Guys, I just booked a trip to Japan in February. JAPAAAAAAAN. I’ve wanted to go to Japan for, like, twenty years. I’m going with The Moomins. I always recommend traveling with retirees. They have money and time, they’re excellent travel companions. I’m going to three major areas – Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo. I’m also going to Nara to hang with the sacred deer. Here are some pics I found on the internet to give you an idea.
http://boingboing.net/filesroot/nara-deer-park01.jpg
http://www.julialohmann.co.uk/news/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/nara-deer.jpg
And then I’m also going to hang out and possibly bathe with the snow monkeys! More pics for clarity.
http://wallpapers.pupazzo.org/animals/Chilly_%20Japanese%20Snow%20Monkeys.jpg
http://www.japanskiexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/why-snow-monkeys.jpg
http://static.environmentalgraffiti.com/sites/default/files/images/marc-veerat.jpg
Here’s a list of all the places we will be going.
Todaiji Temple /// Kiyomizu Temple /// Nishijin Textile Center /// Gion (the old Geisha Quarter) and Pontocho /// Kenrokuen Garden /// Seisonkaku Villa /// Matsumoto Castle /// The Plum Blossoms Festival in Atami (they bloom in the winter) /// Kamakura Daibutsu (The Great Budhha) /// Hachimangu Shrine /// Tokyo Tower /// Imperial Palace /// Sensoji Temple
How frikkin’ amazing does this sound?!? I also get to see a 1,000 year old gingko tree, bathe in a traditional Japanese spa and stay in a traditional Japanese inn. I already anticipate spending all my money. I love Japanese artwork something fierce so I am going to have a problem. I intend to pack a bag in my bag for all the purchases I will be taking home. There will be gorgeousness like this:
Ooohhhhhhh dear. And did I mention kawaii? Kawaii means cute in Japanese, and if you know anything about Japan, you know they do cute better than anyone.
One specific artistic item I really want to purchase is kanzashi. Kanzashi is name for the hair ornaments primarily worn by geishas. They used to be made out metal or ivory or lacquer, but I want to get a set made with fabric, like these:
So I was doing a bunch of research on where to shop for them (I found three stores in Kyoto, so wish me luck) but in the process of hunting on the internet, I came across someone who makes the most exquisite kanzashi. Her name is Sakae and she dips wire into resin. The wire has been made into a loop so when it dips in the resin it forms a skin, not unlike a bubble wand in bubble solution. Then the resin dries that way. Her work, there are no words. She is amazing.
Ugggggghhhhh. My heart hurts looking at her work. Unfortunately, Sakae only sells her wares on a Japanese auction site, not in any stores. So I friended her on Facebook in the hopes that I will be notified if her work is up for sale (not that I’d understand a damn thing on the site, but a girl can dream).
Long story short: Going to Japan in February. Can’t wait. Gonna be awesome.