Remainder of Japan 2025

 Flew from Osaka to Misawa to visit Oma (a remote area on the Shimokita peninsula), which I was really excited about. However, I was unknowingly carrying a bed bug from my hostel in Tanabe. I always ctrl + F bed bugs in the reviews whenever I book an accommodation but they arrived at this one in Tanabe between when I booked and when I stayed (so lesson learned to check again the day of arrival). I was really stressed about spreading them to my home so I stayed up all night researching solutions. I first inspected every inch of my belongings in the bathroom of my hotel room in Mutsu and Tyler ordered vacuum sealed bags so when I got home we put all of my belongings in bags outside and put them in the freezer below 0 degrees F for 10 days. Scientifically, bed bug eggs, nymphs, and adults cannot survive 4 days of 0 degrees F. I also swabbed my electronics with alcohol and put duct tape over the ports. 

I was going to stay at a minshuku in Oma but didn't want to expose the family to a potential bed bug infestation so I stayed another night in Mutsu and then went to Aomori a day early. Went to the Aomori city library to do some work but apparently they don't have WiFi so I just read on my kindle for a bit and then went to my hotel because I wasn't feeling well.

I went to stay at Sukayu Onsen Ryokan up in the mountains near Aomori (huge snowbanks along the road up). It was a winter wonderland up there, which made for a neat experience. I did some work on a common room before checking into my traditional tatami style room. I visited the women-only onsens and the mixed gender bath during the women only hour. I also ate an amazing and extensive dinner and breakfast before heading back down to Aomori and taking the Shinkansen to Tokyo.


After my stay in the onsen ryokan near Aomori (see post) I spent a day in Tokyo awaiting my flight back to the US. I visited Tyler and I’s favorite ramen shop from last summer and did some shopping for ceramics on Kappabashi street


I very rarely buy things on my trips (and I’m not big on buying/having a lot of things in general) but I had extra room to carry things on the plane since I was flying American and I had been wanting some Japanese ceramics for awhile. I realized I forgot to take a pic of everything before I packed it all up and moved so I will have to show everything at a later date (I found a perfect teapot that I am still excited about)


I also went back to our favorite (affordable) sushi restaurant and met some kind locals who talked to me through a translator and tried to pay for my meal and gave me some snacks (another reason to say you are from Canada if you’re from the US)


Took an overnight flight back to the US and then flew standby on Southwest (don’t even get me started on how angry I am abt them changing their cancellation flexibility and standby policies)









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