Nippon journal entry 2

Tashiro-san and I sat across from each other at the second floor café Lift Up Kyoto. It's a small little place with not many seats, but Tashiro-san was nice enough to book reservations for us before I arrived in Japan. We were both enjoying a chai latte - something of a hybrid between tea and coffee. While drinking, I couldn't help but contemplate something about what I was drinking. It prompted me to ask my trusty tour guide something...

"Say Tashiro-san, when and how did coffee become so big in Japan anyway?" 「1960年代と1970年代。」he answered, 「もちろん、西洋の影響を通して。 社会的要素は私たちのお茶文化とは大きく異なりますが、それは独自のものを始めるのに十分なほど人気がありました。」 "Interesting," I said. "But what made the culture built around coffee so different from the tea culture?" 「要するに？」he said, 「それほど正式ではなく、アクセスも簡単です。」 He went on to explain how social events involving tea (茶道 or 茶の湯) follow a very strict etiquette as per tradition, while social gatherings with coffee were like having a tea ceremony but without the associated rules, allowing people to be more casual and laid back.

He ended with 「興味のある方は、伝統的な茶道をご紹介します。」 I told him I would really like that! As much as I was loving the café culture here, I certainly wouldn't mind participating in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Tashiro-san said he knew someone in Kyoto who he was sure would be delighted to have us over for tea, that he'd try to arrange for it tomorrow. I couldn't wait!

Before we knew it, afternoon had rolled in. I figured I had café-hopped enough for one day and asked Tashiro-san to take me someplace where I could stretch my legs and enjoy nature. 「私はどこに行くべきかを正確に知っています！」he said enthusiastically.

We walked for a good 20 minutes before arriving at the beautiful Nara Park where they had adorable little deer, cherry trees and plenty of space everywhere!


I've never seen deer like that before. Let alone deer that were completely indifferent to the presence of humans. So small compared to the deer in North America too! They were too stinking cute! The cutest thing of all is they actually eat the cherry blossoms that fell from the trees!

I even saw some people hand-feeding the deer cherry blossoms! I tried doing it myself. No such luck, lol.


One did come up to me checking me out at one point though. That was precious!

I had a very peaceful afternoon at the park. Didn't seem like I was there for very long before evening started settling in. I went to Tashiro-san when I was ready to call it a today. He asked if I wanted to go out anywhere to pick up some dinner, but I wasn't feeling too hungry after eating at all those different cafés in the morning. I told him I could just get something from the store near my hotel if I got hungry.

With that, Tashiro-san walked me back to my hotel. He told me to contact him tomorrow whenever I was ready to go out and he said he'd arrange that tea ceremony for me tomorrow afternoon. After that, we bid each other good evening.

Not long after he left, I actually did start feeling a bit hungry again, lol. I went to the store to get myself an easy meal. Decided on a tray of sushi.


Before grabbing one, I had to ask if they were fresh. I spoke to a man behind the nearby seafood counter and inquired "Excuse me, are the sushi you have here all fresh?"「絶対！」 he said, 「日本は初めてですか？」 I laughed and said "Yes, it is." He laughed in turn and explained 「注意すべきことの1つは、ここの寿司はすべて作りたてです。 新鮮でなければ、寿司ではありません！」 "Good to know." I told him. But then he ended up trying to sell me some more fish! 「よろしければ、今すぐ新鮮な寿司をご用意できます。」 "Oh, that'll be alright. I'll take your word for it and just get one of those meal packs." 「本気ですか？」He asked me just as I was about to walk away, 「ここには素晴らしい選択肢があります...」

For a good five minutes or so, I kept trying to leave while that guy kept trying to get me to buy some more sushi or fish. It got kinda obnoxious, but I didn't want to be rude. Even if he might've been a little rude himself. He was still friendly, at least. He eventually gave up and told me to have a good night. "Finally!" I thought once that was over with.

Before I made my way to the front counter, something caught my eye: Kyoto has their very own craft beer!

No frickin' way! I thought they only drank sake here (kidding). I went ahead and grabbed myself one. I wanted to try them all, but I shouldn't drink so much. That and what if I didn't even like it?

I got back to my hotel and enjoyed my sushi dish and the craft beer, which wasn't half bad. After I was done, I watched some stuff on the TV in my room for a bit. Japanese television is fuсking weird, lol.

Then it was finally time to rest for the night. Good end to a great day, with plenty to look forward to the following day!