Sayonara, Japan! Final Trip Entry

Well, folks, this is it, the last entry for our Japanese adventure. It feels bittersweet. Apologies for skipping yesterday’s blog, but we needed a recharge day. The kind of day where you sleep in, overthink your breakfast choices, and spend a good amount of time soaking in hot water. You know, the classics.

We started our lazy day with our final Japanese-style breakfast. Now, I’ve got to confess, I feel a little guilty admitting this, but… we’re just not fans. It’s not you, Japan; it’s us. The breakfasts are masterfully complex, with flavors dancing between pickles, raw egg, and fish, but our American taste buds were not ready for that morning journey. Emily and I looked at each other over bowls of mystery pickles and knew we’d be dreaming of pancakes and bacon for a while.

The day quickly took a turn for the better when I checked off another major highlight of this trip: getting a Japanese haircut. I still remember my first one from a middle school trip, an experience so magical that it set the gold standard for all haircuts that followed. And let me tell you, this one did not disappoint.

At a little hole-in-the-wall shop with an ancient barber plopped into the chair.  It was an hour and a half of sheer craftsmanship. The precision! The attention to detail and precision were immaculate. He even used a straight razor. I walked out feeling like a new man. Not to mention the scalp massage, which was so relaxing that I might’ve drooled a little. It’s fine; they were professionals.

With my fresh new ‘do?, we lazed around the room a bit before heading out for sushi lunch. There’s no such thing as too much sushi, by the way, I checked. Then we braved the steep city blocks to visit a tranquil Japanese garden. Beautifully manicured, peaceful, and perfectly balanced, it felt like stepping into a postcard.

The rest of the day was spent embracing the ultimate luxury: the Japanese baths. The hotel boasted some truly blissful hot springs, and they weren’t kidding. Gender-separated meant Emily and I had to take turns watching Joni, but it was well worth it. Imagine sitting on a little stool, scrubbing yourself down next to a row of other naked bathers, then soaking in a turquoise pool smelling faintly of sulfur. It was the most relaxing communal bathing experience one could imagine. Bonus: my skin felt ridiculously soft afterward.

Dinner was an attempt at “pizza” at a nearby hostel. And I do mean “attempt.” But there was something endearing about it, almost like pizza, but just different enough to remind us we were still far from home. Over slices of whatever it was, Emily and I reminisced about our hostel-hopping days. Back then, we would’ve been thrilled just to eat something that wasn’t noodles from a convenience store. We’ve come a long way, yet there we were, sitting in a fancy hotel, laughing about what constitutes pizza in Japan.

The night ended perfectly. We soaked one last time in our little hot springs tub on the deck, the steam swirling around us under the night sky. Then we crashed early, exhausted in the best possible way, with Joni snuggled between us.

Today we leave for the states. Wish us luck in the 10 hour voyage…

Reflecting on this whole trip, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed by the sheer adventure of it all. From bustling cities to serene temples, from culinary explorations to language blunders, it’s been one exhilarating ride. We traveled for the first time as a family, and made unforgettable memories.

So, sayonara, Japan. Thanks for the memories, the experiences, and the softest skin of my life. Until next time, wherever that may be. And in to the next adventure.