How to #17: continue to hanami after hanami season! Follow the sakura!

Shibazakura
"The Ground Sakura"

When: Mid April - Early May

Where:Hitsujiyama Koen in Chichibu, Saitama







How: From Ueno or Tokyo station ride to Ōmiya station. Reserved seat costs ¥2800, and a non-reserved seat cost ¥1580. (Japan Rail Pass or JR East Rail Pass work) Do yourself a favor and get the reserved seats! Tickets sell out on the way back...so don't get stranded!

My notes: It was great! The azaleas aren't as vast as advertised but it is still an amazing sight. Shibazakura is kind of considered and obaa-san place. There are some very decent matsuri food, like huge yaki-ika. I recommend that you leave most of your stuff in the lockers by the station. It's a very nice hike in the park so enjoy!

Footage I took from Shibazakura last year!

Culture Note #4: What is Hanami or Sakura Season?

This is by far is the most beautiful sight you will ever see. No photograph can ever do it justice. When it is that time of year, all time seems to stand still. The endless white and pink pedals fluttering down makes you feel blessed that you are alive. You see it in movies and you hear about it but this is a once in a life time MUST SEE! So for all those in Japan...you should feel blessed.

Sakura Season varies from location to location. For Tokyo it is blossoming right now! There is actually an adventure called Sakura Chasing. Because of the change in climate from north to south, spring hits at a different time. You can thus travel from North to South chasing blossoming sakura for about a month and a half. You can imagine that it is an expensive endeavor. However, I hope to one day do it myself

Hanami (花見) - It literally means "Flower Watching". It is when Sakura Season comes, and you pretty much go get drunk with your friends all day long. People will spend the night in the cold to reserve the best hanami spots through out the park!

When I say drunk..I don't mean a little tipsy... People get PLASTERED! They do CRAZY things. The norm is dancing, singing songs, play instruments, doing homoerotic dares...o_O like the boys in this photo...--->

Preparation: Bring a tarp, blanket, alcohol, TONS of snacks, and a Camera!(you never know what your gonna see!) I saw some guys go swimming in the public pond!

Warning: The line to go to the bathroom is going to be enormous...so if you need to go start waiting in line early, and don't wait till that absolute LAST MINUTE!!!

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There are Hanami Spots Everywhere, but
These Were My Favorite: (If you aren't sure how to read maps please read my older post)

Inokashira Park:



5 min walk from Kichijoji (JR Chuo Line)
1 min walk from Inokashira Kōen (Keio Line)
...Just follow the signs that say Inokashira Park.





Shinjuku Gyoen National Park:(MAP)


JR・KEIO・ODAKYU Lines:Shinjuku sta. "south exit" 10min. walk
SEIBU SHINJUKU Line: Seibu shinjuku sta. 15min. walk
Marunouchi Line(Subway): Shinjuku gyoen mae sta. "Exhit1" 5min. walk
Toei Shinjuku Line(Subway): Shinjuku 3 chome sta.: "C１&C５exit" 5min. walk






Don't know where to go? Just follow the trail of Japanese people! TAKE SOME GREAT PICTURES!

Culture Note #3: What is Kanamura matsuri (aka the penis festival!)

Hey all,

Sorry for the delay in recent posts. It's mid-terms time, and I can't write as many posts as I would like. I will be moving this blog to tokyosurvival.com soon, so look forward to it! For now, please enjoy and attend the Kanamura festival.^_^ I attended it last year and it was great!

Warning: there will be 70%+ gaijin attending.

-Claudia

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What: Kanamara Matsuri (Festival of the Steel Phallus)
When: April 5 (Sunday)
Where: Kawasaki, Kanagawa

Start time: 10:30AM(it is best to go earlier)
End time: 4:30PM





Nearest station: Kawasakidaishi (Keikyu line)
Direction: Take the south exit and follow the Gaijin crowd. Kanayama shrine is just a minute walk from the station.


The Kanamara Matsuri, also called Festival of the Steel Phallus, or in layman's term "Penis festival", is an annual Shinto fertility festival held in Kawasaki, Japan in spring. The penis is the central theme of the event, and it decorated in every aspect of the festival; in illustrations, candy, carved vegetables, decoration, a parade of mikoshis, etc.

There is a huge 4 foot tall penis permanently at the shrine year round.

The best part about this festival is that it is right next to a kindergarten school o_o

Note: Not too many Japanese people know about this festival, it is more popular in foreign countries, so be careful who you speak to this about this wild festival. You might still get odd looks if you flaunt your pictures. ENJOY!

Check URL's for:
* Train times & connections
* Weather forecast
* Kanamara festival
* Photos

(some of this information was copied from a Tokyo Gaijin e-mail)

How to #16: follow train etiquette (with funny Metro Posters!)

These are educational for Gaijin and Tokyoites alike... If you are ever on riding a Metro subway train you will see these posters up.

Most of these don't-do's are committed by drunk people at night.


ENJOY!!

Please also enjoy:

• How to Understanding the Eerie Quietness of a Tokyo Train
• How to Survive a Rush Hour Train

Culture Note #2: What is KY and why is it important?

空気読めない
Kuuki Yomenai = K.Y.(Adj,,n.)

When I first heard it I thought of something dirty. Don't lie, you know you did too!

It literally means "cannot read the air"

While you are living in Japan you will find this is a commonly used phrase. It is NOT ONLY used by young people. It is referring to a person who is oblivious to his current surrounding, and may say or do something insensitive or inappropriate.

This has a negative connotation of ignorance.
Synonymous words would be : Dense or Thick-headed.
Another variation is C.K.Y.
C is for Chou = super, really, extremely

Culture note #1: What is Aizuchi and why does everyone look like a bogglehead?

Aizuchi (相槌 or あいづち)

It is the act of nodding your head an uttering something to reassure the speaker that you are listening. This is VITAL to communicating in Japan.


The noise that is often used is:

• "un"
• "ee"(pronounced "eh")
• "hai"
• "soune"
  
• "sou desuka"
• "sou desune"
• more variations of "sou"(haha)
• variations of "hontou"

To be safe, just stick with the top 3.

When: when any Japanese person is talking, regardless of status.

How: constantly nod your head(like a boggle head), and say "un" every 4-6 nods.

Why: To be polite, and further integrated in the culture that is Japan.


I actually participated in a study on how Gaijin learn or pick up Aizuchi. They recorded me speaking Japanese and English. If you live their long enough and you converse enough in Japanese you WILL pick it up. It's only when you go back to your country that people ask you why you keep constantly nodding and interrupting them, that you realize that you subconsciously picked it up.

How to: #15: eat out in Japan (must know words!)

This is a list of things/words you need to know:

Kinen-Seki and Kitsuen-Seki:

These will be the first thing your hear when you enter a restaurant. It means non-smoking and smoking. In Japan, smoking is still allowed in doors. This was a bit of a culture shock to me, since I grew up in San Francisco. We haven't had smoking sections since I was a child.

If you wand non-smoking you say "kinen-seki onegaishimasu".

Note: their little dividers will do little to block the smoke from wafting into your nostrils. Also, if you have sensitive eyes like I do...invest in some eyedrops...o_o

Oshibori(おしぼり or お絞り):

Wherever, you eat you will have a wet towelette to clean your hands. You will have this regardless of whether or not you will be eating with your hands.

Note: hot in the winter, cold in the summer

WARNING: DO NOT WIPE YOUR FACE WITH THIS (I've seen some salarymen do it. but it's a no-no)

Osusume(おすすめ or お勧め):

It means recommendation. Most places will have a recommendation written on the menu. So learn the kanji well...because you will be seeing it. Also, sometimes you won't be able to read the menu. It is very useful to ask your waitor/waitress what is their recommendation.

"Osusume ha.." is acceptable... or
"Anata no osusume ha nan desuka" if you are determined to speak in whole sentences.

Teishoku:

LEARN THIS KANJI, IT WILL BE YOUR SAVIOR!

I love love...LOVE Teishoku! It is set meals! Considering that I was hungry for the first 4 months in Japan, I looked forward to these reasonably prices filling meals. Lunch time is of course cheaper, and it always comes with delicious miso(even at Denny's)

I find that the family owned hole-in-the-wall spots can be pretty darn delicious...so start looking! And share you favorite spots with your friends.

Omochikaeri:

It means "to go". If you go to fast food restaurants they will ask you for here or to go.
Note: There are no such things as doggie bags in Japan. People will just look at you funny.

Betsu-Betsu:

Whenever you eat at a restaurant you will almost always pay at the door. Before you pay, just say the magic words "betsu betsu" and they will very easily SPLIT THE CHECK. Each person will pay only for their own meal, and since gratuity is included it just makes it easier.

Note: I'm more impressed because I am American...Because if you ask an American waitor/waitress to split the check, they look at you as if you asked them to do advanced quantum physics.

"Gochisou sama deshita" (ごちそうさまでした):

"Thank you for a wonderful meal"

This is very useful for relationship building...and it's pretty standard for politeness.

Whether you live in a dorm or go to you favorite sushi place. You should say that as your are leaving. Say it loud and proudly, to further emphasize how delicious the meal was! It will make them happy, and make you happy for feeling like you are a part of the culture.

I had Kaiten-sushi(revolving sushi) way to often... so I used it regularly. The preparers will remember you, and it will help your cultural immersion in Japan!

Gan Batte!