Sapporo Snow Festival 2013

Today I booked our trip to the Sapporo Snow Festival for February 6-8. We were planning to book in mid-January, but after talking to the IACE travel office on base, we decided to book right away. Their Snow Festival travel package typically sells out in mid-December, according to their agent. You do not have to book a package through the base to go to the Snow Festival, you can book the items on your own, but I like the convenience of having hotel, flight, and tours bundled into one price.

We paid $1800 for our trip. This includes (for two people): airfare, transportation to/from the airport from Yokosuka, transportation from the Sapporo airport to our hotel, transportation from the hotel to the Snow Festival, hotel stay for all nights, all you can eat/drink at the Sapporo Beer Garden on the first night, and two breakfasts.Not a bad price when you consider booking each item individually would probably not save much.

The Sapporo Snow Festival happens in Sapporo on the island of Hokkaido. It's about a two hour flight from Tokoyo. Hokkaido is the northernmost island in Japan. During the Snow Festival, various groups carve designs out of snow and ice.

We are very excited to go and I can't wait to share the trip on my blog.

Here's a youtube video that explains the Snow Festival nicely:

Off-base or on-base? After 2 years, I revisit the issue.

This post if for the people who read my blog that are coming to Yokosuka in the future. In the past two (almost) years I have been here, my husband and I have been asked numerous time to help people move from off-base housing to on-base housing. Quite frankly, if people had made a more informed decision before they chose their housing they wouldn't have to dig into their pockets to make yet another move. It's not really their fault as I think people arrive in Japan and make a housing decision without knowing (or understanding) the facts.

I think too many people feel that they can't get the full Japanese experience if they live on-base and that's simply not true. Living on-base is easier for people who have children, but off-base may be more ideal for a couple without kids.

In Yokosuka, there are two options for housing. Off-base means the house is "in town", not located on the American base. On-base means the house is on the base, many people prefer to live on Yokosuka, the main base.

Please consider the following before committing to a house:

Fact:

1. It can be hard to find a Japanese home that will accommodate a large dog. Most Japanese homes do not have yards and landlords do not like to rent to people with large dogs. That being said, I do know people that have two large dogs and were able to find a place to live outside the American base. The townhouses on-base (or in a satellite housing area) have large-ish yards. If you have a small dog, finding housing off-base should not be a problem.

2. The commute is NOT the same as in the US. One of the largest traps people fall into is thinking, "Oh, my house is only 15 miles from base, easy drive." In the US it's an easy drive because we have interstates and ways to bypass the stoplights and local roads. Not so in Japan. The roads are narrow and get clogged with traffic during peak times. There is a toll road that helps bypass the residential areas, but it cost money and that money adds up. I think the main reason people choose to move to the main base is the commute is too much for them to deal with daily.

3. Your kids will have activities on the base, all day. Every day. If the commute is long and frustrating, think about driving it every day, multiple times. Your kids' friends and activities will probably all be on the main base. If you're the adventurous type who doesn't mind the driving, it shouldn't be a problem. However, if you lived on the base, your kid could probably walk to any activity without your help.

4. Base is close to the hospital. This is especially important for people with infants. Japan does have emergency services, but due to narrow roads and traffic it may take longer for an ambulance to reach your home. Also, you'll be transported to a Japanese hospital where you won't know the language or anything about their medical system. I think this, combined with the commute is a reason a lot of people with children choose to move onto the main base after living out in town.

5. A second move will be done on your dime. The military will only pay for you to move once. Should you decided to move again, you have to pay for the move or recruit friends to help you pack your things.

There's my advice. I have had a wonderful experience living out in town, but I am about five minutes away from the main base gate (less than a mile). Also, I don't have children, so I don't need to be tied to the base so directly as parents might. I know people who live on base who have amazing Japan adventures and definitely soak up the culture, so living on-base does not mean you will not get to experience Japan. The experience is what you make of it. If you prefer a mix of the two (away from the main base, but still near American facilities) there is two satellite housing areas: Ikego and Negishi.

I think the best thing to do is talk to people already living here about their experience. Know your needs. If your kid likes to be involved in all the clubs or you like to be especially social, then on-base may be right for you. If you prefer the quiet of the suburbs, like driving in Japan, and don't need to be on base ever single day, then out in town may be right for you.

WHEW!

Sorry for my short hiatus. I went back home to visit my family in October and had a wonderful time. Then, since I've been back to Japan it's been non-stop activity. I'll be done with my Japanese language classes in December then I won't have to take another class again until March (thank goodness!) it'll feel good to take a break from the constant demands of school. Since I do my school online, it makes it hard to want to sign into the computer for blog writing.

Other than that, life has been pretty routine. Although it takes longer to develop a routine living in Japan, it definitely happens and life rolls forward. You don't notice anymore that you're driving on the "wrong" side of the road or that all the signs are in Japanese. You don't run out to the 7-11 to try interesting Japanese foods because to be honest, you've tried them all. Shopping in a Japanese store isn't a novelty, you start to realize they have things you can use that you can't find on the American base (such a decently bound index cards). You consider it a good day when you see it's 300 yen for a plate of yakitori and a side of rice at the corner store.

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is every day is the same and it's a good thing because it's good to have routine. As of now, we have a little over a year left in Japan. In this upcoming year, we have a lot of travel planned as we try to hit the spots we still haven't seen, like Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Hakone, etc.

Yesterday, John and I went to a Travel Fair on base. There were tons of hotels, travel agencies, and cities represented. They had a lot of tourist information (and free stuff!). The free stuff in Japan is amazing. Sometimes it's a pen, but we also scored a coffee table photo book, two coffee tumblers, a dish cloth, tons of gorgeous postcards, candy, and cookies. We also picked up a lot of information about travelling around Japan, and think we may try to drive somewhere for Thanksgiving.

Well, that's all for now, sorry so boring, but hey, life can't be excitement 24/7, otherwise I'd be broke!