Penpal in Japan

Two Dutch kids looking at a painting by a Dutch guy in Kyoto

Bamboo Forest

Japanese style rock garden and pond

"It's OVER THERE!"

Windblown at the Tottori Sand DunesKiomizudera Temple in Kyoto

These past 9 days have been spent gallivanting with my penpal (yes, my actual penpal, as in we’ve been writing letters- actual letters in the mail, with stamps and everything- for the past 5 years or so) about Japan. We went to the naked man festival, the botanical gardens in Kyoto, the bamboo forest in Arashiyama, Ohyama elementary school (on the way to which, as we biked by one kid walking to school let out a very audible gasp at the sight of him) where he experienced the thrills of “it’s here! It’s there! Its over there!” and entertained the kids with mad juggling skills. We also went shopping in Osaka (to be a consumer is a big part of many Japanese people’s identity, and a big part of my Japan experience) to the Tottori sand dunes, an onsen and Himeji castle grounds.

I wanted to make his Japan experience a little more authenic so he sampled sushi, ramen and gyoza (which are technically Chinese…) udon, soba, okonomiyaki, curry rice, crepes, a pan-eria (white bread/funny pastry buffet) ume-shu, sake, and a range of Japanese beers.

On his own he also went to Hiroshima to the peace museum, A-bomb dome and Miyajima Island.


A good time all around.

What I’m trying to say… is come visit me already!