Wanderlust V2 - Japan & Beyond

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!!