Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Our Final Week in Japan

We are back in Colorado, but wanted to finish up our trip with a couple short blogs. Our last week in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, was unforgettable. The north is cold; just what I wanted, but with that came rain. The colors were changing and as we came to the end of our […]

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Vending Machines

Vending machines in Japan scatter the sidewalks, street corners and niches of hotels, stores and sometimes restaurants. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and uses as well. The most common ones serve a variety of 30+ drinks ranging from sports drinks, to sodas, to coffee and more. Various ones even allowed you to […]

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Clean Those Udders

At Shiozaki Dairy Farm outside of Bifuka, Haokkaido we have truly found rural Japan. There is only a one-car train that runs 5 times a day from the station and barely anyone on it. To get anywhere else you really need to have your own car. The farm itself is about a half hour drive […]

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Japanese Bath Time

While in Japan we have been introduced to many different traditions and customs. One big part of life here are the onsens and public baths, community places to get clean, soak and talk with your neighbors. Our friend told us, people in the bath are all equals; there are no clothes to delineate one social […]

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Where are we now? Travels to Kyoto and Hiroshima

On the cribbage front Andy and I are in an even 6 win tie. I got off to a slow start and lost 5 in a row! Can’t believe I’m even telling you this. Well, we finally had some time to kick back and relax and catch up on the blog. Traveling from place to […]

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Ancient Trail: The Kumano Kodo

Imagine hiking an ancient trail in search of enlightenment. All you have are the provisions on your back and the sandals on your feet. You pack light (you bring with you several pairs of sandals for when they wear out), because of the steep up and down trail and you will rely on help from […]

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Yohey’s Farm

Our second farm stay was at Yohey’s farm in the Wakayama Prefecture, South of Osaka. We chose it because he looked to be about our age and working with other young farmers. His house was very communal because in addition to Yohey, his wife, child, mom and cat there were many other people living there. […]

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Monastery of the Lotus

Religion in Japan, from my viewpoint, is mixed heavily with culture and the complexities of Buddhism, stemming from India and Shintoism, a native folkloric religion. Temples in honor of Buddhas and shrines in honor of Shinto gods and goddesses are everywhere here and they represent all sects of both religions. We have paid our respects […]

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Itadakimasu

“Itadakimas!” is said before every meal here in Japan. It has no direct translation but means something like “I receive this” or “let’s eat!” Arriving almost a month ago I was unsure of what we would be eating … I heard either you like it or you don’t. Turns out we both like it! And […]

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Fuji Fire Festival

(Mount Fuji in the distance seen from our campsite.)  With the smell of burning wood on us this morning it is the best time to write about our first festival in Japan. The Japanese Fire Festival held in Fujiyoshida, at the base of Mount Fuji, is a 500 year-old tradition used to honor the Fuji […]

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