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I'll echo what Kelly Marcum said. My wife and I had a blast in Kyoto.
My one suggestion: Do it on Bicycle! There are several places close to the Station where you can rent a bicycle for the day at pretty affordable rates.
For example:
http://www.kctp.net/en/
My wife and I did a lot on our 10 day trip, but riding in the rain with an umbrella tops her list of memorable moments ;)
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After reading Nielson Choro's comments, I had to add my own. I transferred to Shibetsu in March of 1977 as a new Senior companion - perhaps I replaced Nielson Choro - I don't know. Shibetsu was perhaps the smallest area in the mission at that time and we felt like we knocked on every door in the town and the surrounding countryside. Brown choro and I composed a door to door song based on the Elvis hit "In the Ghetto" with words about Dendoing "In the Apatos". We lived above the old store on the second floor and had church meetings in the living area with 6-8 members in attendance - and the missionaries spoke every week. The ZL's were our roommates, and the senior ZL was the Branch President. It seemed all the members worked at the sugarbeet factory. Memories of Shibetsu: Baptisms at the Ofuro just around the corner from the church, the chopstick factory out by the ski lift, the baptism of Akagi Shimai (moved to the south) and her friend, Matamura Shimai who I would love to locate (still active to the best of my knowledge), and the race between Schulz Choro (who was the WAC 880 champion at the time) and some hotshot Japanese Jr. Olympic training team champion who was training in Shibetsu. Schulz blew him away! Let me add one other memory. My Comp and I were coming home late one night and came to a RR crossing where we discovered a pair of shoes and a bag of groceries sitting neatly on the ground in the snow by the crossing with no one in sight. When someone else came along with a flashlight, we got our first introduction to suicide Japanese style. It was not a pretty scene to be exposed to.
Almost 30 years later, it is so gratifying to see that those missionary efforts we all made collectively over the years have proven fruitful in Shibetsu.
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In Kyoto there are many many sights to see. My favorites are Kiyomizudera, Sanjusangendo, Riyoanji, Kinkakuji and Gion. Kiyomizudera is a huge temple complex at the top of a hill. You can easily spend half to a full day here. From the top of the hill you can follow a path called the "Philosopher's Walk". Your family would get a good feel of old Japan and see some good souvenier shops. Sanjusangendo has over 1000 different statues of Buddha. Riyoanji is the famous meditation gardens with the raked sand and a few rocks. Kinkakuji is the two story gold plated "summer residence". And Gion is the old geisha district. Don't let that scare you it is upscale and not a red light district. I go to Kyoto on business and stay in the Granvia hotel at the main train station (great location) but it can be expensive.
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I was excited to hear about the new church building in Shibetsu.
A long time ago, November 1976 to be exact, I was transferred from Hakodate to Shibetsu. The transfer took all day and I finally arrived in Shibetsu on a Sunday morning at 3:00 a.m. When the train stopped at the Shibetsu Eki, I was asleep and didn’t realize the train had stopped. When the train started moving again, I felt a jerk and opened my eyes just in time to see the name “Shibetsu” on a pole outside the window. As quickly as I could, I grabbed my things and jumped from the train onto the last 5 feet of the unloading dock.
It was dark and cold outside of the eki, and the steady rain was beginning to turn to sleet. I went inside the eki expecting to see the elders waiting for me but no one was there. After waiting inside the eki for about 30 minutes, the man in charge, which was the only other person there, told me I would need to leave. I explained my situation to him but he insisted.
So, I waited on a bench just outside the eki for the elders to come. The air was humid and cold, and for the first time I began wondering how I was going to survive. A short while later, I offered a prayer that I could find the missionaries. As I sat there shivering and wondering what to do, I noticed the headlights from a distant car coming towards me. The car eventually came to a stop in front of the eki, and a man rolled the window down and asked me if I needed some help. I explained I was a Mormon missionary and was trying to find some other missionaries in the area. The man asked his daughter, who was a passenger in the car, if she knew of the Mormon missionaries. Neither had heard of the church before.
As I described what the missionaries looked like and the type of bikes they rode, the daughter said she remembered seeing some gaijins on funny old bikes, and thought they lived above a store in the downtown area. With that discovery, they invited me into their car to get out of the storm and stay warm. Shortly afterwards, they drove me to the downtown area and there we spotted what had to be the bikes of the missionaries. I unloaded all my things and thanked them. I told them I would probably see them around.
After waking up the missionaries at 4:00 a.m., I was able to get a couple hours of sleep. The elders told me they didn’t know what time I was arriving, so they planned on checking at the eki in the morning.
Now, what does all this have to do with the church in Shibetsu? Well, 30 years ago, church meetings were held in the missionaries’ apartment. After putting things away, the missionaries would set up a small table for the sacrament, and place a small podium on the edge of the table for conducting and speaking. We set up 10 chairs for church that morning. We had 7 members attend and 2 investigators. During my time in Shibetsu, we contacted most of the people but there were no baptisms. So, to see the church has grown from 7 active members meeting in the missionaries’ apartment…to hearing the number of the members finally required a larger building…to finally having the church build them a building, well, this is wonderful and marvelous in my eyes. It’s nice to hear the seeds we planted finally sprouted.
As for the man and his daughter that helped me find the missionaries when I first arrived in Shibetsu…I never saw them again. There are no doubts that Heavenly Father answers prayers and watches over his missionaries.
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I had the opportunity to visit with Kikuchi Choro in the Church Office Buildings over the weekend. I asked about the reduction in missionaries serving in Hokkaido and he responded that due to efforts to baptize more people in other parts of the world (where more people are accepting the gospel) they have reduced the numbers in Asia, Europe, and other areas with low numbers.
The sad news is however, countered by good news: the missionaries serving are getting the same numbers of converts as before, they are building more wardhouses in Hokkaido and Hokkaido has the highest percentage increase in converts.
The work is moving forward and Hokkaido is an integral part of it!
Eric Snow
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For the Christmas Taikai in '97, Elders LaVioe and I sang a redition of Richard Marx' hit "Right Here Waiting for You" with Elder Morris playing the music on piano. Here's how it went:
Kinjos apart, day after day
As we slowly kneel to pray.
I read the scriptures, I know God's words,
Yet I know there's something more.
In order to live together,
We must endure for ever.
Where ever you go, no matter with who
There are some kinjins waiting for you.
What ever it takes, what ever bone breaks
We will keep nesshin searching for you.
We had Keikakukai, we have a plan,
Don't know if they're woman or man.
(Piano solo--we forgot to finish this stanza)
Know matter the hours it takes,
We'll sacrifice our meal breaks.
Where ever you go, no matter with who
There are some kinjins waiting for you.
What ever it takes, what ever bone breaks
We will keep nesshin searching for you.
We followed the Spirit to open special house,
And we knocked upon on the door.
The person within, invited us in
Because they wanted to hear more.
No matter how hen it seems,
Anyone can be kinjin!
Where ever you go, no matter with who
There are some kinjins waiting for you.
What ever it takes, what ever bone breaks
We will keep nesshin searching for you.
(Elder Morris and Elder LaVioe, do you guys remember this? Remember the late night recording session as we tried to figure out the words to the song? Good times!!)
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I don't know those two, but how about this one. To the tune of the Monkee's theme:
Here we come,
Walkin down the street.
Get the funniest looks from
Everyone we meet!
(Chorus)
Hey, hey we're senkyoushi!
And people say we're gokuro-san,
But they're to busy to listen,
So we just have to move on.
We're just tryin to be friendly,
And do our best everyday.
Cause the Lord has called us to serve him.
So we've got something to say.
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I served in Shibetsu twice: once as a bean missionary for two transfers and once more for my last transfer on my mission. So I was born and died in Shibetsu. While there Elder Kikuchi of the Seventy came and visited the branch in July of 2004. The building was packed with every member and several from Asahikawa.
My second round in Shibetsu was very natsukashii, since the town didn't really change much in virtually two years. (Well, Sun Value turned into a Big House) The building had the same smell to it and was the only church building that you had to take your shoes off in. Yet, sacrament was packed every week. On my last Sunday there it was Ward Conference and a baptism, probably the last baptism in that building with the build-it-yourself font.
I had many fond memories of that church building. It is sad to see it go. But I'm grateful for the new building and to see the branch continue to grow. I can't wait to go back and visit the new building ASAP.
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I'm looking for the lyrics to redone songs about the mission. For example, "The Sound of Kekkos" (The Sound of Silence) and "Apato Wakkanai" (Hotel California)
I'm specifically looking for Apato Wakkanai, but any others would be great to collect as well.
I still remember the Sound of Kekkos, if any one is interested here are the lyrics:
Hello danshi my old friend,
I'm here to kobetsu you again.
Between the koen and the 7-11,
We came here cause it was rainin'.
And the echos still ringing in my brain,
Still remain,
It is the sound, of Kekkos.
Now we're here in Nemuro,
we've got no danshis and it's cold.
Looked out the window the bay is frozen.
That's why they call us the Frozen Chosen.
And the people are really, really nice,
But the ice,
and the sound of kekkos.
The sound of kekkos.
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I can't believe the building across the street from the senkyoushi no apato is gone now and a new one is up. I was in Shibetsu back in 97 and the building there was not bad. Needed work but I am happy they finally got what they deserve in a building. May the Lord bless the members there.
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Also, I swung through the Hombu, and it has not changed at all. The number of missionarries have been cut down drastically since I was there, though. They're down to about 80 for the whole island. They no longer have missionarries in Shibetsu, Wakkanai, or Makkomanai.
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I just got back from a visit to Hokkaido for a week, and thought any who served in Shibetsu might like to know that the old green roofed church has been torn down and replaced by a very official-looking church within the last year.
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Thanks for all the help so far on places to stay in Japan. I will look into all of them. I recently subscribed to TVJapan at my house. It is so great to hear the language whenever I need to. You can only get it with Dish in the US.
Ron Schindler 1980-1982
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To find the best deals on Hotels in Japan, you'll need someone who can read Japanese. You'll find the best deals online and typically only on Japanese websites. Looking at english-only sites significantly reduces the options that are available to you and I found that they were typcially higher priced.
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When you stay in Japan, you can stay at "shukubo"(zen buddhist temple lodging), too.
I heard that Honganji Monbou Kaikan in Kyoto is very good.
Honganji Monbou Kaikan
TEL: 075-342-1122
Location: 15min walk from Kyoto station, 3min. walk from bus stop "Nishi-Honganji mae"
Their parking lot is big (can park 200 cars)
Check in: 15:00
Check out: 10:00
6300yen per night
7350yen per night w/breakfast
one night w/2 meals 9450yen - 11550yen
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From Paul Oman (Kenji's Dad)
Try staying in youth hostils. There is no age limitation. You can get a membership in the US before you go and can make prior reservatations for your stay. Also look for discount air fares to Japan possibly from American Airlines next Spring for the summer. If you leave the US in May it could save you some $ on airfare. You can also travel on a JR railpass that you can buy before you leave the US.
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Next July, my family and I (4 people) will be visiting Japan. I would like to stay in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hokkaido. The hotels have been so expensive so I am looking for help finding lodging. Does anyone have any suggestions? Also, things to see in Kyoto?
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Does anyone know the dates of the Tokyo Temple closing for next year? The dates on the church website are for this year. I am most likely coming back to work in the Temple and would like to make plans now.
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Dear Former Sapporo Japan Missionaries:
Sister Hansen and I would like to invite you to join us for an evening in a walk down memory lane. We are going to be in Utah for General Conference next week and are going to be at the Lakeside Third Ward Chapel in Provo on Friday evening, September 29. [See directions below.] We will arrive around 6:30pm at the church and stay as long as there are people around to talk to. We invite you, and any spouse or special friend you might have, to join us and participate in whatever festivities we can muster amongst ourselves. There will be no planned program - no speeches or formal introductions - but we can interact and talk with each other, renew old acquaintances or companionships, talk about prospective plans and situations, and generally just enjoy an evening together. If you are able to make it, please plan on dropping by during the evening. We would love to see you.
And for those of you who may not be able to make it, a bit of news. After over a year of being back in the States, things are as "normal" as they ever were for Cindy and me. Our two older children have both married and are doing very well. Amy is a sophomore at BYU in Provo (a big reason we are going to Utah for conference - you being another important reason) and enjoying life away from her parents. Cindy is teaching early morning seminary again and seems to be enjoying it, though the year is just starting (we'll see how it is again in the spring). I am busy working and traveling way too much again. I am enjoying my calling on the high council and getting to meet frequently with the quality leaders in our stake. We have settled into our new home and really seem to be enjoying life. In fact, one might think that things are going too well and that the "calm before the storm" is upon us. Nevertheless, we feel the richest blessings in life have been abundantly poured upon us, for which we give daily thanks to our Heavenly Father. We became grandparents earlier this year, and yes, it is as good as everyone said it was. Being a grandparent is the reward for all those years of raising our children and putting up with all their antics and whatnots. You should see Cindy around her grandson - she is as proud and happy as one can possibly be. And because Dane and his wife Ashleigh are now in Oregon attending law school, we can see the little one far more often than before (though certainly not enough for Sister Hansen).
We certainly hope and pray that all is well in your life. We miss our associations with you wonderful men and women. We treasure our experience and the opportunity to know and be with you as one of our most cherished memories. In all reality, you are as our own children, and we love you all.
Our email address list is incomplete and out of date. Please forward this letter to any of our former missionaries whose address you know, with a copy to me so that I can add you to our list. Thank you for your help and we look forward to seeing many of you next week.
Directions to the reunion location: The church address is 2400 W. 50 N. Go west (from downtown Provo) on Center St. until you come to 2400 W. The church will be on your right, just north of Center. (It is west of the freeway and past Geneva Rd. etc. If you run into Utah Lake, you've gone too far.)
Love,
Dick (fka President) and Cindy (fka Sister) Hansen
______________________
hello, all!
this is the former sister johnson with one addition to
president hansen's letter about the reunion. we are
planning to make it a potluck, so please bring along
your favorite dish, and spread the word (about the
reunion and the potluck). thanks!
if you have any questions about location, directions
or other reunion-related inquiries, please feel free
to call me at (303) 249-1938.
excited to see you all!
frances (johnson shimai)
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I wanted to make all aware of some positions I have available for bilingual Japanese/English speakers. These are work-from-home positions, and are during a graveyard shift. I can accommodate either a full-time or part-time schedule and pay is negotiable. Position can be located in SLC or Orem, UT, or in New Mexico, North Carolina, or Wyoming.
Native fluency is a requirement, but second-language candidates will be considered if they can demonstrate a high-level of language proficiency.
If anyone knows someone who is interested, please have them contact me via email at joseph_alexander@sento.com for more information.
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