2. First Moments in Japan

From the top, with feeling!

Is there anything that makes a person feel more alive than alighting from a plane in a country that is new to them? Okay, maybe great sex, but even then, a new country has unexpected and frequently delightful sights, smells, sounds, and it’s just so much bigger than a bed or a rooftop or whatever!

(Hey, this is a family show. Let’s get back to Japan.)

This quote from the movie on the seat back of my flight undid me momentarily. (it’s a great indie movie showing the real NYC called “The Problemista” — highly recommended) For those of you who are new here, I am in recovery from the abrupt an undesired end of a 30 year marriage and this trip was intended to heal me —

Unlike most first-timers in Japan, I didn’t stop in Tokyo first. I’m from New York City and I wanted to do something different, something special. So, what’s the best and easiest way to begin to sample a new culture? Try the FOOD.

Where’s the best food in Japan? Presumably in the city that is called “The Kitchen of Japan” — Osaka.

My super-amazing travel-witch Emily (read about how this trip was planned) was waiting for me there, having arrived an hour earlier on her direct flight from Denver. I had to change planes in the enormous Narita Airport and my flight had arrived an hour late — I was worried I might miss the transfer, so there was a lot of texting happening. (I had decided before leaving that the $10/day ATT international plan that kept me from having to fret about changing SIM cards and all was easily worth the latte I would have to skip each day to afford it — the latte plus the aspirin I would…