HeadStart 2012: Kinga Shinnen!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
It was January 1, 2012.

I woke up with renewed self for the coming year but I still could not understand my feelings. It was New Year. It was already 2012. But I'm not with my biological family. I'm with my foster family. I was not in my dormitory. I was not in South Korea, where I study for a year. I was not either in the Philippines. I was in a different place. I was in a house. I was in Inasatomachi. I was in Nagano City. I was in the Land of the Rising Sun when the sun first rose on 2012 or Hatsuhinode (the first sunrise of the year).. Yes, I was in Japan! I was wondering whether it was a dream or reality? Then.. It was definitely a reality!

Yes, it's really Japan

Japanese Custom: New Year's Day Postcards
I went down from "my room" (I call it my room because it's a spare room I used during my visit so I own it. hahaha) to the living room to greet everyone 'A Happy New Year!' And in return, they gave me New Year post card. My foster mom prepared it around 3am, when we arrived from our long-tiring transit (I will post about this soon).

My New Year Gift

My Happy New Year 2012 Postcard

They received hundreds of postcards and even the children received their own postcards from their classmates, friends, relatives or their own acquaintances. The Japanese have a very special custom of sending New Year's Day postcards to their friends and relatives (Nengajo / 年賀状).

Some of my foster family's New Year postcards

Unlike any other New Year's Day, we had a very special brunch (Yes, because we woke up almost 12nn already). I actually forgot the name. So I will just show some pictures of the food. hahaha.

Meal Box 1

Meal Box 2

Meal Box 3

In the afternoon, we visited a Catholic Church. Unlike in the Philippines where there are a lot of Masses celebrated on special days like New Year, there were only two Masses for the New Year (December 31 evening: I was on transit & January 1 morning: I was dead tired sleeping). Nevertheless, I was able to pray for sometime in the beautiful Catholic Church of Nagano. By the way, they have a lot of filipino parishioners, from the photos I saw.

Nagano Catholic Church

Zenkoji Temple: The 1st Buddhist Statue brought in Japan:
After my simple request but very important request, we head to Zenkoji Temple, one of the biggest and most popular temple in Japan established in 1897, even before Buddhism in Japan was split into different groups. This temple is said to home the 1st Buddhist Status that was brought in Japan called hibutsu (secret Buddha).

Zenkoji Main Temple

At the exit of the Main Temple

This is the main entrance area of the temple. Because we actually passed by the side entrance since there were so many people coming to the temple and it's difficult to get our way to the main entrance.

Zenkoji Temple Main Entrance

Temple Guards

And since it was New Year, hundreds of people flocked in the temple and pay a visit to Buddha. Look at the people!

Hundreds of people visiting the temple

I also get the chance to have a 'lucky pick' on what's my fate for this year. And guess what? It says that it would be fruitful. Hooray! So I tied it in the temple for it to be realized. Haha!

My Lucky Pick

Other New Year wishes

We also walked around the temple grounds. We reached to the street foods and different souvenir shops around the temple.

Zenkoji Temple Grounds

Shops: Look for Mai. haha!

Sushi Restaurant:

It was New Year so we had another special meal: Sushi Restaurant. There were so many tables in the restaurants with the usual Sushi conveyor and just get your picks.

The entire Sushi Restaurant

For individual customers

But, there is something unique! There is a specialized mini-shinkansen-trains that would deliver special Sushis you ordered.

Look for the mini-shinkansen-train.

Sushi Menu

Sushi Conveyor

Before we attacked the sushis, we had some photos first and thinking which sushi to eat first. There are so many delicious sushis to choose from :O

Before Eating

What should I eat?

In the end, we finished more than 50plates of sushis, normal and special sushis combined.

Sushi Plates

Haruto is full. Haha!

Get Some Rest:
Then we head back home to spend time with my foster family. I wrote my name in hiragana - あるびん. Here it is:

I wrote this!

Then we rested because we will be going to the happiest place on earth the following day. It's Where Dreams Come True - Tokyo Disneyland.