Guest Blogger: Iris Gibbons, my 6th grade PE Teacher (yep, you read that right!)
Once upon a time…..there was a young girl beginning the 6TH grade, at a new school, where she met a teacher that was not only new to the school, but was also a brand spanking new teacher! And, though the teacher was impressed with many of the students at the school, she could see this girl stood heads above the rest. Soon the two were a team, helping/supporting each other throughout the year. Fast forward about 30 YEARS…..young girl is a beautiful, successful woman, with an amazing family, living in Japan….teacher is retiring from a fruitful career in education. Previous student invites previous teacher to Japan and previous teacher accepts! Got to be a fairy tale, right?!?
Of course, I’m referring to Stephanie, and myself, Iris Gibbons. My dreams have always been to travel in retirement and this trip was truly a dream come true! I arrived late the night of April 16th and spent the next 14 days immersing myself in Japanese culture, history, food, sites, sounds and beauty…..and there is MUCH of all! As well as, reacquaint with Steph and meet Kevin, Ethan and Ryan!
To be continued....
Once upon a time…..there was a young girl beginning the 6TH grade, at a new school, where she met a teacher that was not only new to the school, but was also a brand spanking new teacher! And, though the teacher was impressed with many of the students at the school, she could see this girl stood heads above the rest. Soon the two were a team, helping/supporting each other throughout the year. Fast forward about 30 YEARS…..young girl is a beautiful, successful woman, with an amazing family, living in Japan….teacher is retiring from a fruitful career in education. Previous student invites previous teacher to Japan and previous teacher accepts! Got to be a fairy tale, right?!?
Of course, I’m referring to Stephanie, and myself, Iris Gibbons. My dreams have always been to travel in retirement and this trip was truly a dream come true! I arrived late the night of April 16th and spent the next 14 days immersing myself in Japanese culture, history, food, sites, sounds and beauty…..and there is MUCH of all! As well as, reacquaint with Steph and meet Kevin, Ethan and Ryan!
Next morning, I had a much clearer understanding of exactly what “LAND OF THE RISING
SUN” means….sunrise was before 5 a.m!
Stephanie began my acclimation by having us both jump on the family bikes and head to Ebisu. The years since our last meeting, faded quickly, as we laughed explaining to her hygienist (yes, we were at Stephanie’s dental check up….lol) our history. I had read about a popular ramen restaurant, Ippudo, with a location in Ebisu, so with dental appointment complete, we set out to find this hidden jewel. Ippudo is know for their ramen with a creamy pork broth. I was a happy camper with my first ramen and gyoza of the trip….. a Japanese beer may have also been involved!
We both agreed it was a winsome little place with excellent ramen! On our return home, I got to experience my first Japanese grocery story, pet store (Lizzy’s crickets), and 100 Yen store. Having a little more confidence, I acquainted myself with the neighborhood, while Stephanie attended a parent's meeting. Later, I was thrilled to walk with Ethan to his soccer practice.
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| View from my tatami room in Steph and Kevin's house |
Stephanie began my acclimation by having us both jump on the family bikes and head to Ebisu. The years since our last meeting, faded quickly, as we laughed explaining to her hygienist (yes, we were at Stephanie’s dental check up….lol) our history. I had read about a popular ramen restaurant, Ippudo, with a location in Ebisu, so with dental appointment complete, we set out to find this hidden jewel. Ippudo is know for their ramen with a creamy pork broth. I was a happy camper with my first ramen and gyoza of the trip….. a Japanese beer may have also been involved!
We both agreed it was a winsome little place with excellent ramen! On our return home, I got to experience my first Japanese grocery story, pet store (Lizzy’s crickets), and 100 Yen store. Having a little more confidence, I acquainted myself with the neighborhood, while Stephanie attended a parent's meeting. Later, I was thrilled to walk with Ethan to his soccer practice.
Day 2 began with a local bus ride back to Ebisu to visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography and tour the Yebisu Beer Museum. The buses, as well as the other modes of public transportation, are very clean and the drivers very professional. I noticed on multiple occasions the drivers waiting for riders hurrying to catch the bus, and they rarely run late, but if they do, the first thing you hear as you step onto the bus is an apology from the driver......the people of this country are quite refreshing! At the museum, I visited an exhibit of famous Japanese photographers, Kanmuri Matsujiro and Hokari Misou....kind of the Ansel Adams of Japan. At the beer museum, I learned that though beer has existed for several hundred years in Japan, the common man has only been able to afford to purchase since the 1960's!
From Ebisu, I jumped on the Yamanote train line to the neighboring Shibuya area. The Yamanote line is a loop line that circles central Tokyo. The Shibuya station is one of the larger Tokyo stations and home of three things I wanted to see/experience.....the Hachiko Statue, the Tokyu Food Show, and the Shibuya Crossing. Most of you have probably heard of the Hachiko Statue....a statue of the dog that came to meet his master at the station everyday even after his master's death.
Ironically, many people use this as their meet up point at the station due to the station being somewhat of a maze. You may also have seen or heard about the famous Shibuya Crossing, where hundreds of people cross the street from multiple corners, simultaneously. It is quite the site (especially from the Starbucks) and interesting to experience yourself.
Many of the giant department stores have food counters in their basements. I visited the Tokyu Food Show.....it was simply amazing and somewhat overwhelming. The colors, the smells...fresh breads and pastries....prepared foods....raw foods....common foods and strange foods....all beautifully displayed. I wanted some of everything (well almost everything) but, after much deliberation, bought sushi and a pastry....yum!
Ironically, many people use this as their meet up point at the station due to the station being somewhat of a maze. You may also have seen or heard about the famous Shibuya Crossing, where hundreds of people cross the street from multiple corners, simultaneously. It is quite the site (especially from the Starbucks) and interesting to experience yourself.
Many of the giant department stores have food counters in their basements. I visited the Tokyu Food Show.....it was simply amazing and somewhat overwhelming. The colors, the smells...fresh breads and pastries....prepared foods....raw foods....common foods and strange foods....all beautifully displayed. I wanted some of everything (well almost everything) but, after much deliberation, bought sushi and a pastry....yum!
Day 3 found me, Stephanie, Ethan and Ryan making many train transfers (with Stephanie's lead) to the Rainbow Bridge.
Called the Rainbow Bridge, because at night it is lit up in the colors of a rainbow. It is a major vehicular bridge connecting Tokyo to the man made island of Odaiba. Most don't realize that you can also walk across the bridge and that's just what we did. I found out about this, and many other things to do, on one of my favorite websites/blogs: http://aroundtokyo.net/blog/about-around-tokyo/. The 30 minute walk has wonderful views of the city and Tokyo Bay. We all enjoyed the walk, seeing the sites, and spotting a stingray and jelly fish below in the bay.
Once we arrived on the Odaiba side, we were greeted by Maritime Park.....a splendid park, where we sat and ate snacks, watching the boats pass. The boys loved playing on the man made beach and Ryan caught a tiny crab! We next grabbed a quick lunch at Yoshinoya....a fast food chain known for their beef bowls. Our next stop was to find the replica of the Statue of Liberty. Yes, there is an exact replica, though much smaller, in another very nice park.
Called the Rainbow Bridge, because at night it is lit up in the colors of a rainbow. It is a major vehicular bridge connecting Tokyo to the man made island of Odaiba. Most don't realize that you can also walk across the bridge and that's just what we did. I found out about this, and many other things to do, on one of my favorite websites/blogs: http://aroundtokyo.net/blog/about-around-tokyo/. The 30 minute walk has wonderful views of the city and Tokyo Bay. We all enjoyed the walk, seeing the sites, and spotting a stingray and jelly fish below in the bay.
Kevin was able to join us, at this point, much to everyone's delight. We toured a few more Odaiba sites (Fuji Center, Aomi), then Kevin treated us all to dinner at an Izakaya (think pub). Two words....Mango Sour. Yes, please!
On my 4th Day, I walked to our neighborhood train station, Gakugei-daigaku, and caught a train on the Toyoko line to Shibuya, transferring to the Yamanote line to the Komagome neighborhood, where I went to the Rikugien Gardens.....one of my favorites. It is a typical circuit style, daimyo garden, over 300 years old and part of the Tokyo Cultural Heritage Gardens.
After touring the gardens I walked back to the train station and went further northeast on the Yamanote line to Ueno Park. Ueno is one of Tokyo's largest parks and home to a cluster of historic monuments, temples, a zoo, and excellent museums....to include the Tokyo National Museum. It probably won't make much sense, to most, but I chose to go to the National Museum of Western Art. I'm on a mission to see as many original works of Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, etc., etc.
From there, I walked the park grounds observing the many statues, tombs, shrines and temples.
Before returning to the train station, for the ride home, I took a detour to the very busy Ameyoko Street.....a flea market area that lies along the Yamanote tracks. Wall to wall vendors....wall to wall people....sensory overload in a good way! Best deal I found was fresh pineapple on a stick for 100 yen (~97 cents)....delish!After touring the gardens I walked back to the train station and went further northeast on the Yamanote line to Ueno Park. Ueno is one of Tokyo's largest parks and home to a cluster of historic monuments, temples, a zoo, and excellent museums....to include the Tokyo National Museum. It probably won't make much sense, to most, but I chose to go to the National Museum of Western Art. I'm on a mission to see as many original works of Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, etc., etc.
From there, I walked the park grounds observing the many statues, tombs, shrines and temples.
To be continued....
Wow, Iris--we'd call you the Rick Steves of Japan travel. You obviously did some major research of all the best things to see and do, and it paid off handsomely. What a great travelog! It should inspire other readers of Konnichewa Adventures to make the trip. We were glad that your time in Tokyo overlapped ours a bit--it was really great to reconnect with you after all these years.
ReplyDeleteBruce and Sarah
Great blog. Unbelievable after all those years. I had a teacher like that but when I revisited her some 20 years later she looked like she was 105 y/o, just like the rest of the teachers of her era. What a gift to the teaching profession and to the students that you had someone like Ms Gibbons as a teacher and eventual friend.
ReplyDeleteKei