Ten Days!

 

Had a bit of a run around day again exploring different neighborhoods. Looking for an active area near a train stop that has no other Christian church in the area. There are so few churches here that it will be possible to have a whole area to ourselves. Yesterday we hopped a bus and train and ended up at Hajioji, it had been an area suggested to us for being less expensive living wise ,but it was a bit too rural looking and the area around the train station wasn't active really compared to other areas. So we just ate a bowl of Soba at the train station and headed back. The meal was interesting as you bought a ticket from a vending machine and then you took that inside the little restaurant and exchanged it for your meal. The restaurant workers never had to deal with the money at all, they just served up your food at the counter for you, and it was inexpensive too! I had been waiting on Gary when I spied the vending machine and was curious. (You know what they say about cats and curiosity) Anyway, I couldn't figure out how it worked so I just waited around a bit and then a salaryman showed up and I spied on him as he paid and received a ticket, then I saw him take it into the shop and exchange it for food!!!  It was a wonderful thing!!! Lol! I had a Soba with tempura'ed veggies on top, Gary had a soba with chicken and mushrooms, they were both very tasty!

After that we rode the train through a few other neighborhoods and finally came back to Musashi Koganei where we went outside and looked around a bit.

 

It is an  interesting neighborhood and we explored around some of the small streets and alleyways. We also found a nice department store called Nagasakiya that sells reasonably priced (for japan anyway) household goods for when we get our own place.

By then it was dark and time to figure out which bus we needed to get back to the house, which we did! We're getting good at this considering we arrived entirely clueless 10 days ago!

Taking a Bus!

Today we needed to learn to take a bus! We found the proper bus stop to get us to Fuchu Train Station. Our Suica Card (a card you buy that you can recharge and use on trains, buses and in convenience stores)was used to get around. Apparently the buses are boarded in the middle, you swipe your card and then swipe it again when you disembark at the front of the bus.

 

Once arriving at Fuchu Station, we were able to explore the area a bit. We ran into an old ancestor of Gary's.

(I'm not certain yet who he is, but he looks formidable!)

 

Then we ran into another ancestor of Gary's!

 

KFC is the BIG thing around here for Christmas dinner!

 

 

We tried to find the 100 yen store but somehow kept missing it... next time I guess!

We did a little more looking around.

 

 

Then it was time to figure out which bus we were to take back to the house. After asking around a bit we were pointed to the #71,(we both thought the #73 was the right bus) we boarded the #71 and it took us close enough that with a little walk we made it back to the house...however, we saw the #73 pull up right in front of our street as we were walking! Live and learn!  Now that we have the bus situation to the metro and back figured out we are truly mobile and should be able to find our way around all over Tokyo!

p.s.  I rode Atsuko's bike to the store this morning, I didn't crash or run anyone over! (that's actually pretty good since I haven't ridden a bike in a LONG time and because it's really quite an obstacle course out there!

Oh and an obligatory picture for you foodies out there of me eating delicious things from the 7-11 (it's a very popular store here!)

                                                          

Fuchu!!!

Yesterday was Atsuko's day off so we did a little shopping and exploring around Fuchu where we've been staying.  We started off the day with an American style breakfast that I prepared. I found some bacon at the store,(not quite American bacon but close enough... more ham in flavor ),fried egg, and a fried slice.(okay, so that part of breakfast was English). Anyway, having eaten we hit the road! First we went to a store to buy a pillow, then we went to another department store and found these!

They had all sorts of cute little doodads in them!

This one wasn't cute and claims to be popular in America! EEEEK!!!

 

Before we had even made it out of the parking lot to the store we ran across this vending machine! It was great!

There were many great ice cream flavors, blueberry cheesecake, tiramisu, chocolate mocha, and of course:

 

(I think it looks good, I will have to try it next time)

After doing some shopping there to pick up a few things we needed  we went to a different area of Fuchu.

 

 

Of course by then we were hungry so we HAD to stop for some Takoyaki! Takoyaki is a delicious treat that originated in Osaka. Pieces of cooked octopus are placed in batter with other ingredients and grilled. They come out piping hot, round, a little larger than a ping pong ball and delicious! You can have different toppings and they are one of my all time favorite things here!

 

Ours were delicious! We stood right there and ate them up!

Then it was off to enjoy the sights and people of Fuchu! We had read that the people of Tokyo are notoriously un-friendly. So far, we haven't found that to be true at all! We have had no problem speaking with people and getting help with directions etc. Gary just goes up to people and talks to them and they are very nice and let him take pictures even!

 

 

(this little guy insisted on posing for a picture too after we took a Photo of his big brother)

 

 

 

This young Dad and new baby were really cute!

 

And then we were hungry again!!!

(soup, rice and gyoza!)

 

I had Tonkatsu, a Pork based broth that had such a rich flavor!

 

 

It was getting late:

but we still had a few more things to pick up so we headed into the mall which is in full Christmas swing... go figure.

Behind me was a bread shop with this strange sign...

We finally headed home after I taught Atsuko the useful phrase: "Shop till you drop!"

Though truthfully we had only bought a few things, we did explore this area of Fuchu pretty well and had some very tasty food!

AND

Atsuko bought some new slippers!

 

p.s. I also found a new button on one of the toilets..it even had English translation!

I didn't push it as I wasn't certain if it was going to spray ME or what?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chiba!

Gary and I have spent the last 3 days in the Chiba area of Tokyo. It's a very active area of the city and we've been busy exploring and only getting slightly lost on occasion! Fortunately, I was able to ask the Chiba Bear for directions...

 

We've purchased our Suica Pass for the train and are feeling pretty comfortable with the train system. Of course we still need to learn the monorail and buses and some of the private trains but we're getting there!

Here in Chiba there were these posts that had giant gold peanuts on them.

What's with that?! I wonder if Chiba means peanut?

 

Tonight we wanted to get some dinner so Gary asked the hotel clerk for an inexpensive place to get some dinner. (she didn't speak English but we managed to get the idea across) She sent us across the street, to what I thought was a flower shop. Behind the flower shop though was a little eatery, not a place foreigners usually eat I think. There was a lady in her 50's and a younger cook . We sat at the counter and the menu was all in Japanese of course so we just pointed at the few pictures in the menu. I think the waitress was amused, but she was game to help us out and had Gary point at the things in the Big soup pot that he wanted in his soup. I just pointed to a noodle picture on the menu and ended up with a tasty yakisoba, and then since I was still hungry..lol..I pointed to a different picture and had a really nice what she called guudon. It was fried cabbage, onions, pork, udon noodles with sauce and other tasty stuff.  I would point to some of the fixings around the counter and she showed me what to put on the food. It was fun and tasty! Afterwards when it was time to leave it had started to rain and she gave us an umbrella. We tried to explain that we were from the hotel across the street and left the umbrella with the front desk clerk and tried to explain that the restaurant lady might come for it later. Who knows what anyone really understood though!lol

 

 

 

Some Random Stuff

A lot has been going on since we arrived here a week ago, lots of new experiences!
My quest for a decent cup of coffee for one. Finally today I managed to find a good latte at a coffee shop! Yay!!! Unfortunately, I can't afford to do coffee shop every day. I have been having fun trying different types of canned coffees from vending machines... some even come out hot!

                                                   (I have no idea why this coffee is called Fire)
Gary tried this one ...especially for men it said(I tried it too anyway!)

I think it's funny that this is the face for Boss Coffee's!

 

 

   This one isn't a coffee, it's tea, but I had to try it because the name cracked me up along with the proper English woman picture on the can!

                            

 

 

Another dilemma I had was washing laundry! Had fun figuring out the washing machine... Just kept jabbing buttons till I heard water lol!!!



And then there was The Toilet! Japanese toilets are in a class all their own! This one had buttons for kids, for washing, blow drying, water pressure and some I'm too afraid to push! I went into a department store restroom today and on the wall in the stall was a little white box with a hand symbol on it. I wasn't sure what it was, (I thought maybe it was a "help" button and if I pushed it someone would run into the stall to RESCUE me!!!! So I just waved my hand in front of it and suddenly there was a flushing, running water sound ...guess it's to mask any other sounds going on in the stall.

 

 

Anyway, those are a few of the random things I've faced in the last few days! More to come!!!

Atsuko

 

We have been very blessed to have a friend here in Japan already! Atsuko became a Christian in one of our churches in England. Through friend of a friend connections we began writing to each other before we left the States and she kindly took a long trip (2 hours) to Narita to join us for dinner at our hotel. The next day we headed to Tokyo by bus .

                                                                                          
 We went out exploring a little in Fuchu, Tokyo where she lives.

And then we ate...

Went to the 100 yen store and the grocery store:

(I remember when it was the 10 yen Store!)

 

After that we went to Atsuko's home and ate some more! She taught me how to make this dish! Yay!

After that it was bed time!

I was so tired and the futon was so cozy...I slept great!

 

 

 

 

Narita:Out and About

Since we knew we'd be arriving in the evening to Narita Airport, Gary booked us for 2 nights at a local hotel to give us a chance to recover from the trip . Narita is about an hour or so from Tokyo proper. Our room was quite small but clean and had all the amenities.

Day one we both woke feeling refreshed, we showered and decided to go out to see what we could find to eat and to explore  the neighborhood a little.

 

Across the street from the hotel we find a Bento box lunch shop, we both ordered a box. Mine was the pork cutlet in Japanese Curry, Gary had the smoked fish box with tsukemono. Next we went next door to the 7-11 store(they are quite popular here) where instead of hotdogs they sell all sorts of tasty Japanese treats and goodies. We bought some gyoza and Gary did very well using a bit of his Japanese and gesturing and after picking up a couple of promising looking beverages we headed back to our room to enjoy our first meal in Japan!

After eating, I adventured out on my own to do some exploring while Gary took care of business at the hotel.I crossed the train station and discovered Mc Donalds! I decided to buy Gary a soda ...tried to get a LARGE soda but didn't make myself clear because the girl charged me 100 yen and handed me a tiny child-size cup! I just took it and left...lol. I'll figure it out eventually!


I wandered up and down little streets ...there were no square blocks..everything is diagonal with streets that vary in size from very narrow to more normal size..I loved it! I ran across a vending machine that sold Coke Zero and bought Gary one to accompany his tiny soda! On the way back to the hotel I stopped and bought more gyoza...those 7-11 gyoza are VERY good!
Here's a clip of some of my wandering around. I never did find that temple...