direction. But the awesome thing about Tokyo's transportation system is that it's fast and intuitive so finding the way again wasn't so hard.

Finding the way again... Wherever he is, I hope Komame's finds his way back to me.

We'll meet again, right?

Rowan

No Boys in the Girls' Hot Springs

Welcome to Zao Onsen Resort in Yamagata, Japan - home to avid snowboarders, skiers, and hot springs enthusiasts.

In other words, welcome to the coldest, most boring place that a resin kid could possibly be.

It wasn't all that bad, really. I just couldn't go anywhere, except stay in Haru's bag or watch the room that she and her friends were spending the night in… mostly because Haru was too busy face-planting down the mountain side to take care of me on the slopes.

Apparently, riding a snowboard is not like riding a bike. Ten years of neglect leads to eating a lot of snow, and complaining about bad joints like an old lady.

Haru couldn't take me with her because it was too hazardous, for one. It was also too cold to take many pictures on the mountain, because the camera buttons kept sticking. But here are some shots that her shaking, frost-bitten hands didn't mess up!

Check out how thick the snow is! Entire trees and shops were covered up from head to toe. Yamagata is actually known for its "Snow Monsters" or Juhyou (樹氷). It literally means “tree ice.”

Haru didn't get to see them, since she didn't go all the way to the top of the mountain, but here's a photo borrowed from Google Images so you guys get the picture.

Of course, it's not fun going to a winter resort, only to freeze to death. A hot meal, like hot-pot or Shabu-Shabu (しゃぶしゃぶ) warms the belly well enough.

There was also sashimi, tempura, nabe, and other traditional Japanese food to enjoy.

However, a body melting hot spring, or a hot onsen (温泉), is probably the best way to go. Though I was cold, there was no way I would go to the girl's hot springs! And there was no way Haru could take me to the boys' area either, so all I did was lounge around some more in the room while the girls played dress up and went to the onsen together.

Here's the girls' changing area - don't worry, no naked bodies were present when these photos were taken. While everyone else went skiing and snowboarding on day two, Haru spent it taking a five-hour nap in the hot springs by herself. Lazy bones.

Not to mention, Haru also spent quite a while enjoying the massage chair.

Here's the indoor onsen. Before you can even go into the hot springs, you must be squeaky clean. That means you take a shower first before going in for a soak.

This door leads to the onsen outside, in the freezing cold. Many people wouldn't dare walk stark naked into below freezing temperatures, but a short trip from the door into the onsen to stew a few hours is rewarding, according to my onsen-loving friend.

Haru told me that even though she was outside in the ice and snow, she only had to submerge her legs to stay warm. I could barely believe her, but then again, that steaming water looks like it could have boiled a lobster!

While she slept much of the time away in the onsen, Haru also spent much of her time reading while taking her bath. Old bookworm habits die hard it seems.

Looking at these pictures makes me envious of her. Perhaps one day when Haru trusts her snowboarding skills again and saves enough money to buy me some proper winter clothes, I'll get to come back and see the view with her. Komame too... once I find him.

Until the next adventure,

Rowan