Pacific Culture Club and Ichira Ramen

Oh my goodness, yesterday was so much fun! I went on a school trip to the Pacific Culture Club that is held at a Japanese womens home. She played the koto for us (I'll post some videos), dressed some girls from the group in kimono, taught us calligraphy and did a tea ceremony for us. It was a lot of fun.

After that about seven of us girls headed to an onsen (hot spring) in Mitaka. It was amazing. I've been to public baths before which are nice but this was a natural hot spring where the water is full of minerals that make your skin really soft. After we all got over the awkwardness of being totally naked in front of complete strangers we had a great time. It was so relaxing and nice. They had six different types of baths to go including one that shocked you when you touched a particular part of the wall. Supposedly its good for your back. I don't know, it felt really weird any everyones first reaction was funny to watch. It was pretty funny because the water is the brown color of iodine and it was a little salty. One of the girls, Megan, said it was like bathing in soy sauce! We all had a good laugh at that one.

I made friends with two of the new study abroad students, Megan and Barbara so after the onsen we went to Shibuya for dinner. First we went to Tower Records where they have the English/Import bookstore where I bought a book on The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang. It looks rather disturbing but only because its historically accurate so I think it will be very informative and eye-opening. Yasuka, one of the leaders of the trip, told us about a ramen place next to Tower Records called Ichira Ramen. We found it and were first a little sceptical because all they had was a machine to buy your ramen ticket and then a line to get in. But we bought our tickets and waited in line only to discover that they had a special sheet that you filled out to specify exactly how you wanted your ramen from the strength of the broth to the tecture of the noodles to the fat content, you decide everything. It was pretty awesome. Once there were seats available, as displayed by the blinking sign indicating which tables were open, we went in and sat down. The "booth" looked a whole lot like a testing center were we used to have to put up those three-sided cardboard things. The hands took our order sheet and brought back the ramen within a matter of maybe 2 minutes and we were off to eating. The ramen was so good! It was probably the best ramen I ahe ever had in my life and that is no exaggeration. Everyone who visits Tokyo must go to Ichira Ramen in Shibuya. It is the best I have eaten. Man, that stuff was good.

After the delicious ramen we took a trip to Haagen Dazs and got some over priced but yummy ice cream and then went to Starbucks for some more over priced but delicious treats and then we parted ways and headed home. I got on the wrong train line and had to turn around but it was okay. I still got home by midnight-ish.

Those were some seriously good times. I will definitely be going back to the onsen (Megan, Barbara and I decided at least once a month) and to Ichira Ramen any chance I can get. Good times. Crazy good times.