I never truly had an interest in Japan, in University Japanese are was the one class I decidedly turned down enrolling in – nothing about it grabbed me, and moreover I didn’t even come close to understanding it.
Then I came here; and got a chance to actually look at what this incredible culture is like in person…and while I still don’t understand it, I am entranced by the beauty of it.
One thing travelling has made me realize is that North America as whole truly lacks roots. We are, in that little corner of the world, young countries, and in some ways we still have the attitudes of children It’s hard to see until you step away from it, but it’s true none the less. Places like Japan? They have roots that run deeper than many could hope to comprehend, and with the power of those roots, are respectful, strong, and quietly proud instead of viciously prideful (oh there is such a difference).
And while the image of “universally hello kitty cute” does have some grounding in reality (Seriously, even their safety caution signs are adorable), Japan holds a respect for its history that I have seldom seen elsewhere. Respect without adoration or worship, but respect none the less.
Having lost most of our second day in Tokyo to a rather miserable rainstorm (it is hard to enjoy anything when one is doing an excellent imitation of a drowned rodent) this time we were decided to take advantage of a break in the unfortunate weather. Osaka is the gateway to Koyto, but unfortunately that was just a bit too far out for us, but the city itself has a lot of beautiful history in it. A short train ride (thank you day pass!) took us to Osaka Castle park.
We don’t get a lot of greenery onboard, so there is definitely something to be said for walking through a vast forested park on a sunny day. Moments like this, are the ones we treasure. Eventually the castle itself reared out of the treeline an eight-story high royal pagoda, all that is left of what used to be a sprawling complex from the 1800s. It makes your breath catch in your throat. We climbed all the way up to the top, where the view of the city spread out like a giant tapestry in front of us. Words can’t do a view like that, or a place like that justice. I found myself wondering, as I often do, what on earth the stones that make up such a place would say if they could speak, what have they seen? What do they know? What could they teach us?
We made our way down from the museum through the floors of exhibits, and out into the watery Japanese sunlight. A pocketful of change bought us soft serve icecream in black sesame and green tea (oh Japan, I love you), and a small amount more finally got me my own kimono doll, before we wandered our way back to the train to head to our floating home.
There are good days, and then there are days when the sense of contentment that comes over you is indiscernible. It is true that life is what absolutely happens when you’re busy making other plans, life doesn’t always do what you want it to do, but the interval? The time in between the inevitable bumps and bruises along the road? Those moments are worth every single thing in the world.