Updated: Japan Bucketlist

I am leaving in less than 2 months. This home away from home has been eye opening. I have made lifelong friends and I have met people who made me a better person. There are places I will never forget, lessons that are etched into my heart and experiences that made me stronger.

When I first moved to Japan, I created a bucketlist. Some of the crazy, very Japanese things I hoped to accomplish while I was here. Now its time to see which of those I have accomplished.

1. See Shinjuku Gyoen. Get lost in nature.
2. Go to an Art Museum.
3. Try clothes on in Japan (Just how small can they be?)
4. Make Sushi
5. Go to a waterpark.
6. Go to Tokyo Disneyland
7. Climb to the top of Mt. Fuji.
8. Sing in a karaoke bar!
9. Do ‘hanami’ (cherry blossom viewing) while in Japan.
10. Stay in a ryokan.
11. Visit the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
12. Go up the Tokyo Tower.
13. Go to a local izakaya. (Dream Bar! Loved it!)
14. Participate in Aomori’s Neputa festival.
15. Visit the Sannai Maruyama site in Aomori.
16. Visit Gappo Park in Aomori.
17. Go up APSAM in Aomori and take an awesome photo of the skyline!
18. Get photos of the cosplayers on Harajuku Bridge. (I did this one half way. I did see Cosplayers but not in Harajuku, I saw them at comiket!)
19. Visit Kabukicho (Tokyo’s red light district).
20. Buy a yukata or kimono.
21. Ride the Yamanote line.
22. Explore Tokyo Narita Airport.
23. Find a really, really interesting toilet.
24. Get a photo in the cherry blossoms.
25. Drink Sake.
26. Drink Chu-Hi.
27. Buy/rent a bicycle
28. Visit Aomori.
29. Visit Hachinohe.
30. Visit Towada
31. Visit Sapporo, land of the beers.
32. Make a lasting friend.
33. Befriend the wildlife.
34. Teach a lesson.
35. Ring a shrine bell and pray.
36. Try a weird flavour of Kit-Kat. (I hear there’s lemonade, watermelon, green tea)
37. Participate in a tea ceremony.
38. Visit Meiji Shrine.
39. Visit a cat cafe
40. Go to a Pokemon Center!
41. Go to Universal Studios.
42. Ride a shinkansen (bullet train).
43. Play Pachinko.
44. Learn how to drive out here.
45. Get a job so I can stay longer and accomplish all of these things.
46. Try all sorts of weird foods
47. Try Japanese Ramen
48. Get in better shape.
49. Go to Sapporo Festival
50. Go to the Nebuta Festival
51. Go to Cherry Blossom Festival
52. Watch a Japanese Baseball game.
53. Go to the Misawa Festivals

I only didn't make it to 11. The one I regret the most is Mt. Fuji. I really wanted to climb that. Maybe I can make a trip there before I go but I doubt it. Besides we are off to Naples, Italy next! Where I will have a longer list and another Mountain I can climb!