Celebrate: 100 Days (Hyakunichikinnen)

In the past, when an infant lived beyond the first three months, it was cause for celebration in many cultures. In Japan, families celebrated with a ceremony called okuizome, a symbolic weaning of the infant. The mother or mother-in-law of the family typically prepared a feast for the family and a piece of food or small grain of rice was offered to the infant. (Never fear – it wasn’t actually forced upon the milk-guzzling baby. An adult usually surreptiously ate it.) Often, the baby was also offered the chance to gum a small round stone, said to promote the development of strong teeth. While today the okuizome tradition is dying out, it’s still a part of Japanese culture … so I decided to throw my own okuizome.

The baby I’m celebrating today is this blog – Uncovering Japan has hit 100 posts! In honor of this milestone, I’m listing the top 100 experiences I’ve had to date during my time in Japan *gulp*. Beyond the first ten, there’s no particular order – that first grouping, on the other hand … those are the ones that stay with me. I hope some of them inspire you to seek out your own perfect Japan experience. You’ll never be sorry you did.

1. Watching the sun set and the lights of the city glow from the picture windows of my Tokyo apartment
2. Trying to capture wily noodles shooting out of bamboo tubes in Kibune near Kyoto
3. Laughing at the oh-so-humanlike expressions of the Nagano snow monkeys
4. Eating an affordable and delicious 9 course kaiseki meal (my first, really) at Grotto in Kyoto
5. Hearing the story of a hibakusha (Atomic bomb survivor) in Hiroshima
6. Eating AMAZING beef cooked in hoba miso in a little ryokan in Takayama
7. Standing on top of Mt Fuji with frozen hands waiting for the sun to rise
8. Catching my first glimpse of a traditional wedding at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo
9. Soaking in an onsen at the base of a waterfall in Kawazu on the Izu Peninsula
10. Relishing an amazing French-Japanese fusion lunch at L’Effervescence
11. Relaxing on my “local” beach in Okinawa
12. Learning to cook Japanese comfort food in Kyoto
13. Witnessing the hydrangea in bloom in Kamakura
14. Riding a steam railway into the mountains of Shizuoka Prefecture
15. Puzzling over how to tie my yukata at my first ryokan stay in Nagano
16. Catching sight of a snow-covered Mt Fuji from the ropeway in Hakone
17. Chowing down on the best tonkotsu ramen in Fukuoka
18. Attempting to make my own soba noodles in Togakushi
19. Watching the fireworks over Tokyo Bay surrounded by girls in yukata
20. Cheering on the home team at a Tokyo Giants game
21. Eating my way through a ten course crab dinner in Sapporo
22. Gazing down into the steaming caldera of Aso Volcano near Kumamoto
23. Catching sight of two geisha getting into a taxi in Kyoto
24. Marveling over the massive whale sharks in Okinawa’s Churaumi Aquarium
25. Feeding the deer in Nara, Japan’s oldest capital
26. Riding the ropeway to the top of Mt Misen on Miyajima Island
27. Tasting my first basashi (horsemeat) in Kumamoto
28. Watching the gardens of Kyoto get coated in a dusting of snow
29. Shooting the rapids in Nagatoro
30. Suriving my first earthquake (Okinawa) and typhoon (Okinawa)
31. Rising with the sun for a Tsukiji market breakfast
32. Catching site of Mt Fuji from the Hakone Ropeway
33. Walking the old Nakasendo Road
34. Eating an all tofu lunch in Kyoto
35. Joining the rest of the neighborhood for a New Year’s shrine visit
36. Catching the first cherry blossoms in all of Japan at Nakajin Castle
37. Savoring the aroma of a fresh brewed “cuppa joe” at Hiro’s coffee farm
38. Scaling the progressivly steeper steps of Matsumoto Castle
39. Watching my toddler walk the five-humped Kintai Bridge in Iwakuni
40. Enjoying a multi-course shippoku dinner in Nagasaki
41. Riding the ferry over the East China Sea’s blue waters to Ie Island
42. Swimming with the dolphins off the coast of Miyakojima
43. Wandering through a 1000+ tree orchard of plum blossoms outside Tokyo
44. Fishing for my own dinner at Zauo in Tokyo
45. Picking (and eating) strawberries in Shizuoka
46. Strolling the snowy banks of the canals in Otaru
47. Witnessing a morning sumo practice in Ryogoku
48. Chatting with an 80 year old ama-san (free-diver)
49. Bumbling through the ninja fun house in Togakushi
50. Visiting a real ninja house in Iga
51. Enjoying a department store bento box on my first shinkansen trip
52. Gorging on goodies in one of Kyoto’s chocolate cafes
53. Redefining my perception of Japanese castles in Kikuchi
54. Catching a traditional dance performance at Shuri Castle in Okinawa
55. Freezing through two days of Sapporo’s Yuki Matsuri
56. Warming up with a beer and a taste of home (deep dish pizza) at Devilcraft
57. Discovering the garden of the Nezu Art Museum
58. Stumbling upon an impromptu festivel at Asakusa
59. Exploring the Hida Folk Village in Takayama
60. Dining with a splendid garden view at Senri in Kumamoto
61. Participating in a tea ceremony
62. Attending a New Year’s feast with new friends in Kumamoto
63. Soaking in the fall color in Kamikochi
64. Eating steamed ume (plum) buns in Daizafu
65. Taking a canal ride in Yanagawa
66. Watching dancers sway amongst the flowers at the Itako Iris Festival
67. Making (and eating) my first monjayaki at a bonenkai (end of year party)
68. Pondering our shared history at Okinawa’s Peace Prayer Park
69. Watching cranes soar over the fields of Izumi
70. Snuggling under a thick futon comforter in Nagano
71. Touring Yokohama’s century-old Western homes at Christmastime
72. Dining with a bird’s eye view of the city in Ebisu (Tokyo)
73. Learning how bashofu (banana fiber) kimono are made in Okinawa
74. Paying my respects at Ise Shrine
75. Delighting in the gardens next to Himeji Castle
76. Introducing visitors to the pleasure of kaiten-zushi dining
77. Watching the new panda play at Ueno Zoo
78. Having a hanami party under the cherry trees in Shizuoka
79. Admiring the thundering beauty of Shiraito Falls in Kumamoto
80. Scouring the shrines and temples of Nikko for sightings of the three monkeys
81. Enjoying fine French dining with a view of the ocean in Okinawa
82. Walking between the massive snow walls of Tateyama
83. Shopping at futuristic Canal City in Fukuoka
84. Learning to relove pork thanks to Okinawa soba
85. Sensing history at the first US consulate in Shimoda
86. Creating my own ukiyo-e at the Kyoto Traditional Craft Center
87. Successfully getting the key to Asakusa’s “secret” garden, Dembo-in
88. Picking tea in Shizuoka
89. Walking the Philosopher’s Path in Kyoto during cherry blossom season
90. Tasting the goods from Tokyo’s oldest wagashi maker
91. Warming our hands around the irori in Takayama
92. Riding the rattling streetcars of Nagasaki
93. Tasting fresh oysters on Miyajima
94. Spotting the first koi-no-bori (fish kites) for Children’s Day over our local river
95. Climbing the hill to the forested grounds of Kurama-dera
96. Marveling over Kegon Falls near Nikko
97. Attending a yosakoi dance festival in Harajuku
98. Eating entirely too much beni-imo (purple sweet potato) in Okinawa
99. Following the photogenic path of orange torii gates at Fushimi Inari
100. Catching sight of Mt Fuji in the clouds every time I fly over Tokyo

Whew … what a list! Looking back, it’s amazing to see how much I have done in my 4+ years here, and yet sometimes I feel I have barely scratched the surface of this intoxicating country. Well, no time to waste. On to making the next 100 memories!

See something on this list that you want to do too? I can help you make it happen. Check out Uncover Japan for more information on my personalized itineraries.

Do you have a top memory from your time in Japan? Or a suggestion of where I should explore next? Leave a comment – I’d love to hear your thoughts!