Only in Japan: Top Ten Extreme Experiences I had this Week - September 2017

I'm in love with Japan. From the tranquil gardens and artistic sashimi plates, to the bullet trains and beer vending machines, it's a land where imagination flows freely.

This week my sister and I set out on the ultimate adventure to take part in as many only-in-Japan experiences as possible. Whether you'd describe them as wild, cute, silly or bizarre, here's the list of our ten most unforgettable escapades.

1.) Cuddling a hedgehog, locking eyes with an owl and drinking pink milk with a maid. Themed cafés are all the rage in Japan right now. The lucrative sub-culture made its debut more than a decade ago with its first cat café in Tokyo; now there are 57 additional establishments where you can sip your coffee while petting a furry feline, along with others themed with bunnies, penguins and snakes. We visited hedgehog, Bengal cat and owl cafés which each provided the opportunity to interact with the animals and take photographs. We also grabbed a pink-colored milk drink at a maid café, @Home World, where the staff dressed in costume, talked with us at our table and performed on stage.

2.) Fishing for Lunch. Why just order lunch when you can catch it yourself? At Zauo Fishing Restaurant you eat what you hook and can have it prepared the way you like. During my fishing expedition I had my sights set on a mackerel that would run me about 9,800 yen, or about $10 dollars, unfortunately the seas were angry that day and I hooked a rather large sea bream setting me back nearly $75 dollars. Luckily my sister helped enjoy the catch which we had prepared half tempura and half sashimi style.

3.) Dining with Ninjas. Hidden down a dark alley, Ninja Akasaka restaurant provided the ultimate themed fine dining experience. We were greeted at the door by a masked ninja who took us to our own dimly-lit, bamboo-walled room with a traditional Japanese table and floor cushion seating. While various menu options are available, I went with the "All Black" set menu and was treated to eight courses of sublime, black-colored cuisine. The highlights included black soup with black dough shrimp dumplings, chicken cutlet with black panko crumbs and for dessert a custard covered in black berry syrup and garnished with black beans. Aside from preparing much of our meal tableside, the ninjas performed an incredible magic show in our room.

4.) Bidding at the Largest Tuna Auction in the World. We weren't involved in the actual bidding, but we were onsite by 2:30 a.m. to watch the flurry of locals survey and attempt to procure massive quantities of tuna at Tsukiji Market, the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. The auction began with the ringing of a bell and was an intense display of yelling and rapid fire hand gesturing. By 6 a.m. it was over and we needed to artfully dodge motorized carts, wheel barrels and forklifts to escape. For a full post on the Tsukiji tuna auction click here.

5.) Renting a Puppy. In Japanese cities, real estate is pricy and limited; most people can't afford to own pets especially those that require outdoor space. Enter the rent-a-dog business. At Dog Heart beagles, poodles and golden retrievers are available to rent so that people can take them on walks to a nearby park or stay inside and play. The day we attempted to walk a rented dog it was raining so unfortunately the puppies couldn't come outside to play but we patted a couple and took a few doggie business cards for next time.

6.) Sleeping Overnight in a Space Capsule. Never have I been so excited to stay at a one-star hotel than after booking at the 9 Hours capsule hotel. Referred to as a human recharging station, this minimalistic accommodation has a futuristic design that includes 43 inch wide by 43 inch tall sleeping pods and lockers accessible by QR code. While the bed was hard and temperature warm, the capsule met expectations and provided for a solid night's rest.

7.) Cheering on Warring Robots. No visit to Tokyo would be complete without taking in a night show at the  Kabukicho Robot Restaurant. An hour and a half of warring robots, psychedelic monsters, animated dancers and blinding lasers will have you questioning if someone slipped something into your beer and which way is up. While we didn't run into many locals, the show was surreal and we left with our heads spinning.

8.) Bathing in Coffee and Swimming in Red Wine. A two-hour train ride from Tokyo transported us to the mountainous town of Hakone within the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. The park is popular with locals for its hot springs resorts (onsens) and is home to the world-famous Yunessun Spa. During our afternoon at Yunessun we indulged ourselves in hot spring baths mixed with coffee, red wine, green tea and sake. Aside from the overwhelming aroma, the coffee pool was our favorite and left our skin feeling especially soft. Read more about our visit to the spa and Hakone area by clicking here.

9.) Playing Pachinko in a Retro Arcade. While gambling is illegal in Japan, there's always a way to beat the system. Pachinko is the nation's alternative to slot machines where players win prizes - some of which can be "sold" at neighboring establishments for cash. Pachinko is similar to pinball in that it involves the pressing and releasing of spring-loaded levers to launch metal balls into targeted slots. I didn't win any prizes this time but may try my luck again at one of the many noisy, fluorescent-lit pachinko parlors found on nearly every city street corner.

10.) Bumping Bellies at Sumo Practice. Our last morning in Tokyo, my sister and I wanted to experience something a bit more "traditional Japan." There weren't any sumo tournaments scheduled but we managed to get in on an early morning sumo practice at a local stable. Along with only a few others, we watched as the wrestlers hit each other to allow evil spirits to leave their bodies, and also as they stretched, trained and took part in mock matches. While action-packed, observing the ritualistic chanting and repetitious maneuvers felt strangely meditative. We also learned about the life of sumo wrestlers and some of the sport terminology which you can read by clicking on this link.

While we were together in Japan for less than a week, the time my sister and I spent there was intense cultural immersion. We each now have a greater appreciation for the Japanese people and the extreme interests which truly make them unique.