Fox Statue Representation
When visiting any shrine that has Inari in its name then you will most likely see a pair of fox statues. Inari is known as the deity of rice and is related to prosperity. There is a myth that a family of foxes offered their services to Inari and thus became the attendants of the shrine. Another story relates to foxes eating rodents, which prevented the destruction of rice crops. This enhanced the idea of foxes being guardians. Although there are negative versions of foxes like they are known as shapeshifters and tricksters.
Gundam Game Pod
Back before this game into the states or the variations of it I had the chance to play it in Japan. I was terrible at it and did not last long, but the experience was worth it. This control system looking panel is actually a Gundam game. The design is meant for the player to feel like they are a Mobile Suit Gundam pilot with 180 degree views. Your goal is to eliminate your opponent using superior maneuvers and accuracy to defeat. On the first try I could not get the controls down, plus the instructions were in Japanese. It was a fun guessing game trying to figure out what did what. Still if you want your data to be saved then you will have to get a special game card, which will store your progress and gather points. Arcades in Japan are so awesome.
I’m Looking at You
My friends and I went to Utsunomiya when we all had the day off due to the holiday. The goal was to go to Sweet Paradise to eat all you can of cakes, pies, and other pastries. It was also the first time I rode the train in Japan so I was pretty excited. While we were walking through the town to our desired location I see this building looking at me. It was a surprise because I did not know if it was common or a joke of some sort. They added eye lashes and made it look happy to see you. It was like the building was happy to see you walk by it. After this trip I was looking around at other buildings to see if another one had eyes on them. So far I have not seen them in other areas in Japan. Still what a day to go to a new town and see this in Japan.
Cherry Blossom Season
Right now in Japan there are cherry blossoms blooming in various parts of the country. It is a beloved flower that people from all over the world go to see. There are so many events related to the cherry blossom in Japan. Personally I would like to participate in a sakura hanami, which is a cherry blossom viewing party. People would place mats under or in an area with cherry blossoms then eat and drink while enjoying the falling petals. It is a goal I plan to accomplish next time I’m in Japan.
Dotonburi Restaurant
There is a chain restaurant that I liked going to called Dotonburi. It is a place where you cook your own okonomiyaki. When you order your food they put all the ingredients in a bowl for you to mix together and place on the grill. My goal with eating here was to flip the okonomiyaki perfectly without spilling all the ingredients. My impatience got the better of me and I flipped it too early. It became a hot delicious mess that I ate for dinner. If you are ever in Japan and want to try cooking your own okonomiyaki then look for Dotonburi restaurant. Just know that there is an area in Osaka called Dotonburi too.