Kusatsu, Japan

Kusatsu is an onsen town near tokyo with a commute of roughly three hours. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, you can hear the streaming water no matter where you are in the city. It is famous for its sulfurous onsen (hot spring). Staying at Kiyoshigekan ryokan, the ryokan (Japanese style inn) actually has its own private and public onsen. The awesome part of this ryokan is after a certain hour, you can reserve the public onsen for private use. I remember the first moment you let your body sink in the onsen, it was a feeling that’s hard to describe. The simple word “wow” escaped me as I soaked in the onsen by myself. It was such an experience as all fatigue and all thoughts escaped you; the water was so hot, your mind could not keep up with your thoughts so your head is blank and you just enjoy the moment. I really miss that feeling; It was a nice escape.

Yubatake is the hot spring field which is located in the center of town. Although the smell is not pleasant (smells like eggs), the view at night was beautiful. There are hotels surrounding the Yutabake, so you see people in their yukata (Japanese summer kimono) and wooden sandals walking around.

Small stream at the entrance of Sainokawara park- Apparently, the onsen in the park was being renovated and opened this year. Missed it by a day. If you walk all the way up the trail, there is a ski area. In the summer, it is just a stretch of grassy fields; with one or two families picnicking as the loud speakers play pop music that rolls upwards faintly, following the curves of the hills.

Near Kiyoshigetsu ryokan, there is a mini wooden bridge and if you cross it, there’s a playground. People there are very friendly; as I ventured alone, I would see people and say “Ohayou” (good morning) of which they would nod and say it back.

Spring rider and sandbox- I was the only person at the park in the early morning. It felt really tranquil; I was really drawn to the bright red spring rider. Something about the curves and design of it; also it was something I couldn’t possibly experience. If I sat on it, pretty sure it would break.

Kusatsu is a really nice place. If you have never gone to a Japanese hot spring, highly recommend this place. The commute was not fun and was a bit long, but it was well worth it. Many thanks to Y for recommending Kusatsu!

Otaru Music Box- omiyage

The beautiful music box encased in glass was a souvenir from a friend. Recently, a friend went to Kyoto in Japan, as he was strolling on the streets of Gion, he “stumbled upon” (in his own words), Otaru music box museum store. He asked if they had the song from Ghibli studio’s animation Laputa and they did! On top of that, they had different shapes. The star shape is very suiting since the animation is about the castle in the sky.

I am digressing but there are several reasons why I am excited about this gift. Earlier this year, when I was planning to go to Japan, I had wanted to go to Hokkaido and a town nearby called Otaru; I had wanted to visit the famous music box museum. It’s a bit of a coincidence that although I didn’t get to go there, my friend got me a gift from there.

Last year, we showed Laputa at the artshow! Because the song was stuck in his head after the artshow (you know how if you leave the DVD on the main page, it plays a certain song, this was the song). It’s like a cycle of event. Chain and effect? Or overthinking in my part.

Watching the mechanical side of it wind and unwind is really therapeutic. There is definitely a certain degree of romanticizing it, but it’s because music boxes are very old fashioned. Who really uses it when you can get a song to play on loop on your media player with the press of a button? I made an attempt to record it on my phone and the sound was completely different. To enjoy the song and experience the visual aesthetics of it requires the act of being present, physically there.

Mondays are tough. It was definitely the highlight of yesterday. Thanks K!

Tokyo Watercolour- Parks

One disappointing day turned into a memorable day, was when Ota memorial museum was closed due to preparation for the next exhibition. Somehow ended up at a quiet park in Shinjuku where there were many locals sitting on blankets as they picnic on the grass, children running around, people just sitting near the Japanese garden.

Watercolour and ink

The first time I saw this pond in Ueno park, I was surprised and thought it was a bit surreal. Have not seen so many lotuses gathered so densely in a pond. It was in the afternoon and the sun was about to set slowly as its rays of sunshine blind the eyes and blur the view. The moment I realized how odd this view was; the old pond from years ago against the tall buildings with a temple in the midsts of it all, I wanted to capture the moment.

Watercolour with colored pencils and Ink

Nikko Watercolor and ink

To get to Nikko from Tokyo is an excruciating 2.5 hour ride. If you go on a weekday, you would see many tourists, senior citizens and school kids on class trips. I am not good at doing paintings on the spot, so I usually paint from photos.

Kegon Waterfall- To get there, you have to take a bus which takes around 40 mins from Nikko station. The signs make it obvious where to go; you have to pay for admission since there is an elevator that takes you to the best view of Kegon waterfall.

Tokugawa Ieyasu’s mausoleum in Nikko- Close to the entrance, I was surprised to see orange foliage since it was late May!

According to Japan travel, built in the 1600s, this bridge is called Shinkyo. You have to pay 300 yen or so to walk on it, the sight from afar is better than actually being on the bridge. However did not regret it.

Cats in Japan

Tokyo and the onsen town of Kusatsu are two very different places. So are the cats there!

Omotesando cats- Definitely not shy as passerby snapped photos freely with their owner in pink pants who brushes the cat’s fur from time to time, in a few minute’s intervals. Not sure why the cats are there in a stroller, but what a sight!

Kusatsu cats! Cats of a pickled store, they are actually on leashes but were taking a summer nap. Passerby disturbed them by petting them lightly and affectionately. Not stirring to the gentle touch, they sleep soundly and ignore us completely, as expected of cats.

Song of Kamakura

We planned the trip around September 16th which was the day of the annual archery show at a temple in Kamakura. We enjoyed the show, the noise, the sound, the waves of people, the horses that didn’t care about the event, and the hot weather.

After the event, we wander around and it was at a temple which was probably not on our itinerary where we found our solace. We entered the big gate, and took off our shoes to enter the historical architecture with the plastic bags holding our shoes, and went to the back of the structure. Sitting down on a bench with strangers, we heard a song of words we did not know. We looked at the view of the garden, the shallow pond, the light breeze dancing on the water, the blue skies with cloud and found solace in the simplicity of it all where all the complexities of everyday life was escaped.

It was a moment that made the day trip worthwhile and an experience and a feeling that would never be forgotten. How simple it was to feel a fleeting moment of contentment, at the right time, in the right place.

Fushimi Inari shop

The paintings with gouache continues… At the Fushimi Inari shrine, on your way back to the temple, there is a small shop. They have boiled eggs and tea outside of which you can purchase for 90 yen (less than a dollar per egg, tea is free). They have candles outside, umbrellas, maps and little miscellaneous gifts and the shop owner is a polite old man.

For some reason, when I think of sunset or one of the most romantic moments in Japan, that image always comes to mind. It was a simple experience that didn’t cost much at all, yet it was so valuable. I remembered the red gates of the Fushimi Inari shrine, walking through hundreds of them, wondering when it would end and if we were the only ones walking up. It was such a relief to see the shop where people gathered to have a simple snack and rest.

Kyoto at Dusk

Going to Japan has inspired a series of paintings. My friends and I are currently working on putting a project together (in the most basic steps right now!)

Kyoto at dusk

The first night we were in Kyoto, we were really excited since our ryokan was in Gion. One friend was reliving her memories of Kyoto when she was there 12 years ago while I was fascinated of being in the part of town that had been virtually unchanged for a few hundred years. It was in Kyoto we were reluctant to leave, went to different temples on the mountains, near our ryokan, close and faraway and enjoyed different kind of peace where the beauty of it was just sitting down, feeling the moment and letting the peace that surrounds you engulf you in its entirety.

There were man powered rickshaws in Gion offered to tourists and even some natives dressed in kimono. The slight of rickshaws with the ancient buildings preserved perfectly in the background is really an amazing sight.

Autumn in Japan- Gouache

Needless to say, Japan has always been fascinating to me. I felt very lucky to be able to make my two week visit with a group of wonderful friends (despite our differences, ups and downs, disagreements, etc). The scenes and natural landscape in Japan were very photogenic so I took a ton of phots. It was late September when we went so the foliage hadn’t changed colors completely but it was starting to happen slowly.

During the last day of my interior design class, a classmate talked about gouache. I find it fascinating; it creates matte and opaque finish. I like to freely paint so I use acrylic; however when acrylic dries it has a glossy finish and sometimes when the paint dries, it is not the same as when the paint is wet.

Painting in gouache

Daiwa Sushi @ Tsukiji Market, Tokyo, Japan

Tsukiji market is the famous fish market in Tokyo which is a must see place for any visitors going to Japan. If you want to experience a culture shock, I think that is the place to be. Businesses are serious and visitors loitering around are unwelcomed (despite the friendly sign). The small vehicles they operate are working against time so if you’re in their way, they would actually honk or yell at you which is understandable- if you’re doing work and there’s a tourist in your office who keeps blocking your way, you’d probably say excuse me a few times and if it’s the tenth time of the day, you will have a very strong urge to push that person, I am pretty sure. They won’t run you over, but one should be careful.

Straying from the topic, with a line out the door (and exit through the kitchen!), Daiwa sushi is one of the most famous sushi restaurants in Tsukiji market. We didn’t get there at 5am to see the fish auctions but we got there by 7am when the line wasn’t too long. I don’t know how I managed to eat sushi at 7am but I guess when you have something amazing in front of you, as long as you’re not full, you will be able to consume it.

Welcome to Tsukiji! Located in an area full of skyscrapers! The location is similar to south street seaport which is located close to the Financial district in NYC! Eugene Onegin opera ad in the back! Talk about being out of place.

Seriously working- so don’t get in the way.

Daiwa Sushi!!!

Sushi chefs!

Our gregarious, multi lingual (he was speaking Korean, Chinese & English…), super friendly sushi chef!

Start with Clam miso soup!!!

End with shrimp head!

I don’t know how to describe the experience. Between moments of wakefulness (it was early in the morning, getting there by 7am meant we woke up at 6am), it was like a dream. The sushi was out of this world and we kept asking each other, is this real? Are we really eating sushi at 7am? Is it really this good? Or are we dreaming?

Nothing compares to the real thing. Fish that melts in your mouth, egg sushi that is so soft and fluffy, flavorful and warm clam miso soup, it can’t get better than this. I haven’t had sushi since I came back.