Narita 成田

So after what was an uneventful flight, we collected our luggage. Well all of us except Jackie who’s luggage hadn’t arrived! So after negotiations with Jetstar and all the paperwork filled out we were finally on our way to the ryokan (旅館). A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn that originated in the Edo period (1603–1867). When we arrived it was quite late but we had a traditional Japanese meal cooked for us. It was delicious (おいしい). The rooms were beautiful (きれい), the floor was covered in tatami mats and we had nicely folded futons ready for us to pull out and sleep in. It definitely felt like I was in Japan. One thing I had to learn to get used to was not being able to wear normal shoes on the wooden floors and not wearing any at all on the tatami mats. Instead we had to wear these slippers, even the toilets had different slippers to wear whilst in there! This is so you don’t bring germs form the toilet into the rest of the ryokan. After the first night we went to a foreigners bar called the Barge Inn. To celebrate being in Japan with a few drinks lasting well into the morning (乾杯).

The next day began with a traditional Japanese breakfast mainly consisting of salmon (鮭), rice (ご飯) and miso (味噌). After breakfast we had the pleasure of receiving a guided tour in Narita (成田) with our ryokan host Katsumata-san. First stop was Narita-san park (成田山公園). It was a beautiful place. Firstly we visited the parks three ponds where we found a stray cat on the terrace. It even let me give it a hug. The ponds are called 一の池、にの池 & 三の池. Or in English pond 1,2 &3.

Next we went to the calligraphic museum. The main feature of this museum is the 13metre tall calligraphic exhibit. Katsumata-san explained how all the calligraphy was similar and yet individual just like people. Although the kanji (漢字) is the same, everybody has a different style when writing. After visiting the museum we walked to a waterfall which left me feeling calm and relaxed. Katsumata-san then took us to see the Daito. From the outside the temple had a very Japanese feel but on the inside I felt like I had been transported to India. The Buddhist shrine depicting five gods who all looked blue stood before us. Although Katsumata-san said the middle one was black in colour, to me it looked blue. The shrine was vibrantly coloured with all the colours of the rainbow. Even the ceiling had the most vibrant colours all arranged in a continuing pattern. Finally it was off to look at one of Narita’s most famous attractions the Narita-san Shinsho-ji (成田山 新勝寺). As we approached the buildings we could hear drums, so we rushed to the great main hall to see a Buddhist ceremony. In the ceremony the Buddhist monks blessed peoples bags, whilst chanting. I felt very blessed to have witnessed this and even though I have no understanding of Buddhism I felt very connected to my surroundings during the ceremony. That concluded Katsumata-sans tour and after we bid him farewell we were off on a short walk to AEON shopping center.

The shopping center was large and had many interesting shops. I ended up buying a Doraemon pillow and Brianna and myself shared some Japanese McDonalds. To be honest it tasted the same as it does at home.

Finally we headed back to the ryokan for our last dinner there. It was pork cutlets (豚カツ). And was by far my favourite meal I had eaten so far. Then it was time for our last sleep before we head out to Hakodate in the morning.

Update for those of you wondering the missing luggage was found today.

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1. https://www.city.narita.chiba.jp/english/welcome/naritasan_park.html

#Narita #Dragon #Tonkatsu #Buddhist