The end of my first visit to Japan (but I'll return in 9 Days!)

July 26th:
I returned to Aya's house for the last two nights of my first stay in Japan (I will be returning to Japan again in August). Its funny that I started and ended my trip at Aya's. Its very grounding to have had that familiar environment that gave me my first taste of Japan. When I arrived we caught up on the events of the past few weeks and I recalled the many adventures I took with my UNLIMITED train pass. Wow, I really went everywhere in Japan. Some of the locals were telling me that I had accomplished more than they had in their time living there. I feel very accomplished in my explorations of Japan.

The day I arrived at Aya's we dressed up in summer kimonos (yukatas) and went to her town's local summer festival (natsu matsuri). I met her friends from high school and they taught me a traditional dance. 楽しいかった！

I love this record baby but I can't see straight anymore.

Parade under Chuck's balcony.
Charmander & the random street parade.
Drinking down by the river.
Albert got wet.
Me & my lady in the hazy club.

Jenn & I.
Dancefloor.

Rando.
gnarly.
hehehehe.
UC BERKELEY in the club!
Oh deng, my friends are making out.
Me & Jenn a lil bit schwasty.
I met her on the dancefloor <3



So Chuck had a crap-ton of work to-do (its finals season for him), and I decided to check out Kyoto's night life with his friends. We started out drinking down by the river, then we followed it up by some debauchery in the club. I'm glad these kids also go to Berkeley, because I can continue to have them when I return to the bay area.

PS- I found romance in the club, awwwww.

University of California Berkeley students unite in Kyoto!

Me & Albert on a badass bike.
Me & Charmander at the Jamaican bar/club w/ Albert's fist =P
wooot.
NOM NOM NOM.

Bicycles & pedestrians. Yeah, I got a bike crew.
HOLY SHIT. Harry Potter was so good.
A fish cake I bought in Toyama, we ended up eating it with our curry.
Jenn & Chuck.

My 2nd Return to Kyoto

Down by the river.
Hahah the sign for this bar is so funny.
A shrine. That is not the nazi symbol. Its actually an Asian sign of peace.
Back alley restaurant.
Did you know that 7-11 is a Japanese Franchise that is actually called "Seven & iHoldings" ? I didn't.

So I came back to Kyoto on July 22nd, and I adventured around the city by myself for 6 hours and waited for Chuck to get home from class. It was fun :) I like discovering unfamiliar places by myself. There is so many possibilities ripe for the taking!

Toyama, Pics from Mitsuo's Family

かんぱい！for my birfday!
Bigg feeesh. Also asia turned my hair brown.
Lovely old houses.
Oh haaay! Itz an American!
Really cool art exhibit.
Paparazzi shot.

Learning to pray.
The crew!


So I did a 2-day homestay with my friend Mitsuo's family. Mitsuo was back in Berkeley at the time I did it, but it was really cool getting to know his family better. They hardly spoke English, so it was a really good opportunity for me to practice my Japanese. Also they called me, "KB-chan" it was the cutest thing ever. They treated me like a royal American princess and took me to everything Toyama had to offer. It was really fun and I am thankful that I got to spend time with such a wonderful family <3

Toyama (富山）Pics I took.

Bye bye Toyama!
My Chanel & the little frog.
Don't eat him!
Lil tiny baby froggy.
Me & Masaki at the sushi-go-round.
Ayako & her many plates
Tofu shop reflection picture.
Ancient Japanese instrument.

Random basin.
WANT.
Japanese kitchen.
Mr. Lizard posed for me. きれい！
My first shrine, I made a wish, I hope the spirits heard me.
Old Wheel Barrow.
Old school village houses!

Toyama's first robot, apparently its supposed to be a good pet for old people, hahaha how strange.
Me & Ayako! (Mitsuo's sister)