Life, Lately: Hello and Bye, January!👋🏻

Ahhhh one month down 2019! How are you? I still can't decide whether January went fast or slow lolー that's how lost I was and still am. Surprisingly, I was not that bothered (okay a little bit) that I'm lost. The past years I was lost too but at least then, I had things in mind I wanted to pursue and reach. I looked straight and just went on until I get them. But now it seems like I'm lay-lowing on life. I'm not my usual go-getter self. I feel like this year's theme would be living one day at a time... way different from the previous years. It's refreshing, though. I just don't know where this will take me. Who knows?

Anyway, before I bore you with my 27-year-old-lost-girl thoughts, let me share with you the highs of my January! At least the pictures are more entertaining than me just babbling nonsense, right? LOL

Hatsumode/ first Shinto shrine visit of the year

(Okunitama Jinja, Fuchu)

Went around five in the morning to pray and wish, as well as buy omamori/ lucky amulets~

Omiya Railway Museum

Been meaning to go here for a looong time and we finally did after years of trying haha! Kenji and I enjoyed the museum like kids lol! I love everything! We bought tickets at Lawson (Loppi Machine) instead of on the day at the museum for it was a little cheaper that way~

Yamanashi Weekend

(Gasthof Lumiere, Arakurayama Sengen Park/ Chureito Pagoda)

Staycation with Kenji for our monthsary aka an excuse to leave Tokyo and breathe in fresh air~ I was searching for real fireplaces x private baths and it led me to Gasthof Lumiere! The Chureito Pagoda visit was a last-minute decision and we had to hike for the great view but it was totally worth it!

Tokyo Metro: The Underground Mysteries

This was actually our second time to try this Tokyo-wide-puzzle-solving challenge and as always, it was amazing! Got to roam around parts of Tokyo I know exist but never really bothered to go to lol~ It was funnnnnn! Try it when you have the time! The 2018 version ended this 31st of January so you might have to wait for the 2019 version! Kits are available in Japanese and in English, doncha worry! *wink*

Art Bar Tokyo Painting Night

(The Hive, Jinnan)

Finally got the guts to join a painting class~ I knew this for a while now but I was always hesitant to go because I don't really paint and the classes are usually conducted in Japanese (which you and I know I'm bad at lol). But then, the stars must be on my side for they offered a lesson in English and the subjects were close to my heart: Tokyo and Van Gogh! Hell yeah, I went! Dragged Kenji, too! Ha!

Karuizawa Snowboarding/Skating Trip with Friends

(Prince Snow Resort, Harunire Terrace, Kera Ike Skating Rink)

Second time in Karuizawa, Nagano and it was indeed lovelier~ I blogged about this already and you can read it here: https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/01/a-winter-weekend-in-karuizawa.html.

Fuji Youchien Campus Tour

Sooo Fuji Youchien is a famous kindergarten in Tokyo, famous that I knew it from a Red Duck video that circulated on Facebook~ I was surprised that it's in my city! A friend went earlier and tipped us about the four times a year campus tour it hosts so off Kenji and I went~  I loved the rooftop playground!

Believe it or not, these things were *not that planned* the Alyssa way a.k.a. planned months before with an itinerary (except for the campus tour cos I had to fight for my slot so I had to book it early). But you know what? I'm finally learning to be more okay with unplanned things, to just live and savor each day when it comes, to just rest. I must have been restless all these years (because I felt the need to). I'm slowing down but my heart is calm. And that's a good thing, right?

How was your January? Any goals / realizations / discoveries?

xx,

Alyssa

A Winter Weekend in Karuizawa

Almost a year ago, I first found my way to this little but pretty town in Nagano, Karuizawa, due to my persistent search for cabins with private baths. I was obsessed with cabins and camping that time. Off the beau and I went and stayed at one and that's the only major thing we did. Read it here. We missed exploring Karuizawa, though. I was fine with it because we went there for a staycation in the first place.

Fast forward early this January, my friends and I were planning for a ski/snowboard trip. After loooong discussions and considerations, we decided to go to Karuizawa. And yup, that's where we went last weekend~

DAY ONE

We rode the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Karuizawa Station. Costed us a fortune but yeah, you can always ride a highway bus for a cheaper price but longer hours. We intended to do that but there were no bus seats available the time we tried booking. TIP: Foreign tourists and non-Japanese passport holders can opt to purchase the JR Tokyo Wide Pass, a 3-day discounted pass for unlimited rides (includes Shinkansen and limited express trains) to and from areas in Tokyo and the surrounding Kanto area.

After an hour, we finally arrived at Karuizawa Station. We ate lunch somewhere in the nearby Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza and off we went to the ski resort ten minutes walk away.

This was where it got soooo expensive. We went to the ski resort operated by Prince Hotel and we had to rent snowboarding stuff and lift passes. A snowboard set (boots and board) will set you back ¥5000, snow wear set for another ¥5000, while additional helmets can be rented for ¥500 each. Luckily for me, I bought my own snowsuit way way back so I didn't have to rent one. The lift pass was overpriced in my opinion,  ¥4500 for four hours or ¥5000 for a 1-day pass. (Niigata had a more reasonable price, ¥500 for a one-time lift or less than ¥5000 for a 1-day pass).

Anyway, we had heaps of fun playing, rolling (lol) with snow so everything was fine.

After getting our snowboarding fix, we went back to the shopping plaza to fill our hungry tummies some dinner, bought drinks, and then rode a taxi to our hotel, Hotel Karuizawa Elegance, which was old (no elevators) but pretty, with really accommodating and kind staff~

+ DAY TWO +

Woke up early for the breakfast buffet and I was very delighted~ I love breakfast food! Moreover, I love yummy breakfast food in a pretty cafe all for ¥1500 ahhhh what a steal!

Around 10AM, we checked out and rode another taxi for some quick sightseeing. First stop was the Stone Church. It's a pretty little chapel made of stones set up in an unusual way. It was small but the details inside were amazing. Good for intimate weddings, I'd say. When we were there, we had to wait for a wedding to finish before we can get in the chapel. Taking pictures inside  weren't allowed so lust over these outdoor photos ha~

We walked towards Harunire Terrace, another pretty place with cafes and restaurants, an onsen, and some shops. Good ambiance ahhhh! We saw an ad for the KERA-IKE Ice Rink (it's a pond in the middle of the forest and freezes in winter, hence the name) and of course, we went! The ¥1800/adult fee did not disappoint! I later learned from my friend that it was the same skating rink shown in the Netflix series Terrace House where Shion and Tsubasa went for a date!

Coffee break cos it was freaking cold~  Look at this kawaii latte art!♥
@Picchio

We ate some late curry lunch at Sajilo Cafe before calling it a day and going back to Tokyo~

Ahhhhh, fun times! It's true what they say, it's lovelier the second time around, especially if you are with good company! See ya next time, Karuizawa!♥

MIND-FART#21: 元気？

Friday, 11th January

18:16

A couple of days down the new year... 

How are you?

My year started pretty okay. It's just that I feel like I'm in a rut. I mean, I planned things I should/need/want to do but here I am, messing with these words... and you.

How are you?

I started work again after two weeks of winter break and I'm slowly getting back to who I was/ I think I am as a teacher. Those +fourteen days of not teaching gave me a little scareー day one back in school felt like I don't know how to teach anymore. Wait, have I known how to, in the first place?

How are you?

My planner's goal page is still blank. How does that sound? Very bad to me. I'm not usually like this.

How are you?

I don't know why I'm sitting here, looking at people passing by, trying to read a new book I randomly purchased online, being forced to hear some unknown mellow music from the cafe's speakers, sipping the latte the barista whipped up for me. I don't know why I stopped here. I'm supposed to be somewhere else.

Perhaps, I'm supposed to be here?

Also, I'm starting to like this cafe's playlist. I still don't know the songs.

xx,

Alyssa