Travelling in Ibaraki Prefecture

Right now I am located within Ibaraki Prefecture. I have to say that before coming here I had no idea what there was to do in this prefecture. I even asked the locals and they all responded nanimonai (which means "nothing"). But that's far from the truth. I've spent several of my weekends exploring this beautiful prefecture. So here is a short list of must sees in Ibaraki:

1) Hitachi Seaside Park 

This park is so famous for it's flowers. In the spring and fall seasons, people come from all over the world to see the beautiful (blue) nemophila flowers and (red) kochia at their peak. I unfortunately arrived just when the nemophila season had ended. So I did not get to see the nemophila for myself; but according to the students, it is a really beautiful sight to see.

Spring (Nemophila)

Fall (Kochia)

Along with these two attractions there is also other flower gardens, an amusement park, and a bicycle path. As for my experience, I rented a bike and strolled through the park and enjoyed the flowers that were blooming.

2) Fukuroda Falls

In the northern part of Ibaraki prefecture, near Daigo, there is Fukuroda Falls; a waterfall that has been ranked as the 3rd most beautiful waterfall in Japan. The falls are beautiful through out the year. In the winter, when it is cold enough, the falls freezes. This is definitely an affordable day trip, not only do you get to enjoy the waterfall the local towns surrounding it. The towns really advertise their "apple pais" (which looks more like an apple tart), apple soft serve, and ayu (heavily salted fish cooked on sticks over hot coals).

Fukuroda Falls

As someone who struggles with eating anything that has a face on it, I was pleasantly surprised with ayu. When you go to the falls there are trails you can take to climb one of the mountains after looking out from the observatories. We started to climb this very steep, uneven, and heavily damaged staircase that led to the top of mountain near the falls. Thirty minutes into the climb we gave up (we didn't even make it half way to the top). When we got back down what we had hiked, we were pretty tired. So we went to one of the local shops and bought ayu. This salty treat was surprisingly refreshing. I think I preferred the ayu over the sweet dango my host sister, Yuki, bought. It wasn't terribly scaly and it didn't have a strong fish taste. Although the down side of eating ayu is that you have to be careful when you bite into it because of all the small bones.

3) Ryujin Suspension Bridge

As one of my coworkers put it: "Ryujin is the bridge to no where, it's just there because it can be." Ryujin bridge is a footbridge that is over this random gorge just because it can. I went to this bridge the same day I went to Fukuroda, it's a short car ride south from the waterfall. One thing I've noticed while I've been here is that the Japanese are really obsessed with cutting out parts of the flooring in bridges or tall buildings and replacing it with thick glass. The glass is thick enough for people to stand and walk on, but most people (and dogs) avoid these cut outs.

Ryujin Suspension Bridge

Ryujin bridge is also host to Japan's highest bungee jump (you can faintly see the white bungee cord in the picture). I will be jumping of this bridge in a couple of weeks with a teacher and a student from my internship. The jump costs about 15,000 yen (which is about the equivalent of 150 USD) and you have to book at least a month ahead.

4) The Ushiku Daibutsu

Japan certainly isn't lacking Buddha statues. This one just so happens to be the third tallest statue in the world. Interestingly enough, unlike the Kamakura  daibutsu where it is surrounded by towns, this statue is hidden within Ushiku's rural area. For this statue, you to take an elevator up into it's chest where there is an observatory that gives you the view of the surrounding area (rice fields and graveyards). As you climb back down there are several shops inside where you can buy incense, charms, and other touristy items like key chains. Behind this daibutsu there is also a petting zoo with squirrels, rabbits, and other animals. Apparently squirrels are a big commodity over here. I've never seen so many people get exited about a squirrel walking on a telephone wire until I came to Japan.

5) Other

There are other places that I won't  go as in depth with is like Aqua World Oarai and Mito City. They are really nice places to visit if you are in Ibaraki prefecture. Mito has a variety of shops, parks, and galleries that are nice to go to for a more relaxed day trip. As someone who hasn't really had time to check out the locations closest to me, Mito is always a nice go-to if I have a spar moment. Each time I've been there I have gone somewhere new: Mito Art Tower and Kairakuen park (where you can experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony for 200 yen). 

I'm hoping that in this last month I will be able to explore a couple more of Ibaraki prefectures treasures.

Where I am and Where I am going

    My first post! Where do I start? Well for starters, my name is Elaine and I'm just your average college student. I enjoy drinking coffee, chasing the sunrises, and traveling. All I am trying to do is live in this crazy, yet beautiful world. For the next two months I will be in Japan, and I'll tell you, that I am only here because of the grace of God.

   This blog is going to be used as journal, more or less. Documenting where I am and where I've been. Not only will it be about my adventures, it will also focus on the Christian walk (both highlights and challenges). I was inspired to start this blog only recently (just randomly). About a month ago I left my family and friends to come to Japan to be an English teaching intern for three months. It all happened so fast. This past November, I went to my university's only  Japanese teacher. At the time, I was seriously considering becoming an English teacher for Japanese students. I asked her if it would be possible for her to teach me one-on-one. She said it would be too difficult at the moment with our conflicting schedules. But at the end of our conversation she brought up my interest in teaching in Japanese students and handed me a flyer for the internship I am in.

    I went through the classic range of emotions. From being incredibly excited at the possibility of going and then being too terrified to even consider it. I remember telling my parents the morning of Thanksgiving I didn't want to go because of the price (which was just an excuse) But I guess God had other plans. That same day, my grandfather to ask me about how my Japanese was going (which he almost never asks about). During my grandfather's and my conversation I told him about the possible internship and how I was going to wait a year. He looked at me and said to me that he would pay for me to go this summer and told me that I should apply. That week applied.
   
    Even when I applied I wasn't sure if I wanted to go, I was still very hesitant. So I prayed that God would make it clear whether or not I should go. And sure enough, I received an email from the college in Japan requesting an interview. The rest is history. Now I am in Japan working with these amazing students. But I would be lying if I said that being here is easy. I am now entering my third year of college and I have many applications and other things that I need to prepare before going back in to school in the fall.  And amongst the countless thoughts within my own head I've really questioned why I am here. Is it really to learn how to teach these students or is there something else? I certainly don't know the answer to that, only time will tell.

    There have moments where I have thought I needed to go back to America simply because I couldn't handle a certain situation from where I was. But God is faithful, and for each of my challenging situations He solved them effortlessly. He has certainly kept me in His hand through these passing storms. My time here is important, not just for me, but for my students. I am just praying that God will put the right words in my mouth so that I can best represent Him and His works while I am here. I know I am far from perfect but, even if it's just a little, I want the time I am here to benefit the kingdom.

So my hope is I can write a post every week, but we'll see what happens as time goes on.
Thank you for reading and I hope you'll come back again.

Elaine