Charms of Culture

After attending school, my nights were usually spent preparing for an activity back home for DLSU’s University Vision-Mission Week, which is why, in all honesty, I always have the barest idea of the next day’s agenda. I was excited to be out of school for the weekend but I didn’t really know what to expect. This, as I have learned, is where the real beauty and excitement of travel comes from.

Our Saturday excursion trip around Kobe remains to be one of my favorite days in my entire Japan trip. As usual, the day started early as we traveled to Sannomiya where we were met by our buddies along with some senior students from Akashi college who took the lead in the day’s agenda. It was an especially chilly day and I had to wear extra layers for the long walk we took around the lovely streets of Kobe. My eyes were feasting on the array of beautiful houses and cafes lined up next to one another, and given that I really didn’t know where we were going, I did not mind the long walk because of the picturesque view. Colors of spring came into full bloom, and window displays are up their creative notches. Every building had a distinctive calm, almost homey feel to it that I felt like I was walking straight into a Japanese anime movie.

After six days in Japan, we were no longer strangers to long walks. However, when the road turned uphill, the grunting began to become more and more audible. To our surprise, this was going to be a hike trip all along! The grunting paid well off as we reached our destination, the Uroko House and Museum. The place was all sorts of aesthetic that fed my old soul happy. The stunning collections of China plates and silvers are what dreams are made of, and the rich (sometimes eerie) history of the house is something to behold. At the end of the museum is a gift shop where I was supposed to buy a beautiful piano brooch if only my good friend, Tenta, hadn’t insisted on buying it for me. The courtyard of the house was filled with roses and spring flowers, and boasted a yummy dessert store where I bought a refreshing cup of fruit soda.

Next on our list was Kitano Shrine. Its location offered a wonderful view of the Kobe skyline. Upon reaching the top, we washed our hands and cleansed our mouths, as a religious custom and went on to learn about the different charms that ward off spirits. After a few moments of rest, we went on to have lunch in Minato-ken, a famous ramen house to fill our gurgling tummies with hot, delicious, authentic ramen. Ah, the wonders of Japanese food, can anything be better?

We were left by our professors to roam on our own after lunch. We went to a shopping center (the name of which escapes me) where my friends bought kawaii things and music boxes. My friends and I had a snack break in a nearby Starbucks, whose location reminds me of escapist movies. I had an Earl Grey Cake by the street-facing chairs, and had loveliest (and so far, calmest) afternoon in a week. Afterwards, just before heading back to the hotel to make it to curfew, I had the privilege of having my portrait drawn by a great Japanese artist. I am a thrifty person and generally dislikes shopping, but when given the opportunity to bring home a part of another’s culture with me, I don’t hesitate to grab that opportunity even if it meant shedding a few more bucks.

We trekked back to our hotel, had my usual convenience store dinner, had a little chika with my friends in the other room, soaked myself in hot water, and went back to my order of business on the other side of the world. What a full day this was.