It’s been a week since I made any updates. Time to wrap this Japan business up. I’ve been back for a week, slowly re-adjusting to work and sleeping in my bed.

Here is something I wrote on the last day before taking the train to the airport:

“I’m early for my next train by about 40 minutes. Soon this adventure will be over. It all feel kind of surreal. Staying in Shinjuku was probably a bad move, but at least Harajuku turned out okay. I had an opportunity to meet an old-school graffiti artist, but there simply was not enough time. There is something on in about 5 months time, I plan on saving for another trip to an arts festival.

“It’s kind of sad that I am leaving Tokyo and Japan. I was just getting used to the place. I was used to watching television, dumbly, instead of feeling dumb for watching it. I will miss sumo matches and vending machines and toy stores and fast food that isn’t soaked in grease. I will miss big eyes and porcelain-pale skin. I’ll miss the beer and shochu. I’ll miss the courtesy and patients and decent manners. And I’ll miss the people I have met along the way. It’ll be weird getting back through that front door and going back to work. I’ll feel like I was never here or there.”

While I did originally intend for separate write-ups about the food, graffiti and vending machines, it’s not going to happen. I had to much of a holiday. Otherwise, enjoy the final photos from Japan for now. (Note the last one is not totally SFW)