There And Back Again.

Aaaand... we're back. Twenty two hours over two flights, plus eight hours at Singapore airport, and I'm parked at my parents' place in Essex knee-deep in a very British Christmas. Jetlag's still kicking my arse and Japan feels like a distant memory.

I've been up snowy mountains, nearly got lost in forests and seen some sweet beaches. Sat in a field with a waterlogged boot inhaling a 7-Eleven rice box under the shadow of Fuji, and slurped noodles at a train station udon shop rubbing shoulders with geriatric daytrippers. Got naked with a bunch of old Japanese men in a hot spring and huddled in a bunk bed watching Stranger Things while a typhoon howled outside my window. Sneaked photos of Geishas in Kyoto and hunted for bargain Gundam toys in Akihabara. I've met Americans, Belgians, Singaporeans, French, Germans and even some Japanese. Lived with people I can't wait to meet again and (sorry... not sorry) a few who did my head in from the word go. And I've been the focus more weird looks than I've ever had before, but sort of in a good way.

Which is a fairly pretentious, roundabout way of saying that I saw a lot of Japan. It was a busy trip. But I don't feel like I've scratched the surface of what I want to see there. Coming from the UK there's a lot about Japan that's instantly familiar, but there's enough constant reminders of how different things are that it never gets boring, and I'm itching to keep exploring. For the first time in years I'm also keen to learn a new language to a decent level.

My last few days were back where I started in September in Hokkaido, at the now fully functional Iwanai ski lodge. The change from sunny Tokyo, only 90 minutes' flight away, is insane - three foot deep snow and sub-zero daytime temperatures. The lodge is an amazing setup, right by the pistes which are an awesome ride, that Hokkaido powder isn't overrated. I got parked in the kitchen manning potato duty on the deep-fat fryer, which for me is perfect - I love cooking, and being in the kitchen with five or six local ladies is a great place to practice stringing together longer sentences than just 'pleases' and 'thankyous', and in my downtime the ski lift is about twenty meters from the front door.

I'm not done with Japan, and I'm damn sure not ready to go back to London long term. So I'm already working on a plan to get me back in early 2018, watch this space. In the meantime, thanks for reading. Merry Christmas.

#travel #japan #Workaway #iwanai #hokkaido #japanese #apps #izu #kofu