Finale to a fabulous 5.

Kind of unintentionally - but this post will be the final entry of this blog. As I write this, I've completed an incredible, unforgettable 5 years working and living in Chiba Prefecture - and I've returned to my home country of the U.S.

I just wanted to share shots from my hectic last few weeks in Chiba (and Japan) - but the little joys within them that make me want to go visit again as soon as I can.

Boxes, boxes, and more boxes.

Yep. This is my car trunk (with the rear seats folded down) loaded up with stuff to ship back home. Thankfully, the people at the post office in Chibaminato were incredibly helpful - not to mention it's one of only three post offices in the prefecture were you can send out books, etc. for a slightly discounted rate! (The other two locations are in Narashino and Narita Airport.)

I wound up spending over $700 on shipping...yikes, moving really is no joke.

Love these handwritten messages at Starbucks! So sweet.

Towards the end of my time in Japan, busyness escalated so much that between moving, work, and catching up with friends - the only free "times" I had was early morning. This photo is from when I met up with a friend at 6:30am because that was the only time our schedules were open (she was moving back to the US too, and running a schedule probably even worse than mine).

More early morning pick-ups.

For the last 2 months, I was probably averaging 2-3 hours of sleep per night. Towards the end, I was terrified I might get into a car accident or something - like this morning, when I had to leave Kamogawa at 6am to get back to Chiba City for more appointments. This taco meat sandwich was absolutely epic...and the 10 minutes of shut-eye I got really helped!

Dinner in Kamogawa - one of my all-time favorites: kinmedai no nitsuke (golden eye snapper boiled in Japanese seasonings)

When will I see you again...? Kamogawa's lovely Maebara Beach.

In between all the running around too though, I got to spend some quality time with friends - and even managed to actually do a lot of those plans we'd talked about but never gotten around to doing.

Seriously one of the coolest hotels ever...and for such a steal!

One such instance was going to Tokyo Disney Sea with a bunch of friends from work...and then staying at the Brighton Hotel in Shinurayasu, just one station away from Maihama (where the Tokyo Disney Resort is located).

There were 5 of us - so we stayed in the loft room - gorgeous, with a fantastic view, right next to the station...and super spacious! Ugh I wish I could live there.

Best of all, it was only 5,000 yen per person for the night...including breakfast! This is unthinkable considering the class of the hotel. You'll pay a minimum 7,000 yen per night for a cramped room in a business hotel around this area - and perhaps more if you try to add breakfast. On a final note - their breakfast had a huge variety of food and drink to choose from - we definitely got a great deal on this one.

I will definitely want to stay at the Brighton again.

Happy 30th anniversary!

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Disney Resort! So just two days after I went to Disney Sea, I also went to Disney Land...the day ended in crazy rain, but we had a fantastic time nonethelss :)

But perhaps no place is better than a place you can call "home."

But I must say...one of the most touching experiences was a friend allowing me to stay with her for my last week in Japan. Not only have I never done a proper homestay lasting for more than 1 night - it was so kind of her to let me into her home and stay with her family. Pictured above is from our temaki (hand-wrapped sushi) party on my last night...unbelievable to many, but my first time doing such a thing! (Just realized I took the photo before the main fillings and seaweed actually were added to the table though, whoops.) I'd love to try it over here in the States.

I know this is a super jumbled post - but my 5 years in Chiba were such a hodgepodge of experiences, I don't think I can possibly present it in an organized way while giving it due justice.

So to try to sum things up...

...thank you for an incredible five years!!

A rest stop for foodies.

I like to drive. A lot. So even though driving is technically unnecessary for me now that I live in the city, I still do it anyway because I love the freedom it offers. Particularly, the freedom to go to my beloved Kamogawa in southern Chiba whenever I want (times for public transportation to the countryside can make travel to these areas kinda inconvenient).

For almost a whole year, most of Ichihara SA (Service Area), one of my favorite places to stop at on the way back to Chiba, was blocked off for renovation.

Happy posters covered the walls erected around the construction areas.

But then, finally the time for me to visit the spanking new service area came!!! I wish I had before pictures - it wasn't...bad before, but it did feel kinda old before.

And so...a photo tour of the reborn Ichihara Service Area!

All nice, new, and pretty now!

I love the colors they chose - so soothing...and the logo is simple but adorable!

Stroll in, and you'll find yourself in a spacious wonderland of vending machines, packaged souvenir goodies, and further in - a food court of yummies for the hungry traveler!

(not so pictured to the left) row of vending machines, (right) convenience store slash souvenir shop,
(straight ahead) more fun!

I haven't had the chance to eat here yet, but it looks like they've got a couple chain restaurants in here (Lotteria and Wired Cafe), but also a place that has food made from locally produced veggies and the like!

What I did get...freshly baked goodness.

In the front is a mini pizza covered in Chiba-grown vegetables, left is a cheese danish, and the back was some mass of bready deliciousness.

If only rest stops back in the U.S. were as nice as this!

Hijiki chicken burger?!

What's this?! The package reads that this burger can only be purchased at this store.

Yes...a hijiki chicken burger!

I have this obsession for 限定 or "limited edition" stuff, particularly when it comes to foods. And Japan has this everywhere! Season-limited foods, region-limited foods, you name it. When I came upon this bad boy, I just knew I had to try it.

See the black things poking out of the top of the lettuce? There's your hijiki :)

This burger can only purchased at the Lotteria inside Ichihara Service Area (市原SA(下り)), located along the Tateyama Expressway headed south towards Kisarazu/Tateyama/Kamogawa, etc. It was pretty good - I had it when my parents were visiting, and I think my dad enjoyed it so much he actually ate most of it.

Next time you've got plans to head down to southern Chiba by car, don't forget to save space in your stomach for the hijiki chicken burger!