Sakura Sightseeing: My Trip to Kawazu

Thursday, March 1, 2018, was what TUJ calls an “undergraduate holiday,” or basically a day off for no particular reason. On this fairly warm day, TUJ took a group of students on a trip to see Sakura (Japanese Cherry Blossom) trees in Kawazu, Shizuoka Prefecture. Along the way, we also stopped to pick strawberries in Izunokuni and ate delicious sushi on our way back in Izu.

After getting no sleep the night before, I left my dorm in Takadanobaba at 5:30 AM and took the Tozai Line to the Namboku Line to TUJ. Even at 5:30 AM, there were people lining up for a chance to squeeze themselves like sardines onto the train. Luckily, rush hour was only beginning so I was able to snag a seat. I arrived at TUJ at about 6:10 AM where I waited in the pouring rain for a chance to board the bus. Shortly after boarding, I went into the nearby 7-11 and purchased a bottle of Calpis soda (totally doesn’t sound like a certain animal’s bodily fluids or anything. Appetizing). The bus left at about 7:10 AM and we were off!

Our first stop was picking strawberries in Izunokuni, which is apparently famous for its strawberries. I personally don’t care for strawberries so I just walked around in the greenhouse basking in the artificial warmth provided by the clear sheets of plastic protecting us from the outside elements. I took some pictures of the most vibrant strawberries I had ever laid my eyes on, so I guess you could say I feasted my eyes on this one. From what I’ve heard from the likes of Marie, Jennifer, and Milan, these were some of the best strawberries they ever had. I’m glad to see my fellow students were so pleased. After about 30 minutes, it was back on the bus for our next stop: the seven waterfalls of Kawazu.

We spent about one hour hiking through the seven waterfalls of Kawazu. The scenery was beautiful and the forested environment left me wondering if yet again I was in the Pacific Northwest. The bridges, the wooden pathways, and the waterfalls were all beautiful. I even got to see some Kami statues along the journey. In Shintoism, Kami are spirits. Often times, the word is translated to mean “God” but that’s not an accurate translation. The kami I walked past in particular represent spirits for long life and fortune, so I gave a small offering to one of them. Other kami represent the spirits for the weather, food, the dead, etc. Essentially, everything has a kami, or in more Western philosophical terms, everything has essence (a.k.a. how Teagan views the world).

We boarded our bus again after about an hour exploring the seven waterfalls. As scenic as they were, I was looking forward most to seeing the Sakura trees in Kawazu, a short 20-minute drive from the waterfalls. We were dropped off just outside the Mine Onsen, famous for its geyser that erupts every hour. Some fellow study abroad students and I took off our shoes and enjoyed a nice hot footbath. I decided to position myself facing the geyser so I could see it erupt without having to take my feet out of the water. The geyser erupted for about three minutes, letting off vast amounts of steam and shooting at least 20 feet into the air. The geyser was a sight to behold. Being the lone wolf that I am, as well as having lost my map of Kawazu, I decided to walk around town. I quickly found myself walking along the river, immersing myself in a sea of pink Sakura trees lined along the crisp, dark blue of the river. I was also surrounded by food stalls but I wasn’t ready to eat quite yet. Well, I actually was; I was starving. At some point, I met up with Marie, Sarah, Jennifer, and Cathrina, fellow study abroad students and friends of mine and I was invited to join the group. We quickly got food. The first dish I ordered was Sakura Mochi. While I wasn’t a fan of the outside, I found the filling to be quite delicious. A little sweet but it was one of the most uniquely Japanese foods I’ve had yet. I also ordered some Chow Mein noodles from the next stall and ate those at various points during our slow walk towards the Pacific Ocean. Eventually, our group split so Jennifer, Cathrina and I all walked around together, taking tons of pictures of the blooming Sakura trees and eating along the way. I mean, there were so many vendors, it was hard not to! We eventually, unbeknownst to me, walked all the way to the Pacific Ocean. I spent a few minutes on the beach, slowly walking over a pile of concrete into the water thinking about how I’m standing at the opposite end of the same ocean I practically grew up in. Earlier that morning, I saw the sunrise over the Pacific; normally I watch the sun set over it. Once we walked back onto the sand, we headed back to the bus and headed off to Hamazushi in Izu city. Hamazushi is a massive kaitenzushi (conveyor belt sushi) restaurant which actually offered really good sushi. We were each asked to budget ourselves to ¥1100, or up to 11 plates of sushi. The sushi was quite good; I ordered tuna belly, salmon, shrimp tempura, and even hamburger sushi. I also ordered a Melon Fanta and two desserts. This sounds like a lot of food but it really wasn’t. But it was satisfying and I went home happy. We boarded the bus for the last time just before 6 PM and made it back to TUJ at 8 PM. The day was officially over. Before leaving, I suddenly started talking to fellow study abroad and Chapman student Cami about our time in Japan. After that, it was back to Taka for me!

This day trip reminded me of the reasons why I chose to study abroad in Japan. I not only got to experience authentic Japanese culture, but I also got to take part in some festivities, particularly those pertaining to sakura trees. I also got to spend quality time with my friends on this trip and even briefly discuss the possibility of meeting up in Osaka during our “spring break.”