Schneewittchen - mirror reflections.

It seems that Japan has a kind of virtual reality in each and every corner. Not only when it comes to video games – Japan is in love with mirrors. Somehow this makes perfect sense the streets are narrow and full of blind spot.

Here is a little collection of my Snow White’s favourites.

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now I know where they all come from ...

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Will be continued …

the visitors.

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Tokyo 19. March 18.45 Shibuya Crossing in front of the famous Starbucks … waiting. Waiting for two visitors from the chocolate & tax land of plenty. Ten minutes later the first success, my Japanese friend turns up. We are waiting together. No one turns up. So we decided to have a quick drink and come back in a few more minutes. As we ordered my phone showed a new message … where are you we are here M&M!? Brilliant so they didn’t get lost and the meeting point wasn’t too bad as I first suspected.

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It’s strange to meet someone you haven’t seen for such a long time in a total different context. It feels very nice to see familiar faces in your unfamiliar everyday life. It lifts your mind into another world. Present and future are somehow mixing with the memories and experience you share with each other.

The four of us headed towards a ‘so so’ traditional Japanese restaurant to show the two the excellent Japanese cuisine. After dinner we went to meet a friend of Machiko who works in the COMBINE bar. A little dance, around 5 o’clock we decided to meet at Tsukiji the big Fish Market ‘in the morning’ (don’t know actually it was the perfect time to head down there straight away, but we didn’t).

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A little late at Tsukiji.

For sure we had the ultra fresh and amazing sashimi straight from the marked. But if you want it you have to work for it because the Japanese love queuing!! We queue for about TWO hours and enjoying the delicate taste for approximately 13 min. Because another 100 people are waiting in front of the door …

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I wonder what's left in our oceans ... !?

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Machiko and I convinced Martin and Maxi that it’s a must to pick a fortune telling paper - Senso-ji (Pure Land) at the Buddhist Temple in Asakus. Martin regretfully picked a bad Senso-ji … as opposed to him Maxi picked an average fortune. That’s where our running gag began … we just entered our collective losing streak.

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°°°°°

I went back to Nagoya to work. But the reunion was just a day away, because the two came to explore my habitat, the fomos Ise Shrine (it was raining cats and dogs - they should have borrowed my wetsuit), Shochu and unfortunately lots of cold & rainy weather …

I took a day off on Friday and we headed at 5.23, after a long Shochu night towards Takayama. A gorgeous sunrise played back the lack of sleep. As we headed further north the weather changed drastically … when we reached the mountain area it started to snow! Everyone was amazed by the beauty of the falling flakes dancing towards the turquoise river the train tracks followed along. At the point we reached our destination Takayama it didn’t stop to snow and we had to get out there. The temperature dropped from 14°C to - 2°C … welcome back to winter. It was so cold, windy & snowy; unreal. The streets where empty, the atmosphere was like being in a ghost town, lots of shops and restaurants where closed. The main problem was we where just not prepared for such weather conditions. I know it must sound strange for those of you who have been visiting this lovely little village. We tried everything to change the mood; we took a bus to see the historical museum village Hida-Takayama. But this place just didn’t feel right we decided to leave the next day with the first train.

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I booked a youth hostel in a temple complex, located on the top of the hill. The atmosphere was amazingly beautiful, traditional, meditative & quiet. Exactly what I needed.

But we couldn’t enjoy the beauty, because the inside thermometer showed 0°C … the front house was build in the traditional Japanese wooden & paper style. Our room had a heater, but it wasn’t in use for a long time so the cold stuck deep in each and every corner. A night with beanie, long under trousers and all futons & blanked we could get hold of …

The next day started with a nice surprise. SUNSHINE & BLUE SKY! That’s why we decided to change our plan. We stayed until noon, enjoyed the lovely walks along the little stream and had a relaxing breakfast in a tiny hippy café.

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Then we got on the train aiming for Kanazawa. A four hours ride with a local train. Everything went well; the train winded its way along the river through the valley. What an amazing view. Then we had to change train. We bridged the 30 min. waiting time having sashimi lunch on a bridge enjoying the sunshine. Then we went back to the station just 2 min. left to catch the only connection …

The conductor whistled, we ran, jumped!! While jumping on the train I had a glimpse on my watch … 14.42 the train leaves at 14.43!!? Doors closed and the train started its journey along the river through the amazing valley back to Takayama.

We couldn’t believe it. The conductor whistle panic confused us so much that we jumped on the wrong train. Back in Takayama we had to wait for about an hour to continue. Rain and stormy weather welcomed us when we finally reached Kanazawa at night time.

The next day we explored the famous Garden complex in heavy rain and escaped to find shelter in the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art to check out the amazing ‘The Swimming Pool’ installation by Leandro ERLICH. But as you know we formed deep bond with our losing streak … the exhibition space was closed because of reconstruction.

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Arigatou gozaimasu. ありがとうございます。

After all decided to split … M&M took the ‘Thunder Bird - Bullet Train’ to Kyoto trying there luck there. I took had to take the local train (I had a kind of holiday ticket) back to Nagoya. That ride took me 5.45 hours.

What a strange weekend?!