First SpaceA flight to Yakota

Author Message   Lester Green Advanced Member Username: Rtgreen5 Post Number: 318 Registered: 03-2007 Posted From: 69.143.222.224 Posted on Monday, May 24, 2010 - 02:28 am:    Shannon: Hooray!!You toured the Tsukiji Fish Market. I see that you did it on Sunday. I wouild think that Sunday would not be as busy as a weekday, but you got the idea of what goes on there. I guess tomorrow, Monday--if you are lucky--you'll be winging it Stateside. Good luck. If you don't and the weather is good, take a ride out to Nikko and Lake Chuzenico. If it's raining, forget it as the 30 hairpin curves or so up to the Lake are something to behold. And if you are stuck even longer, go to Hakone Park and splurge by staying at the Fujiya Hotel in Miyanosto(sp). You can get details on this resort at any tourist office as it is well known.....Best wishes to you and your family...Lester Green   Edward J Wright Member Username: Wrightejw Post Number: 25 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 72.208.116.11 Posted on Sunday, May 23, 2010 - 07:42 pm:    Grate report Shannon and thanks for the Sea TAC Info it will be a big help in the planning of our trip. I was stationed the in Yokosuka for 5 years and I also knew people that never set foot off the base also, for the life of me I never could figure out what they were afraid of. Most said it was not like the states or they did not like the food or the people, there were all kinds of excuses. Some would only venture just outside of the gate and that was it, seems like if they did not see an American face they panic LOL. Myself I could not wait the get off that base, I love the food the sites the sound the smells and being in the Navy I went to a lot of places and I think Japan was about the best. I try to encourage some of my friends here in Phoenix to take the plunge and go for it but no one has taken me up on it yet most say it’s too expensive or they can’t speak Japanese or don’t know where to go but can jump on a plane or car and go to San Francisco, LA, Vegas or Hawaii sight unseen lol. I’m happy to see that you and your family are taken it all in and enjoying the whole experience (Happy travels).   Lester Green Advanced Member Username: Rtgreen5 Post Number: 317 Registered: 03-2007 Posted From: 69.143.222.224 Posted on Sunday, May 23, 2010 - 03:25 am:    Shannon; Is Showa Park in Tachikawa? If so, it is the sight of the former United States Air Force base that was there for about 40 years. The base was larger than Yokota and many of its functions were moved to Yokota. You may find that getting back to the States on a cargo plane may require stops in Alaska or Hawaii. When I was there last year, we got on a cargo plane to McChord AFB, WA which is another option for you. Also, watch the flights out of Atsugi Navy Base nearby back to the States. So you did get to Kamakura--good. And I feel sorry for those folks over there who dislike the assignment as they don't know what they are missing by not taking in the sights, food and culture of Japan. Though it may have been tiring at times, you covered alot of territory and rightly concentrated your efforts on seeing Tokyo. There is so much more to Japan, but Tokyo and what it has to offer is indeed overwhelming. If you have an extra day, go to Nikko and Lake Chuzenico (sp), a few hours North of Tokyo. Look it up in a tourist book for details.   shannon whitaker Member Username: Gypsy99 Post Number: 22 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 203.105.88.21 Posted on Sunday, May 23, 2010 - 01:40 am:    Glad everyone is enjoying the blog. I fell behind for awhile because we stayed at Hardy Barracks for a few days and did not have wifi access. I am adding pictures and new posts now and have a few more up. We are still in Japan, were supposed to leave on the PatEx last Thursday but due to a misunderstanding on our part we missed it! Lucky us- we get an extended vacation! We are trying to hop out Monday possibly but it is on a cargo flight so we aren't sure if they will have seats and let us on with the kids. We have had such a blast- so much to see, do and EAT here. The funniest thing is while on base we have come across many people that think we are crazy for actually coming to Japan for a vacation, and with kids especially! We have also talked to people that haven't left the base or the area outside of the base because they "hate" it here- I just cannot believe how much they are missing, it is sad really and I think they would be happier if they just got up and braved the outside world. Joe- I will definitely let you know. Thankfully mine is tiny and in the top center of my back so it is perfect to try to cover up. I have been playing with the idea of getting another anyway and I guess this is just making that idea materialize sooner than expected. Edward, We found the SeaTac experience like everything else in the military- a bunch of hurry up and wait! The USO provides couches, TVs,wifi, sandwiches and drinks to help pass the time though. We ended up getting to the airport at about 1600, checked in somewhere around 2200-ish, given our tickets and went through security at about 2400-ish and flew out around 0130. It was long but for the $15 a ticket I refuse to complain. It seemed like the process flying back from Yokota looked easier but that may have been because it was all during the day so it may have not seemed like it was that long. We also weren't competing for a seat that day since we got there late so it may have just seemed less nerve wracking for us watching. My only advice- pack light and for heaven's sake know the difference between the check-in time and the roll call time and do not mix them up or else you too will have an extended vacation! Edgar- Wonderful trip (and I notice you are speaking our "language", eh!) We put a huge dent at that sushi place, I wouldn't be surprised if we weren't welcomed back! In total we had over 50 plates just between the five of us (our kids ate it all too, actually the have eaten EVERYTHING in Japan and are such good sports about at least tasting the "yucky" looking stuff which they find they usually like anyhow) Leland- Not a chance! We will just say it is not something a woman would want branded on her body... especially not a happily married one with three young children, lol! Lester- the sights are amazing! We have seen almost everything we wanted to see. Our camera memory chip malfunctioned for part of one of the days so I don't think we got actual pictures of the Buddah but we did get to see him.   Joe Lippo Advanced Member Username: Momojoe Post Number: 396 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 138.163.106.72 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 07:25 pm:    Fantastic post! I, too fell victim to the Kanji tattoo. AND, since I am close to B.C., when you find that place that is good enough to cover it up without giving me a $2000 full sleeve. Just PM me...   Edward J Wright Member Username: Wrightejw Post Number: 23 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 72.208.116.11 Posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 - 04:56 pm:    Hi Shannon nice report glade to see you and your family enjoyed tripe, me and the my wife are thinking of making the same tripe in the fall. It would be nice if you can give us a little more on your exprence at Sea Tec, the day of your flight that kind of stuff. Your blog is out standing, my wife is Japanese and she injoyed looking at the pics. We are retierd navy and was stationed there for 5 years and thinking moving back to Japan in the next few years to live so this will be a scouting trip for us. As you found out being in Japan is not much that much deferent than being being here, we live in the Phoenix AZ area and the coast of living is not that much deferent. We have alot of friends here that are really afrad to make a tripe like that good for you.   Edgar Inocentes Senior Member Username: Traveler88 Post Number: 548 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 209.242.132.226 Posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 - 03:20 pm:    Keep that blog coming...Great trip thus far, eh? You guys really downed LOTS of sushi based on the stack of plates pictured. Your kids are great and very adventurous!   Tom DeMicke Senior Member Username: Typhoontom Post Number: 1018 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 211.121.74.150 Posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 - 04:45 am:    Very nice trip report and explanation of Osens and tatoos. Very true indeed.   Leland Senior Member Username: Leland Post Number: 6231 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 98.218.147.237 Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2010 - 11:42 am:    Aw, c'mon. How about a hint about the tattoo?   Lester Green Advanced Member Username: Rtgreen5 Post Number: 312 Registered: 03-2007 Posted From: 69.143.222.224 Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2010 - 03:37 am:    Shannon: I just read your blog on your day at the hot baths--onsan--and what you have reported comports with my experience of going to a communal bath in the Japanese countryside. The sexes bath together as you reported, and bathing suits are prohibited. The only thing that you did not mention was the Japanese insistence that you scrub yourself clean before entering the communal bath. Remember those small wooden benches that you had to squat on in order to soap yourself down? I must admit that I made quite an impression with the other bathers because of my 6'2" frame and burly chest as the Japanese in the country have few tourists frequent their communal baths. Your description was on target and I got a kick out of reading it to find that these customs still exist for communal bathing. However, in my day, tatoos were not an issue and I had none anyway.   Lester Green Advanced Member Username: Rtgreen5 Post Number: 311 Registered: 03-2007 Posted From: 69.143.222.224 Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2010 - 03:04 am:    Shannon: You have the right attitude to really enjoy Tokyo--"go with the flow." Also, go to the main Tokyo fish market early in the morning and visit Kamakura, near Yokohama, where there is a spectacular Bhudda. I promise you that you will not forget these sights. You can get information on these sights at any tourist office. Glad to see that Hardy Barracks still is open.   shannon whitaker Member Username: Gypsy99 Post Number: 21 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 203.105.88.222 Posted on Saturday, May 15, 2010 - 01:21 pm:    Thanks everyone! I am trying to write in it at least once a day- I wish I could have mobile net here so I could type things as I think of them! I am so exhausted each night that I usually the first time I write a post it is garbled and confusing, ha! Lester, we are really enjoying ourselves and absolutely love it here. The bus is still running to New Sanno and we are staying there one night next week as well as in Hardy Barracks one night to cut down on some of the transit time into the city so we can try to have maximum time in many of the touristy places we want to see. We figured out the express trains and are doing well with the whole train system itself- only twice have we stepped on a train going the opposite way and just hopped off on the first stop and turned around. So far we have done Ueno Park, Tokyo Disney (not very Japanese but it was a promise to the kids for bearing through such a long flight), and today we went to Tsuru-Tsuru Onsen. That was relaxing but we definitely learned a few lessons from trial and error today! Later this week we are planning on attending a full day of the Sumo tournament, Imperial Palace and gardens, Akihabara district, Asakusa district, Ryogoku district, Roppongi and Ginza district. I feel like we are running out of time and we are just going to try to do as much as we can before we hop on our flight on Thursday. Tonight we ate at the most amazing sushi bar with a conveyor belt- we were in heaven! My impression of the people is just like anywhere else really- if you are respectful it will usually be returned. We have learned basic phrases to help us and have found it is very much appreciated when we make an effort to at least try to speak Japanese, even if it is straight out of the phrase book. What is hard for me to handle is the lack of a personal bubble- we live rural and I am very used to "my space" but that went out the window the minute we stepped into Tokyo Station! But it is just another thing we are embracing while here   Lester Green Advanced Member Username: Rtgreen5 Post Number: 308 Registered: 03-2007 Posted From: 69.143.222.224 Posted on Friday, May 14, 2010 - 03:46 pm:    Shannon: I am looking forward to a description of the remainder of your trip as the last entry was for Ueno Park. I lived in Japan for 6 years and am interested in what you did as tourists and your impressions of the people and places of interest. Is the bus from Yokota to the New Sanno still running as this may have offered you another way to get downtown? Also, I know that you probably connected from Fussa through Tachikawa and I hope that you learned that there were express trains downtown which would save you time. Don't forget Kamakura as a place of interest to visit.   TR Advanced Member Username: Travel_ready Post Number: 237 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 74.192.161.189 Posted on Friday, May 14, 2010 - 01:50 pm:    Great Blog and images!   Edgar Inocentes Senior Member Username: Traveler88 Post Number: 547 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 209.242.132.226 Posted on Friday, May 14, 2010 - 01:45 pm:    Ahh Tokyo...keep the blog going. Nice-looking family. Great kids!   Lane Heath Intermediate Member Username: Heathlb Post Number: 72 Registered: 02-2008 Posted From: 69.250.109.95 Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 11:43 pm:    What a great blog! Thanks!   Doyle L. McGaha Jr Member Username: Dlmcgaha Post Number: 16 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 64.12.116.208 Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 11:14 pm:    Can you provide any more information on what you did while in Japan.   shannon whitaker Member Username: Gypsy99 Post Number: 19 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 203.105.88.130 Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 07:53 pm:    Hi Everyone! We made it onto our first Space A flight form Seattle to Yokota. Wow, what an experience! I was nervous for awhile because there were so many people but almost everyone made it. I started a blog for my family and friends back home to share our adventures at http://hoptotokyo.blogspot.com/ Thanks for all of your help form this board- I wouldn't have been nearly prepared for this had I not had the help and search button capability on this forum!