Miss/Won't Miss #6

Things I'll Miss About Japan #6: Some of the Greatest Starbucks Locations Ever

Much like in America, Starbucks is EVERYWHERE in Japan. I'm pretty sure every major train station has one in it or near it. They're always in great spots and not like, you know, shoved in a corner for convenience on the mall level of Macy's or the basement of Sears like at Ala Moana.

One of the newest and BEST locations is in Harajuku on top of the the Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku building. I went there a while ago to explore and I sort of can't believe that Starbucks makes enough money on coffee and tea to afford this space. The indoor portion of the cafe is a decent size, but the outdoor area is HUGE.

And of course, there's this lovely piece of prime real estate in Shibuya that Starbucks uses. Getting a window seat on a busy Sunday and watching the crowd ebb and flow through the scramble... that I'll really miss.

Even my nearest big station, Omiya, has a big Starbucks in a prime spot. I should've gotten a photo from the concourse floor, this is the view from the barista area. It might not be as nice as the Harajuku and Shibuya locations, but it's still good for people watching and it's a nice space in the station.

Things I Won't Miss About Japan #6: Going to 10 Coffee Shops and Not Finding a Damn Seat

The great locations most likely contribute to the problem of not being able to find a seat at Starbucks, but that doesn't explain why I can't ever find a seat when I want one at the other billion coffee shops in Tokyo.

Whenever I want a nice creamy coffee beverage as a pick-me-up, it's like everyone in the city had the same idea at the same time and had to find a nice place to plop down for a while and nurse a caramel macchiato or maple royal milk tea. It's even worse when they've got the good seasonal drinks with sakura or matcha flavors on the menu. I'd have a beer outside the combini, but eehhh... I'm not THAT bad a gaijin.

Eggs 'n Harajuku?

Nishihara and I went exploring in Harajuku this past weekend. We originally went for the elusive yet official  Johnny's idol shop, but found so much more.

The Johnny's store was ONE BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, Johnny likes to squeeze every last yen out of JE fans that he possibly can, but seriously the unlicensed stuff at the Takeshita street shops is so much better. Tracy had walked past earlier in the day and saw a line to enter the shop that was out to the street. Honestly though, it sucked! Why you'd wait in line for that store I'll never know, unless MatsuJun is there personally helping you pick out the best photos of him to buy.

We walked along toward Omotesando Hills, but got distracted by this long line of people waiting for something. I made Tracy stop and walk with me to see what they were all waiting for...

A piece of Hawaii nestled on a Harajuku side street~

They were all waiting in line for a table at Eggs 'n Things Harajuku! The original restaurant in Waikiki was known for their crazy hours, which used to serve the post-club/post-bar scene. This was before my time, however - they closed down for a while a few years ago during my peak clubbing days, so all my late-night cravings had to be satisfied at Zippy's.

When we walked by it was like 3:30 in the afternoon, not even a peak meal time, and there had to be at least 30 people in line. We passed by again maybe an hour and a half later and the line had shrunk to about 15 people. I've never been to the one in Honolulu, and I'm sure as hell not gonna wait in a line that long for the one in Japan. I didn't get a chance to study the menu, but it looked far more Hawaiian-y than I would think it should. 

I have to make it through four more days at work and then I'm off for Obon!!!!!!! Gaaaahhh it's so close but so far away...

It's been two days?

I feel like I've been in Japan for a month, but in reality it's only been two days. Two very long and draining days of train rides, shopping, and all the boring school stuff.

I spend most of my waking hours with three other girls who live in my dorm and attend Sophia -- Natasha (Australia), Kristine (California), and Saniya (Illinois). The three of them speak better Japanese than I do, which is a very good thing for me. They're awesome and I'm glad we get along well together.

Saniya, Kristine, and Natasha

Yesterday was orientation day. All the foreign exchange students sat through a lengthy presentation of deans and department heads, welcoming us or telling us where their offices are or why they are important to our learning process in Japan. I got a load of papers and booklets of things that I know I might look at once. These Jesuit universities love their paperwork. The list of clubs and circles on the Sophia campus was entertaining to read. The Soccer Club had a one word description for their group: "soccer." Intentional? Not sure.

I met a few new people. The Oizumi gakuen girls had a few connections to a group of gaijin boys, and we all got train passes together. We all stick out so badly, but I knew we would. Jim, one of my Creighton classmates, commented that the group of guys are the only ones on the train talking loudly and making a scene, and he feels like he gets stares.

Today we had our language placement test. I got through most of the beginner section alright, but I couldn't even read the higher level stuff so I didn't bother. Even the other Oizumi girls had a hard time with the higher level test material, and they're far more advanced than I am. Jim and I have accepted our lack of Japanese skills and look forward to 111 or 150, no transfer credit.

Later we went to Harajuku, and marveled at all the crazy things people wear and sell. I never noticed idol shops before -- shops that are completely dedicated to putting pictures of teen idols (boy bands, pop stars, etc) on stuff and selling it. Very very creepy... and all the boys look like girls. None of us bought anything! Kind of sad really. We did have lunch at a Lottier(?), a burger and fries fast food chain, and the portions were too small for some. But the fries were good and I should have had a melon soda or something.

We went back to Jouichi for the exchange student welcome party. It wasn't much, but I learned some new words from people and got to exercise what little Japanese I know. Walking through the cherry blossoms along the school road was much more interesting.

Natasha says the cherry blossoms bloom once a year, and die ten days after they open. So we're very fortunate to be able to see the trees when they're all pretty, since they won't be in about a week. I feel dumb for not being able to remember the word the Japanese use for this kind of temporary, fleeting beauty... it'll bug me until I remember.

EDIT: It's aware or awaremono. Look it up.

Tomorrow - adventures from the municipal office.