Lapia Mall

I have wanted a dog my entire life. More than anything. My mother jokes that I said the word "dog" before "mom." Unfortunately, my views on dogs did not align with my mother's so I never got one. Now that Gizmo is no longer with us, my dog search is in full force. I really wanted to adopt, but that doesn't seem like much of a possibility due to our location on the island. So the options are the Shimoda Mall or the Lapia Mall in Hachinohe.

The Shimoda dogs were expensive, and I had heard the ones in Hachinohe were cheaper so I planned a Saturday visit. I entered the small green building and found this to be true. They also had about twice as many dogs as Shimoda. As I mentioned in my post about Shimoda, you aren't allowed to take pictures of the animals for some reason, but I got a little sneakier in Hachinohe and snapped one of the little guys.

After visiting the pet store and making mental notes on potentially suitable new friends, we headed into the actual mall. I chugged Rockstar as if the answer to life was at the bottom of the can, so I really had to pee when we got inside. That's when I found this little contraption:

Yes, I took a picture of a toilet.

I closed the door and just stared at it for a little bit. Hanging next to it (not pictured) were instructions on how to clean the seat with the provided hand sanitizer. Don't mind if I do. They should have that in the United States, especially those gas stations where you feel the need to shower afterward. I go about my business and look at the buttons. One looks like a fountain. I know what that means and I wasn't ballsy enough to test it out.

After a successful battle with the most high-tech toilet I've ever seen, we make our way through the mall. Lapia is a weird little mall. The stores all run together like one giant store. The slight change in aisles is usually the only indication you've crossed into a new store.

Totally in the middle of two separate stores right now.

But I have to admit, I am in LOVE with all the Japanese stuff. The little cartoon characters are so cute and happy, it makes me smile. So while I left the mall puppy-less, at least I got some crazy glitter pens and a cute pencil holder. The zipper tag on the pencil holder says, "Won't you live in ease?" Yes. Yes, I will.