So we’re going in March for Hanami (end of March, early April is supposed to be prime Cherry Blossom blooming in Kanto and Kansai), and my mother really wants to do some stuff in Yokohama. She wants to see the bay, go to the Gundam Factory before it closes for good at the end of March, and also see the cup noodle museum. I’m wondering if that can all be done in one day without rushing? One of the two places in the morning, have lunch at the bay, do the other place in the evening? Is the Gundam still doing motions and stuff and is it doing so at night all lit up? I don’t want to be rushed but I also don’t want to book a hotel in Yokohama and stay 3 days there if we can make a day-trip from Tokyo for all this!
Secondly, the major thing I want to do is visit an Inari Shrine and have some questions answered. A lot of things came up when I did my senior paper for my degree in Asian Studies. I did it on Kitsune and their popular media interpretations, studying the mythology that they came from to see what influences are being used to make modern depictions. It was mostly an excuse for me to talk about my favorite youkai in all of Japanese lore, but what I found intrigued me and I want to know more. I know foxes are Inari’s messengers, and I’ve read about the different levels like Kiko, Tenko, and Kuuko. I have more…scholarly questions about mythology though, like what the whole thing with the Kitsune’s “Star Orb” is. I don’t speak fluent Japanese though, so it would be nice to have someone to talk with who knows some English and we can meet half-way, language-wise. I’m not sure where to go or who to ask. I’ve already spoken with my university but they’re quite busy at winter break and such right now. There is a professor who might be able to help, but in case he doesn’t reply or doesn’t have a contact, I figured I’d ask here.