Illuminations!

WARNING: If you have not yet read "Day In Osu!" Go to the previous page and read that post first! :)

January 12:

So I decided to go to Church in Japanese. I wanted to go at 10 am, but I had to go at 8 am because Yuko told me we were leaving for the illuminations at 10 am because it was an all day affair.

So Yuko made me breakfast at 7 before Miyabi or Ken woke up and then I showered and left on my bike for the church.

I hardly understood anything lol. But I was watching the only other foreigner in the room, a Hispanic guy I think, and he had a booklet, so I grabbed one and it had everything in Japanese kanji, Japanese romaji, and 5 other languages, including English. So after that I was able to follow along and respond and even sing!

It was funny to see everyone now at the sign of peace instead of shake hands.

Afterwards this guy told me in English that there was coffee and tea downstairs so I thanked him and went downstairs. I looked everywhere and couldn't find them, though, so I just went home.

At home, I finally unpacked a bit. At 10 am we left for the mall.

It was a long drive over, but I was entertained by all the Engrish I saw on buildings.

And the ones we passed too quickly for me to get a picture of:

A whole foods like store that said something about having food that was "fresh, health, and good"

And a slot place that said "Luck ain't even lucky. The best is yet to come."

I also studied for my test on Tuesday to try to place out of the 300 level. And Ken played cool American music I didn't recognize but I liked.

Oh and I saw this store! I've been wanting to run into one of these so I was really happy :)

Those of you who know some Japanese will get why I love it so much!

390 is pronounced "san kyuu" and in Japanese, "sankyuu" is the way to say the English word "thank you."

Ahhh so cute, right?

We stopped for lunch at an udon restaurant. I ordered medium kakeudon. I also got what Yuko said was fish egg onigiri, which turned out to be a little spicy. My host family paid for me, which was so nice! 

We are at a kneely table with tatami mats. Yuko freaked out when I started walking on the tatami with my shoes on so I had to take them off. 

My lunch. And Dad, I totally caught the guy across from us taking a picture of his food, so I told you I'm not the only weird one!

After lunch we continued to the outlet mall. 

And then we reached the mall, which was surrounded by an amusement park. It was also jazz/New Orleans themed lol.

The Ferris wheel was freaking awesome! It had a giant digital clock on it and all the carts around it were various colors of the rainbow. It was so pretty!

I found out roller coaster in nihongo is "jetto coaster" lol.

It was called Nagashima Resort

We spent forever walking around the mall because Ken kept wanting to look in clothing stores while Miyabi, Yuko, and I waited. Such a role reversal, huh? 

It was such an Americanized mall with all ritzy American stores like Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabana, Burberry, Yves Saint Laurent, etc. And then there was Starbucks and Krispy Kreme.

We all stopped to watch a fire show. The two guys doing it were really cool and could do some pretty sick tricks!

The guy in the red had this totally hot orange mohawk

They were balancing on roll-ly things and had flaming helmets and were juggling fire!

Oh and this mall had Engrish galore lol.

"The beaty of sharpness"

Miyabi liked the knives because they had her name on them.

"It looks clearer from distance"

"Which group is the best in your memories?"

Miyabi wanted ice cream so we went to Coldstone. And holy crap, guys. Coldstone in Japan has MUCH fancier options than in America. All the ice creams come with bits of cake or cookies in them and they can come on cake or waffles or whatnot. 

I was like hyperventilating.

But I felt kind of sick from the udon so I definitely didn't want to risk it with ice cream. I did get a free sample outside the door, though. And I got a picture of Miyabi's ice cream.

Yus. Gotta love food porn.

Here's a shot of one part of the mall. The line for Godiva was out the door and wrapped around. People prepping for Valentine's Day already?

We stopped in this place that sold chopsticks and plates so Yuko could get a plate. I liked this maneki neko plate.

Then we left to head to the illuminations.

Crepe truck

Yuko told me in the summer there're fireworks here and it's a popular date spot <3

The place with the illuminations was in Mie. I knew this already because this girl I follow on Instagram had sent me a picture of Mie that looked like where we were.

We had to walk along this pathway with lamps made of little lights shaped like flowers.

Then we got to the illumination park!

We each got 1000 yen with the entrance fee (that my host family paid) to spend on food. So I got a pita and three breads from the pan shop. That used up all my 1000 yen so Yuko and Ken got me a juice. I chose grapefruit juice but it was sooo sour!

My pita

Where we ate

I had the strawberry and apple bread and I saved the peach for later.

Strawberry pan. It was DELICIOUS!

Apple pan. It was meh.

Then it was time to see the illuminations!

Peter Rabbit! Yuko got a picture of Miyabi and me in front of this. I'll have to get it from her.

Ken poured this water over my hand. It was hot!

Miyabi and me!

Soooo beautiful!

It changed color!

This had a fake mountain on top

This part was super romantic. There were lots of couples. It was like a tunnel of love!

 

And at the end of the tunnel waaaas:

I'm in love with this picture. My photography skills rock, guys.

Dat rainbow!

Fuji san!!

  

Mt. Fuji changed colors!!

Dude, my picture is so much better than yours.

Guys, super embarrassing story...
I ALWAYS, even before coming to Japan, thought that everyone said Fuji san to be, like, polite to the mountain, you know. Like, they used san as an honorific.
Like Mr. Fuji.
Yeah, not the case.
San is another word for mountain.
I only figured this out when I saw the kanji for Mt. Fuji. It contained the kanji for mountain (which I know as "yama") with the word "san" spelled out in hiragana below it.
So "Fuji san" is Mt. Fuji.
Guys... I don't think they should have let me into Japan...

Then we exited through another tunnel of love!

Leaves of love <3

This was soo cool. Upside kanji so it's reflected right-side-up!

 And back home along the flower lantern walkway.

I was a kind of let down when I saw Mt. Fuji from behind. It wasn't 3D like I thought. And it was actually concave! How did they make it look so real??

Miyabi fell asleep on the ride home and we all went to bed right away when we got home. It was a super fun but exhausting day!