So Haneda Once Again

The day had arrived where I was suppose to fly back to Oregon. I tried to relax and enjoy these cute mini donuts from TAU Hiroshima. But the hotel forgot to tell the maid I was staying a little after regular check out. Given that I was the only guest on that floor, it seem a bit much that she kept pounding on my door. Finally the front desk apologized. It wasn't helpful, I was stressed because of the almost daily cancellations of flights by JAL, and the fact that I could not find any information as to what terminal my flight was leaving from. 

So I left early because of that, and because I had to change trains to get to Haneda International Airport. I reached the monorail station as planned, but when I asked a worker there which track I should be at, they told me the wrong one. More than once. I knew what direction the monorail would be coming from, since I had been at this station once before. So I picked that side, and I was right.

I wasn't right in guessing the terminal. And there were no information anywhere as to what gate the flight was leaving from. Thankfully the information person must have been prepared because she was able to tell me and explain what bus to take to get to the right terminal. Also it probably helped that there were very few flights that day. So eventually I made it back to the terminal where I had spent the night of March 11th, 2011. I didn't visit the shops where I slept that night, just saw them from below. Kind of fitting because it felt like another disaster trip.

Checking in and getting through security was pretty fast. No temperature checks, just asked me if I had been to China and one other place. The airport was almost empty. They did have cute displays in places though.

The play area was closed because of the virus. Since there weren't any children, I don't know if it would have mattered. Lots of social distancing this day.

There were some shops that were open. Just no customers.

I found my gate and I found a restaurant that was open. Curacion Cafe.

It was time for lunch and time for something good. Chicken curry, tsukemono pickles and a draft beer.

It was all good. 

I still had some time to wait. That was my gate and no one was there. But at least I made it to the airport without too many difficulties. So being a little early was okay.

I don't normally take photos in the bathroom, but I thought it was interesting to see what Japan was doing in regard to the virus. The air hand dryers are popular in public restrooms, but they had sealed them off from use.

And had installed an air cleaner system. Public health is serious in Japan.

Meanwhile, still waiting. So a few photos of the almost empty Haneda Airport. This was March 31st in the middle of the day.

I didn't forget to take a carpet photo.

The plane was waiting. The only flight by Japan Airlines to San Francisco that day. Only the second flight that week. With none going out of Narita Airport. That was a major reduction.

It was about tea time now, so I ate a little Hiroshima lemon cake. I also was carrying my Moi-même-Moitié bag with me. I didn't want to lose it.

Finally boarded the plane. Lots of space. Having a whole row of seats to myself, with no one in front or behind me. Everyone was wearing a face mask also. No delays with take-off, since there weren't many planes flying. Strange feeling, like it was another world. 

Since we were flying out of Haneda, the route was slightly different. And I got to see something special. The top of Mount Fuji above the clouds. That was nice because I had thought about going to a few places at Mount Fuji this trip, but because of the virus and the uncertainty of my flight, I did not. So seeing the mountain as I left was a bit sad, but also beautiful.

Back on the plane, service was excellent. I think because of the situation, we were given a little first class treatment. At least business class. I started with white wine and rice crackers.

Eventually lunch was served. This was a bento styled lunch created by a famous Japanese chef. It was very delicious. That's miso soup in the cup.

Several hours later, breakfast was served. I had trouble sleeping, in part because the disinfectant bothered my sinuses. I wore gloves for most of the flight, so it didn't bother my hands this time. The airline sprayed the interior of the planes with disinfectant in hopes of reducing viral spread. I ended up watching the new "Little Women" movie, which was nice.

I was tired, but I still enjoyed breakfast from Soup Stock with green tea to drink. It's funny, because I would pass by Soup Stock in Ikebukuro Station all the time, and it always smelled good. But I never ate there. My flight from Japan had small reminders of my times of being in Japan.

My last post will be about the second part of my trip back to Oregon.

Food from Hiroshima and More

I couldn't leave Japan without stopping to get something good to eat. And with the Yurakucho Line being the train I took from Ikebukuro Station to Gokoku-ji, Ginza-itchome Station was not a problem to get to. Once again I bought a few things at TAU Hiroshima.

Walking back through Ikebukuro Station, I had to enjoy the flowers.

Very pretty but that price, and I don't know if customs in the US would allow it.

I actually enjoyed a couple MR. waffles on another day. This Belgian Liege waffle was almond.

And this unusual Belgian Liege waffle was not green tea. It was mung beans and a springtime Japanese vegetable that I do not remember. Nanohana maybe?

I did enjoy on my last day a couple of the treats I bought at the local market, when I went there during the snow day. I found a little Mont Blanc pudding!

This was a nice find since a lot of the food shops were closed due to the virus. I couldn't resist enjoying one of the really big strawberries with it.

Yes someone inspired me to try this. And it was delicious.

I was also really happy to find little fresh tomatoes.

I enjoyed them on a 7-Eleven Caesar salad. They were sweet, acidic and juicy. So good!

Remembering the oysters I ate at TAU Hiroshima last year. What a wonderful meal that was. Canned oysters are not quite the same, but these drenched in Setouchi lemon were really good.

One last izakaya moment, enjoying the oysters with that nice sake that I always get.

Just a few things that made it home with me. I saw this and wanted to try it. Hiroshima Oyster flavored yakisoba. Along with a bottle of Setoda Lemon Ale from Yamaguchi Narutaki Kogen Brewery. This was a really good pairing.

I love how Japanese instant foods have drawing so you know how to prepare it.

Fun feature is this little steam vent grate that you open up after you put hot water in.

Of course always make sure to take out the seasoning packet before putting the water in.

I added a little cabbage. This was actually tasty and made me wish I had bought more. Having this to eat after my long flights home was a really good idea. And those flights are the subject of my next blog post. Because it was definitely different this trip.

Climbing Otowa Mount Fuji

When I saw the marker near this torii, I remembered what this was.

Not this music themed marker which unfortunately I do not know what it is for. There are a lot of markers at Gokoku-ji, including one to mark where the first veterinarian school in Japan was. It's actually not surprising that the location was here, since Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi really loved dogs and even enacted laws protecting them.

However there are other markers here that might give indication as to what this part of Gokoku-ji is about.

Because once you cross this bridge, you are entering another place.

Going under the white torii along the stone path.

In front of you, many more markers, and stone steps going up.

The curious thing is, many of the markers are shaped like a mountain.

While some have information on them, indicating you have reached the first stage.

One stone seems to have been chosen because it is like a natural water basin, a chozubachi.

In front of a stone engraved with the likeness of a tengu. Tengu are now thought of as protectors of mountains.

A little human made cave. Perhaps it was made to represent a lava cave like the Otainai lava caves.

Another engraving, difficult to see because it is worn down. Perhaps it is 木花咲耶姫 , Konohanasakuya-hime, also known as Sakuya-hime, protector who keeps volcanos from erupting and protects women during child birth.

Back to the "mountain". Because a mountain is what this hill represents.

I wondered if anyone has documented what all of the markers are for.

Some of the makers along the stone path indicate "stages", as if you are climbing a mountain.

I think I see the top.

This hill has been here a very long time. I wonder if Edo nobles would walk up here.

The little white shrine and post next to it are newer. I think the marker next to it says "big stone" 

Even though this hill is not terribly high, it felt good to reach the top.

Because I had just climbed 音羽富士, Otowa Fuji. This part of the hill is a representation of Mount Fuji's caldera.

Looking down you can get an idea of the size of this little 富士塚, Fujizuka. A Fujizuka is a small representation of Mount Fuji, built for people to climb.

The concept of this is that a person can climb a representative of Mount Fuji, without going to Mount Fuji. These began being built during Edo times and hiking up them became also a religious experience.

There are a number of these less strenuous Mount Fuji in Tokyo, and in other places in Japan. Often they are covered with rocks brought from Mount Fuji.

Back down from the mountain, my visit to Gokoku-ji Temple was completed. There was one more place I wanted to go to, so that will be my next blog post.