Mickey and Kayla Ebenkamp stand with Mount Fuji in the background during a March trip to Tokyo, Japan. The Ebenkamps said the mountain is usually hidden by clouds.
Photo Provided By Mickey Ebenkamp
It probably wasn’t a surprise to Mickey and Kayla Ebenkamp’s family and friends that they traveled to Japan recently. After all, the Ebenkamps have also traveled to Europe, Ireland, Israel and the West Indies, as well as on mission trips to Brazil and Bangladesh.
Mickey’s explanation of Japan as their destination?
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“Because we had never been there,” Mickey said.
The couple flew 10.5 hours non-stop from Dallas to Tokyo, Japan on March 12 and returned on March 28. They crossed the International Dateline, so they lost a day going and gained one as they returned.
The Ebenkamps stayed three days in Tokyo before boarding a Celebrity cruise ship for a 13-night voyage. In Tokyo, they had a guide one day and were on their own the others. They used the rail system and a train map that looked “like an Etch-a-Sketch” with lines everywhere and names written in Japanese. Also, they visited trendy areas, restaurants, shops, a Buddhist temple and a Shinto shrine.
“Every once-in-a-while we looked lost, and someone would help us,” Mickey said.
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The Japanese, especially, enjoyed talking to people that spoke English.
“They would come up and ask, ‘Can we help?'” Kayla said.
Mickey described the visit to the shrine as “weird.”
“No one is allowed to go inside shrines, but visitors of all religions could stand in front of them to pray. They could also write prayers on cards and attach them to a “laundry wire,” according to Mickey.
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“There are very, very few Christians in Japan,” Kayla noted.
The couple saw two Buddhist wedding processions and young girls dressed in kimonos having their pictures taken. Typically, the Japanese don’t wear the traditional kimonos except for celebrations. Those who were dressed in traditional clothes also walked awkwardly because their shoes had flat wooden soles with leather pieces between their toes. They wore socks with those shoes.
Throughout their trip, the Ebenkamps visited places designated as World Heritage sites.
If Mickey had any misconception about Japan, it would be that he thought he would feel uncomfortable there.
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“I kind of felt like we wouldn’t be welcome; I felt it would be difficult,” Mickey said. “However, I would be very comfortable flying over there, renting a car and just driving around the country.”
Although it has a population of 33-41 million people (more than the whole state of Texas), Tokyo is an extremely clean city, according to the Ebenkamps. The Japanese take pride in their country being clean and safe.
“Somebody told me the only thing that happens in Tokyo is you could get your umbrella or bicycle stolen,” Mickey said.
They rarely heard a horn honk and never saw a car wreck because the people are so patient.
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There are no public trash cans because people are expected to dispose of their trash at home. Throwing down one’s drinking cup could result in a fine. When they order take-out food, they are expected to take it home or to sit when they eat. It would be considered impolite to eat or drink while walking.
They said the people are very modest in dress and behavior and are very quiet and respectful.
The couple learned to eat with chopsticks. They also learned that it is acceptable to “slurp your soup (it’s hard to eat soup with chopsticks),” and to belch after a meal (a compliment to the cook). They had no idea what they were eating when they were off the ship.
For example, Kayla thought she had ordered an egg-roll, but instead she received a raw egg to break over her sticky rice.
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One of Kayla’s favorite foods was a Japanese pancake with shrimp, pork, or fish, a fried egg, noodles and sauce on it.
She proudly told her daughter, “I had sushi, and I ate with chopsticks.”
They saw a Starbucks and many 7-11’s. However, the convenience stores do not have gas pumps but just sell convenience food and beverages and have money exchange machines. There was even a 7-11 in their hotel.
Their cruise ship sailed at night and docked each morning at 10 ports. The geography of each island was a little different. Also, some islands were more industrialized while others were more agricultural. Keeping the Japanese culture of cleanliness, “even the ports were clean and organized,” according to Mickey.
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“People that have lost everything and rebuilt approach things differently,” Mickey added. “When you lose it all, you start taking care of it.”
As the ship prepared to leave each port, school children sang or played musical instruments for passengers and then ran along the docks, waving at the passengers.
While they traveled the islands, they saw more Buddhist temples, shogun castles, cherry blossoms, rice paddies, tea fields and Japanese Black cattle (from which Kobe beef comes).
The Ebenkamps visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial where the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on August 6, 1945.
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“That, to me, was gut-wrenching, but I thought it was a good snapshot of the people and the culture because they took something that was really awful and tried to make it so significant that people don’t want to see that again,” Mickey said.
“Also, in the museum, they admitted that they attacked the United States. They wanted to use it as a reminder to maintain peace.”
Kayla said the site was crowded with Japanese parents taking their children there.
Mickey added it has been only 80 years since the bombing, but the Japanese and United States have a very good relationship, and the Japanese have a high regard for the United States.
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“They are probably our closest ally, in my opinion,” Mickey said.
Did Kayla feel uncomfortable, standing where her government had dropped the atomic bomb?
“No one ever looked at me strangely; I never felt uncomfortable or guilty,” Kayla said.
The Ebenkamps don’t bring home many souvenirs from their trips, but they did purchase some tea cups and some green tea.
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Kayla was a little concerned about the green tea leaves making it through customs.
“I hoped they knew it was green teas and not something else,” Kayla said.
The couple have an adventurous spirit when it comes to travel.
“We enjoy the things we don’t know and are uncomfortable with, and we are both learners,” Mickey said. “We like to get lost and then figure it out. So far it’s worked out.”
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They didn’t mind sharing that Mickey is 75 and Kayla is 73.
“That’s why we travel so much now because we know at a point it’s going to stop,” Mickey said.
Would they go back again?
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“In a heartbeat,” Mickey said. “We would go into the interior and get lost. I have no fear of getting lost. Call us if you want to go to Japan and pay our way. We will get you lost.”
AloJapan.com