Wanderlust V2 - Japan & Beyond

I don't know if I mentioned but I'm thinking of pushing my trip to March or early April. The tickets are nearly $300 cheaper during the spring.. I'm wondering if it's all the rain. This time I might bring a rain coat or something dry. I got two new coats that were exceptionally on sale!! ( like under $20 sale) Feel sorry for the person who had to go with me. I took Tony and we went on a 5 day jacket excursion. I went to 2 macy's, one pac sun, one zumiez, one dillards, one Jcpenneys, one Sears, one Ross, one Burlington coat factory, and a Kohls. Kohls had two jackets I loved. One with a fake sherpa inside ( I think might be sensitive to real sheep) and the other was a fuzzy teddy bear inside ( actually I refered to it as a panther inside.. the fur was silky). I only got the fake sherpa one because I felt it was wonderfully girly! It's white with plaid black & blue. Also the other Jacket I got was a miltary green, puffy coat from Burlington Coat Factory. It is definitely a work coat, cause it's super puffy and thick. I need matching scarfs!! eeee! If only my mom still dressed me. It wouldn't be such an ordeal! I wouldn't care what coat I got either..  I suggest Burlington Coat factory and Kohls for coats. Burlington had a HUGE selection that had good prices.. :) I saw a faux suede with fake fur inside.. I wanted it so much but they lacked my size! I have to wear larger jackets in womens due to my chest and shoulders being a little larger than average womens.. Might be the gymnastics I used to do?

Anyyyyways! Probably don't want to hear a bunch about jackets!! These were important because last time I got sick with a thin sweater style jacket! I aim to have a great time! :) YAH!

So I've decided to lure you with some photos I took on 4/26/10! <3 You haven't seen the aquarium yet. I went to the one out by the bay. The bay wasn't spectacular but the aquarium was super nice!!  I think one of the most popular places was the huge TUNA and somewhat the sharks. My favorite were moon Jelly fish, which are cute and have that four leaf clover shape on the top! I broke down and got myself a stuffy with rosy cheeks!!

That was just the top of the Aquarium! :)

I liked what someone said on their blog. That blog time goes faster than real time. I imagine that could be so. It's more than half a year since my trip to Japan. I started reading Moments like Diamonds... And I felt a good natured jealousy. So how does that work? Well basically it just made me want to try to go to Japan again! ( good-natured because I felt no ill will toward her for going to Japan a lot, just encouraged me to try again).

 After my trip, since I was so direly sick, I didn't feel any desire to really go again to Japan. I felt sad that I felt that way, but by the end I wanted to go home so bad and was past misery. If you didn't know, Japan doesn't really have great over the counter medicine for colds. Even Vicks vapor is so mild, you wondered if you put it on. But really it was two things going on with that whole thing. My gallbladder was poisoned. After going to the doctor several times in the past few years, no one diagnosed my gallbladder! Then I go to Japan and come back and my gallbladder is past bad. It filled with poison and sludge. Gross right?? I was a bit baffled because I don't eat a whole lot of bad stuff and eat actual normal portions. But I imagine it was before my eatting habits changed? Even in Japan I barely ate I hate to say, cause I wasn't that hungry. I even left half a pack(3 servings bowls) of microwaveable rice at my hostel, because I couldn't eat that much. Then I didn't dress well for the rain. I had a cute and pretty sweater jacket that didn't help me in the cold wind and rain that happened nearly all my trip except a few days. So that got me sick, especially coming from a hot dry climate in the semi-arid desert! This happens to me when I go back East to NJ and PA and MA. I usually come back a bit sick due to moisture and mosquitoes!

Also forgot to add that by the time I got to meet Haley from England, I was nearly crippled by the pain from twisting my knee at point. I could barely walk and dragged myself around trying to hang out with them. I imagine I was a total mess when they saw me.

But a blog restored my faith. I came across it when I dug out a cute toy I bought in Japan. You make fake desserts as key chains and stuff. The whip cream dries up hard and you can decorate whatever way you want! When I made them, I started to look for them online and came across the blog! I'm still reading the blog right now. Her amazing weightloss, her 4th trip to Japan!! I began to get excited all over again!! So here's what I was thinking of trying:

• First I need to visit my mom at the beginning of the year. I haven't seen her for a few years I realize. She was not happy I went to Japan alone and that I didn't visit her instead. I can totally get this. I was a bit crazed about going to Japan. I get obsessed with things and my brain has a hard time not being excited and thinking about something till I've done it, bought it, tried it, what have you. So first her for a week or so. She's one state away so it shouldn't be so bad. I have vacation time saved up again!

• Second I will see if I can get anything back from taxes. I almost pay half my paycheck to all the random stuff that gets taken out for ss, taxes, insurance, retirement, and the like! If this happens, the Japan trip is very close.

• Third, I will have to scrimp and save hopefully enough to go to Japan by near the end of the year, fall or winter. They aren't glamorous, but I figure it might be slightly 'drier' than the spring rainy season or steamy summer. I also will try to hook up with my Aunt so I can live at her place and maybe even get free food there too. Last trip she was on vacation, so I had to do hostel. It will save me quite a bit of money that I can use for shopping and seeing sights. Also I am going to try to buy a cheap nice warm jacket at the end of this winter, when they go on sale! That way I will be prepared! I do not want to be freezing again and sick! Can you imagine? I was quaranteened at work with 12 kids that had swine flu?? They were hacking everywhere too. My strength of will and all kept me from being sick before my trip!! ( I also did not have it later either.. I was sick due to bacterial infection in my sinuses)

The funny thing about Japan is no rain was slated for that week I was gonna be there and by a few days before, I started to see rain forcasts.. So it can come quite suddenly, even if you keep checking it every day and it looks clear. Be prepared! My aunt also seem to be impervious to moist heat, because I stopped for a day at her place before I went to Korea.. She had no ac or fans and had shut her windows.. I nearly died from the heat. She looked perfectly put together..That's why I think summer is not a good idea. ;p Or I need to bring a mini fan for myself.

Also the cute mini umbrella, not as good as functional full sized clear umbrellas from the convience store. I unwittingly left the functional one at Takarazuka. I must wonder if I left it subconscious on purpose though, because my brain was buzzing about the cute mini umbrellas... one swift wind blew out a spoke. I learned that lesson quick.

 
Okay back to plans.. I might try to write a little more on my blog maybe try to catch up a few entries. I never finished the whole trip thing at all. I wish you could rent bloggies ( sony camcorders) for the trip. Not that I want people to see my face that much, but it'd make it easier to camcorder and narrate stuff. I don't know if people would be interested, but I could capture memories for myself as well!

Here goes to hoping! There's a lot between me and my trip in a year! My family is on the rocks financially. I tried to give them money for a bit, but it was like a deep and dark well. If I succumb to giving money I might not have anything to go on a trip. It's very hard, because I hate to see them suffer or anyone suffer. I should of been a millionaire or self made millionaire >.< I want people's wishes to come true. I know how it feels to want things in the world. I also want you to know I don't do it out pure selfishly either.. I have family overseas that I have gone almost 20 years without seeing. It's hard because I love them so much. But tickets are impossibly expensive. And my medicial bills are just a mountain! This is kind of part of my bucket list. Before I go blind, in case I have cancer ( didn't go get a check but was told to and aren't going to for now), and anything else.. I want to travel a little and enjoy things. I'm sorry if some may feel this is horribly selfish of me to want... But I am human! And I am incredibly thankful for everything I have, love, and have done.

Be advised, I dated all trip posts in order by their actual dates. I will post them as if it was that very day. The posts were actually pretty much all written on the day the happened, so that's why I'm doing it that way. I'm not back logging much unless I saw some sentence structures or things that needed to be cleaned up or an extra memory I forgot to write..

So I did get sick somewhere before I got back from Japan. Some kind runny, stuffy nose thing. It wasn't the flu or swine flu. Probably just too much rain and wetness. When I finally got back, the heat and dry weather helped a lot. Then perhaps a day or two later, I rushed to the ER with hard pains in my ribs and chest area. I ended up having surgery and staying in the hospital for a day. So I'm really behind on things. Today was the first day I can eat anything solid. Cause lately I've been nauseous and unable to eat. Anyways hopefully I'll get my pitiful collection of Japan photos up. and talk about what I did. >.< I have awful luck it seems with these blog things.

Kyra's post at Little Gajin in the Big City

Above is a link to Kyra's post. She wrote extremely succinctly about our experience together in Japan on a wonderful Saturday afternoon. Kyra lives and works in Japan. She was nice enough to spend the day with me, starting extremely early in the morning afterworking till late at night! I deeply appreciated it! We went to Takarazuka and we got B-seki. The Tachimi in the back were all sold out when we got to the window. But honestly it's pretty modestly priced to get B-seki anyways. Also it was a weekend of the retirement of 4 stars!I liked my seat mates this time. I had Kyra one side and a really excited Japanese girl on my left. I think I could be obsessed with Takarazuka and go to every show if I ever lived there.. Kyra really spun a different side of things. Even living in Japan for many years, her perspective is so uniquely her and hasn't molded to the society around her. Though she is like the perfect size, petite and oh-so delicate, for Japan. I did have to marvel aloud to her about it! Plus she spoke Japanese super well! I'm so jealous! Hehe. We each had a different favorite part. Her favorite was the first story part of the show and mine was the over-the-top dancing & costume at the second part. We also visited both shops. I am still kicking myself for not buying the cd of the show!
We also went to the maid cafe. I'm glad she wanted to go and suggested it, because I had not previously planned to visit one. It made us braver to go together. When we were looking around we had a heck of a time finding one. Pinafore was right in front of the subway/train station
in a little area ringing a smoker's concrete park area. The maids were awful cute and we waited in a mini line to get in. Unfortunately they did smoke in there and the non-smoking was right in the center of the smokers? Weirdness. And we got to see a maid's bloomers and twittered because they were so cute and pink! Our maid Mary wrote on our home rice ( omelet filled with fried rice and chicken bits) with Ketchup and in our lattes with chocolate syrup. Kyra was worried we would be the only females besides the maids in there, but amazingly there was another couple of girls at the table next to us and a male-female couple that came in a little later. Plus the guys were really focused on their favorite maid, so I never felt we were paid any nevermind, even not being Japanese.
An oddity I did notice is the male-female couple, the female was very dominant. She got pictures with the maid, threw a napkin on the floor and made the guy pick it, after telling him a viscious voice to pick it up.Totally dominatrix style! Kyra missed this because her back was to them and I was at the angle to see something odd happening behind her. Not that there aren't such couples in USA too.
We also got a map and looked at a costume book of all the different costumes of the maid cafes. The book was hugely thick and varied. Some look like Japanese style, shrine girl style, long old fashion maide dresses, even more pink frilly style, just amazing. Also we found the area was crawling with maid cafes. We manage to see them pop out of the woodworks when we were walking back. It was a fun time and I loved hanging otu Kyra! Plus she has impeccible style and a great purse.

4/22/2010

Okay I still gotta get pictures onto my computer and do some posts, etc. Haven't had the time since all my timed/scheduled activities have been the last few days. Also been coming home by 10pm, so I've been drained with my little dogs woofin. Usually to the point that as soon as I sit down, I've fallen asleep a bit. I have to dredge myself up to take a shower.
Also I had a big scare at Ghibli, I dropped my camera down the circular steps between the roof and other floor, in the rain! I thought I would be camera-less for the rest of the trip! Lucky for me, sony builds a hardy little camera! Or I haven't found what broke. So far, it looks like it is still working and seems only to suffer a dent on the bottom right corner. Ugly dent, but so glad Camera works. Knock on wood.
Well time for another day. See what I had written down for a plan for today.

4/21/10

Before I sleep I must describe Takarazuka! It is amazing, stupendous, sparkling! I can’t wait to go again. Even if you can’t understand the words, the actions and acting make it all clear. The second half Carnevale was incredible with tons of singing and dancing. I loved it the most as I thought I would! The line to the women’s bathroom was waaaay too long, while mens was pretty much no line. I sat next to the girls I stood next to in line for tickets with. We cried, clapped ( there was audience participation), and laughed. The star’s costumes were extra sparkly. The sparklier, the bigger the star. And the music/singing was moving beyond words! I Was humming Solferino all day. After ticket buying, we saw the stars arriving, with the synchronized fan clubs that kneeled when stars were coming. You could easily get pictures and see the star yourself, as she collected her fan letters and received/gave words of encouragement and adoration. After the show, the crowd was much much bigger as the stars left for home. Oddly enough I think a group of ladies near the door may tell or signal the groups to kneel. Not sure. Also the head fan leaders, were stuffing giant presents into the star’s already full trunk. Not sure who the blue sparkly scarf star is, but I like her the best! She is so handsome <3 I waited through all the stars before and after. Then Shopped in both shops. I liked the selection in Chanter, plus more area to move around. The other one closes shortly after the show. Also when you pick your seat, they have a map you can point to if you are rusty in your Japanese numbers. Seats were crushing on the knees, mostly because your legs are bent slightly back as there is not a whole lot of space for your feet. There is room under your chair for your bag.
If you decided to watch with the fan clubs, the stars arrive and leave, give yourself several hours, as it takes a while for them to come out afterward and arrive. The only ones that really arrive together are the lower cast members. The main stars tend to arrive and leave separately. Also only the main stars’ cars are parked in front of the entrance area. The other lower cast members park around the corner of the building. I always thought they walked, haha. Till one day I was on the other side in the morning and found they actually came in cars and walked around the corner. Also you can often tell a lot of cast members not only from the kneeling of fan clubs, but also they wear big round hats for the girls and ‘guys’ wore cheese cutter hats. It’s good to be taller than the average Japanese female because it was much easier getting video and pictures. Anyways it was wonderful I enjoyed it so much!! I could see myself getting obsessed and buying tickets all the time to go.

Also wanted to add on the spot notes of what went on here's what I wrote: At nine am, the line is all the way down the foyer. Not bad though, considering I thought it'd be around the corner and all. The side walks are much busier as well and people stare at us while we stare at them. Women tend to wear no sneakers and like boots, heels, and nice flats. Also I didn't see a lot of jeans in the morning. I also saw many foreign business men, but now I know it's because a famous hotel is right near the theater! I also decided to splurge on b seki, since I had gotten so early that I was 4th person in line! I had gotten there at 6:30 or 7am. After pointing out my ticket, I watched the stars come in with the fan clubs and went into Chanter across the street to have something to munch since I had no breakfast. I ate at Vie De France bakery in Chanter's basement. I got a Peachbread with cream and peaches inside, plus a jelly like gree tea bun thing and then a bun with hotdogs and fries in it. Think there may have been some brocoli too. I wish we had more cool bakeries like that in the USA where I live. We have normal bakery departments but nothing with fries, green tea, peach buns, etc. This is a similar thing in Korea as well. Great snack/meal when you are really on the go. I also had a green tea latte, that had real powdered Matcha.

Just another add on is that the theater itself is amazing! It's very steep. I wondered if anyone ever rolled right down the steps. The second floor where I was and tachimi is, is actually occupying like 3-4 floor in physical reality. It's just huge! Also some of the costume changes happen on the stage right during the show. They really do some amazing stuff. Plus the stage has openings and moves and has props that move.. and of course there are amazing lit stairs that magically appear. I always miss their appearance!!

On a side note, on the way back to the hostel I hit up Asukasa, Sensoji temple. It was late at night so all the whole arcade that lead from one gate to another were closed up for the night. They painted pictures on the white metal gates of the stores all along the arcade. I took some gorgeous night pictures though with no peeps really even around. And I did my fortune. I got a weak good fortune that said I would get good things but they would always be late. I tied it to little rack the right of the fortune cart. I didn’t do another because I didn’t want to be a cheater, plus I figure the next one would be like the worst fortune or something LOL. It was really cool though anyways. Also I don’t know the story but the the left of the gates when going out, there’s a huge straw sandal?? It was a cute, nice little side trip even though there were no shops. I enjoyed the evening peace and it was so quiet. Unfortunately I was not fast enough to take a picture of a dog that looked like Hachiko who was jogging along side his owner's bike. I stared and made the guy give me a look. I loved the dog though. So cute! I also took pictures of the pagoda. It was either 5 or 7 roofs or what have you. And I sat on some sitting stones near the temple. Definitely something to go see, even if you are too late for the whole hoopla of the day. Glad I went at night, not to be missed.

Yes you heard that right! That saying means that my feet are totally tired.. so is my back, eyes, arms, legs, and yah every part of my body including my hair. I could barely drag myself back to the hotel. Today I went to Takarazuka ( beautiful ). I will have to tell you about  my experience soon. Right now I am just jelly. A limp piece of seaweed. I just barely took a shower and feel like a human being again. I had almost decided to skip it, because all I could do was doze on the floor and not move. Anyways! I have to say Japan has enough stairs. I think we had this many where I came from, we'd never have to worry about 'going to the gym.' Japan is mega stairmaster!! Anyways I'm just getting silly cause I'm exhausted. I have another long day tomorrow!! Then maybe the day after that, I'll take a kind of relaxing day.. for catchin up on posts.

I have a heck of a long post coming. I decided not to put it up quite yet cause, honestly I am pooped and ready to rest. I have to wake at 6am so I can get myself roused, dressed, and at the station without getting hopelessly lost in a circle. Plus even if it's more expensive I was going to try the metro.. Who knows.. Anyways, no real pictures yet and I bought my ghibli tickets at the lawson's Combini. And a peach yogurt drink ( i seriously had no idea) which is my first drink in Japan this time. LOL!

Well I'll post later. Gonna hunt up some tissues and call it a night. I'm here!! Oh and  I had some revelations about traveling alone as well. :) Oh and I think walking is really going to be hiking here.. It's tough going! Oh yah I got squished into a train. I was pressed against an older lady who was face into a glass window. I felt bad for her, but she continued talking to her traveling companion some how. People entered zen like state.. LOL.

It's the day. Packed, repacked and dropped 3 items of clothing!

I know my excitement appeared to wane, but it was mainly because I was all cautious after getting e-stalked that turned into real life stalk! Creepy! Mainly I just don’t want my family and any kiddos to get hurt because I made someone lose it online. ( No I didn’t share my info, just my name was available and that was enough… Yes I called the police and reported… No, I didn’t curse at anyone or try to insult anyone…) Perception is a dangerous thing! Anyways it made me slightly paranoid now, which cut down my blathering a little bit. As you can see it’s making a resurgence due to sheer excitement!

I know I said this before, but really I love the feeling of before a trip! I hope I get to visit Japan again one of these days. I know I haven’t gone yet but I feel like I’ll definitely like it anyways. If you ask.. why? Well I don’t really have an answer for you. Everyone asks me why I’m going. Before I did want t go to visit my aunt and uncle there, but they are vacationing! So I’m just going for myself now.. And I really couldn’t give you some kind of concrete or logical reasoning. Also I realize I’m not really an otaku. I don’t read a fraction of the manga ( though I think I’d read more regularly if they had a manga lending library or I made more money ) and I’m not up on anime very much at all. I do like it, but like any movie or show, I have to be interested in the subject/story. And I tend not to be able to hang around for 200 episodes or anything. So I’m going to be a tourist, to kick the dirt off my heels and trade it for the soft moist air of Japan. To not be able to effectively communicate or read signs. To the excitement of travel, a new culture, a different pace of life… and maybe a little bit of magic in the air. Shinto has always excited me and thinking about the cute Tanuki that could be tricking a person at any given moment with their special mythical magic. Anyways that all still equals, no real answer to that question. Why do you want to go? Or why did you want to go the first time around? Unfortunately I think no one reads my blog.. so it’s rhetorical at this point. But I welcome your comments of why you want to visit Japan ( btw it’s okay to be otaku, as long as you have realistic expectations? ).

Anyways, I will consider this question in the days to come. But I guess you could say I have a deep wanderlust, a need to travel. And Japan was calling me!


Also DUST CLOUD GO AWAY FROM UK AND EUROPE!! I wanna meet an online buddy for Karaoke!! So she needs to be able to fly!!

After the rain.. There will be a rainbow, so they say.. I think it could be true. Had some troubles of late that took me by surprise. But things keep looking up as time goes on. Small worries assault the back of my brain with what ifs and I think about my family being okay.. But new friends and old friends increasingly make everything look a little sunnier, a little brighter each day. I won't go into the details of my problems, I don't want to dreg them up or invite them back into my life just when everything looks better. So here's a picture by Shannon Pifko from Canada, to let you feel what I feel today. I feel lucky every day that I'm alive and I always have since I was a child. Also I had a dream about my long departed dog. He was old, well alive and well lived in my dream. I felt like he was still watching me when I woke up. I didn't wake up to sadness, but a good feeling. It's funny because this happened the day after the really bad day.I love my dog so much, I hope he is living happily in dog heaven. I have to believe there is one for him...

The days are counting down!! One more week!!
Next week I have to go to special training for work, see my family at the zoo, and finally start cramming things in my bag! I still need to dig up my little air release bags for packing. So far i dug out my bag from my closet and looked up where a few things are in the area. I'm thinking GRUTT pass will be worth it.. Possibly?

I"m practicing posting from flickr. It's pretty neat, so i thought it'd be cool to try out. I'm gearing up!! I've gotten so excited! I almost don't want the trip to come because the excitement before it is just so addicting and wonderful! Yet I can't wait to gear up and take some mega photos of Japan. I regret I didn't take enough photos for the few days I went last tiem to visit my aunt. I took pictures of her home and her and the bus trip. I hope that I won't be to shy to take tons of pictures. I just want to be respectful toward people living there, but I just want to unabashedly take a picture of every little thing! Even a stone!! :) Wish me luck. I can't wait!!

Not sure how long local travel will take me, so I kept things very very general. May fit more in, Not sure.  This is not set in stone. I want to see the aquarium and possibly the other zoo. Also trying to keep areas group together to save travel money.
Trip: April

Day1: Flying at 7am
Day2: Land in Japan And go to my hostel New Koyo - Explore local area ( Ameya Arcade? )
Day3: Ghibli Museum & Shinjuku if there is time
Day4: Takarazuka Revue show ( Gotta wait in line in AM) & Possibly Ginza/Akasaka
Day5: Ueno Zoo?
Day6: Takarazuka again possibly and cafe
Day7: Harajuku + Flea market + Meiji-jingu ( check out Cosplay Zuku and stuff!)
Day8: Akihabara exploration
Day9: Sensoji and more local exploration
Day10: Leave early, check out Narita, get to airport in time for my flight


Blog Template!
So what do you think of my new blog template? I used one that existed and adjusted it to make it personal. I made the chicken, the mini-me complete with glasses!, and change the color scheme. Previously it was pink with different art. I also added my title:)

My opera glasses came!! Hurray!! Now I am prepped for Takarazuka! Yah I'm obsessed to see the show. I'm going to try like heck to go see one! I bought my opera glasses on ebay. It's unsure if I'll need them. Half of the folks at my yahoo groups said yes and half said no. So I'll have to see for myself.

More Takarazuka Planning!

Thanks to some kind fans of Takarazuka Revue at Takarazuka Revue Yahoo Groups, I am finally settled. I'm going to try to get either Standing seat ( Tachimi) or B-seki ( B seats). Mostly like I'm going for the Tachimi seats, because I hear they are rather pretty good :) I'd also rather stand than my leggies get squished. I also got some opera glasses on ebay. I know I should of just rented them, but I plan on using them again one day as well! Just so you know rental is 500Yen with 5000Yen deposit. Anyways the opinion is out on whether they are neccessary or not. I got a pair anyway for cheap, because who knows right?

So after obsessing about Takarazuka.. I think I'm rounding out what I want to do while I'm there. I'm still wondering how much it would cost to get my photo taken as a Takarazuka Star!! Still looking it up. I haven't seen much on that.. I actually read it in a comic called " Japan Ai"by Aimee Major. Now that I think about it! I'm going to check out her sources or something. She does awesome cosplay. I wish I was so motivated!! Anyways back to real life. Soooo close to Japan trip OMGOMG!

So I said I wouldn't be able to go see Takarazuka?? I am totally wrong! Haha. Anyways, using Japan-guide.com, I actually got another response with with a lot of crazy side venues for Takarazuka.. I might have to do the train and go out of Tokyo to go see the shows, but it opens up possibilities. Right at this very moment as I'm typing this, I'm scoping out the lawsons online! The shows are on weird days, sometimes Monday, sunday or saturdays. Some are in oddball places that I'm trying to figure out if it's reasonable for me to go. The tickets look discounted from 8000 yen to 7000 yen. for s seats ( close to the stage seats). I think I could use it to get my tickets...
One show is in Omiya Sonic City Hall? It looks like from Train planner Jorudan, it will take around 30-47 mins and cost around 540 yen ( unless I take express, which has 2500yen surcharge to get there in 25mins). I'm going to study it more, for what I can go see and what seats I might want..
Btw it says 'My pick up' in English, that's really for another service if you plan to do shows a lot or something. Doesn't really have to do with seats for the show I am looking at.
If you are interested for a taste of what I was talking about to see if you want to go, here's a youtube video of one of the current shows. Kinda like a trailer for a movie! Click on the pic  to go to youtube to see it <3
I will write more as I learn of it and if you would like a lawson Takarazuka guide to buying tickets, let me know. I'm going to see if one exists or just do one myself:) Gotta go now!

( Note Poster to left is from their official site: Takarazuka Revue English )Well I happen to find out that I am quite bad at planning. I planned myself into a big hole when it comes to activities happening in Tokyo! Good gracious! You may ask why I decided to write about this. Well I decided to go to the Takarazuka Revue. So I began to research on it. Well there are shows just before I get there and after I leave. Nothing in the middle. Truly I am weeping at my bad luck. Also I missed the Cherry blossoms and some festivals that involve archery on horseback and floats.  Next time I will look into things a little more specifically..

But! Don't worry.. Does this mean I'm disappointed before I get there? Nah! I imagine it'll still be crazy cool, since I've never been there. I will shop till I drop and I have a lot of regular/ non-festive activities to enjoy :) I just curse my luck to miss things like Takarazuka Revue! In case you wondered and didn't want to click or look things up. It's musical plays put on by all female casts with gorgeous costumes and incredible stories!! It sound rather elegant.

Also I really need to get out of my procrastination mode and really plan my trip some what, maybe solidfy some days for things like Ueno zoo and Ghibli museum and flea market/kimono hunting. Yes, I'm determined to get a Kimono/Yukata used. I also thought about getting my photo taken in Kimono dress up, but I don't know. I think I might just buy one so I can dress up any time!

I'm Considering whether I should actively look for an activity partner for when I get there.. I think I will most likely meet people there.. but who knows..

Till next time! I'll keep you updated!!

So I didn't see the charge for my tickets for about 1.5 weeks and started freaking. I had gotten confirmation through email that I had my ticket and everything was charged. Vayama.com usually does everything rather quickly, so I started to sweat it. Well the other day I got an email letting me know that United Airlines was changing the times on my domestic flight with less wait times in between layovers in LAX. Just so you know I have to take an extra leg of the journey from Arizona to California. That adds some money to the ticket, but Vayama.com always does me right when it comes to these things. I kinda hope I get to live in California sometime just for the cheap tickets and deals to Asia haha:) Anyways the actual change didn't cost any extra and they ask if you approved. I approved it and the next day my ticket was charged. HURRAY! It feels real now.

I've also decided to take my small roller bag. It's carry on size. I think I actually fit it on a domestic carrier, which tells ya something. So I rather take that then a backpack. Also I saw New Koyo rooms with people and their bags in them. There's little shelf above the door height and an area under the little table with the tv to fit bags under. Looks alright to me. So I'll take my purse, laptop shoulder bag, and my little roller bag. I will attempt at mailing stuff if I collect too much for my bag. I can chose the cheap option where I'll beat the mail before it gets to my house.

But I'm being lazy on actual planning. These are my must do's so far:
1. Need to see the dress up girls in the park & Rockabillys
2. Find an art/craft/diy store : want to buy felt food directional magazines & look for Kanzashi supplies
3. Flea market at the shrine
4. Ghibli Museum and Ueno Zoo and aquarium
5. Try to look for used Kimono that is cheap at flea market or second hand store ( or pretty Yukata)
6. Eat Okinamiyaki, the kind you grill at your table yourself
7. Go to that huge toy store with the machines you put coins in
8. Look for children's museums with hands on stuff
9. Sing Karaoke at one of the 700yen places ( alone or if I can pick up random stranger, I will)
10. Wander through  random neighborhoods not even known for any kind of tourist value

P.S. Read about no time limit karaoke for 3500yen! If I get someone to go with me, that would be the way to go possibly!! Also I'm working on getting some business cards before I go.

Well here I am trying to blog again about my trip. Will I be successful?? 
It'll be a whirlwind of a trip. I'm going for 7 days to Japan on a shoestring budget. I actually went for the $28 room vs. $13 dorm. I would of gone for dorm style with Smile hostel, but the all female dorm was not available. So I went with New Koyo which has wireless wifi, tiny but private room. I am scaaared and excited. Originally I was going to go visit my aunt for two weeks, but I found out she is going to Korea for a couple of months to visit my other aunts and had not set of time when she would be back. I was tempted to go to Korea too, but I decided on Japan because it's new to me and I've never been. So now I've got to tighten the purse strings and shorten the time.. BUT HECK I'm going to JAPAN!!


I don't care how tiny the room is and I'm used to sleeping on the floor with a futon.***** got back to me right away about my reservations!! So Reservation & tickets set. The waiting will be the hardest part!! Also I have to get my plan of attack of where to go and what to see! Definitely Ghibli museum!!