Oxford Study Abroad 2014 @oxfordadventures2014 - Tumblr Blog

Guardian Lion & a Leo ❤️

The Shinto shrine right next to the Buddhist temple in Asakusa.

The Buddhist temple of Asakusa. There's a long street lines with shops between the first two large gates that precede the temple. When you arrive, you can stop by the burning incense and waft it on whatever part of your body needs healing and protection. When you reach the actual shrine, you can throw some yen in and then pray to the Buddha for good fortune.

#Asakusa #Tokyo #Japan #buddhism

The Tsukiji Fish Market. Everything here was either recently dead or still alive. I've never seen so many types of fish or sea food in one place... And not too far away, you have all the sushi/sashimi/seafood restaurants you could want. My guess is that everything they serve was caught within the last 48 hours.

#Tokyo #Tsukiji fish market #fish #sea food

Shinjyuku

#Tokyo #Japan #Shinjyuku #night life

I'd say we did a pretty good job recreating the poster....

#Japan #kabuki

We went to a Kabuki theatre near Tsukiji and saw Nue Taji, and Terakoya. It took almost a full play to adjust to the extremely stylized format, but once we got used it it, the plays were actually quite good. The costumes were amazing, and I don’t know how the men managed to walk around in the long traditional garb women wore around the edo period (kabuki is only performed by men, so they play all of the female roles).

#Japan #kabuki #Tokyo

Here's our home for the next five (ish) days! The Annex Kutsutaro is a ryokan, or a traditional style Japanese inn, meaning it has futons instead of beds. The room is pretty small, but it has everything from a bathroom/shower, mini fridge, tv, and even an electric kettle to make tea. In addition to the towels that traditionally come with the room, there were also yukata and slippers. I have no idea how to properly tie the obi on the yukata or how to wear it, and none of us seem to get where we're supposed to wear the slippers and where we're supposed to wear shoes. I thought the slippers were for while we were in the hotel room, but I guess they're just for the lobby? We'll figure it out eventually.

#Japan #Tokyo #ryokan

My first meal in Japan, my first real bowl of ramen, and I can't believe I got it in an airport. My only regret in ordering this dish was that I wasn't hungry enough to finish it, and that there wasn't another egg or two in the bowl. That egg was to die for. I'm definitely still not used to slurping my noodles (I get broth all over my face), but I'm pretty proud of my chop stick skills so far! My guess is that I'm gonna get good pretty fast since there really isn't silverware... I still have no idea how I was supposed to eat my pork slice properly.

#Japan #narita airport #ramen

The singing toilets exist 😱

#Japan #narita airport #toilet

Flying JAL was a wonderful experience just because of the food. I don't ever think I've gotten full from eating a meal I was served on an airplane, but that changed pretty fast. Honey mustard chicken, salad, coleslaw and raw salmon slices, soba noodles and octopus, and miso soup for dinner (above), then hearty fried rice, fruit and yogurt for breakfast. Honestly, I sort of can't wait to fly back so I can eat this again! The service was also amazing, as flight attendants were constantly making rounds offering beverages. I wish they had this airline for local US trips...

#Japan #JAL #Japan airlines #food

Flying to Narita Airport from LAX, I see this huge mountain covered in snow and realize that those twin peaks look rather familiar. I'm 90% sure that this is Mt. Shasta, the mountain I grew up seeing from the ranch house we visited every summer and the mountain I now look at every time I go home to visit my parents. Hi mom!

#Shasta