Fuji Safari Park

The girls and I went on an MWR tour to Fuji Safari Park one Sunday while Chad was away. We signed up with friends of ours Jessica and Addison. It was a little iffie whether we would go b/c of the weather (raining off and on), but we did and the weather worked out for us. We took a big tour bus up to the Mt Fuji area. The park is half zoo and half safari. In the zoo portion there are many places to feed the animals. During the safari bus ride you could feed animals also. The girls loved it.

Lauren going on a pony ride!

It is Allie's turn on the pony ride!

Maybe this is the Japanese version of the Kentucky Derby. Our horse, Hachi, which means "eight" didn't place.

The girls LOVED feeding all of the animals. Me on the other hand was having a time keeping up with the anti-bacterial soap..."relax" the girls would tell me.

Lauren dropped this poor little guy when she stood up. His nails scratched her and she screamed and dropped him.



This is Lauren feeding a lion raw meat with thongs. Very cool!!!

Jessica (the mom) and Addison the little girl joined up for the fun.

Head Spa - D&B

My girlfriend Tracy asked me to join her to use these gift certificates for a "head spa". I had no idea what to expect. We went on a rainy Saturday morning in to the Harajuku neighborhood of Tokyo. The salon was very cool. The experience was amazing. I think they massaged my head twice, put some kind of oil in there, hooked me up to a steam thing and then gave me a blow out. I could use this every morning. Afterward we went to lunch at the top of the Shiodome Building that was delicious. Thanks Tracy for a fabulous day in Tokyo

Kani-san's Pottery Exhibit

One of my students, Kani-san, is a very talented graphic designer and in his spare time he is also a very talented potter. He invited me to his pottery exhibit at a local coffee shop/art gallery. My friend Sybil and I went (along with Allie). We enjoyed looking at his beautiful art and talking with him and his wife over coffee. We went away with many new pieces. Several of mine have crabs on them. Kani in Japanese means crabs, so I will always think of him when I use the pieces.

Matsumoto Castle

On our way home for Takayama we made a short detour to Matsumoto to see this amazing castle. Here is a little history on the castle:

Matsumoto Castle (松本城, Matsumoto-jō^?) is one of Japan's finest historic castles. It is located in the city of Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture and is within easy reach of Tokyo by road or rail.

The keep or tenshukaku, which was completed in the late 16th century, maintains its original wooden interiors and external stonework. It is listed as a National Treasure of Japan.

Matsumoto is a flatland castle because is not built on a hilltop or amid rivers but on a plain. Its complete defenses would have included an extensive system of inter-connecting walls, moats and gatehouses.

Takayama

Lee and I went on a trip with the kids to a small town in central Japan smack in the middle of the Japanese Alps. We rented a van from MWR so that we would have lots of room. We drove up there after preschool on Friday. It was an easy and beautiful drive. It took us about 4 1/2 hours. Once we got up there we found the Rickshaw Inn and checked in. We stayed in the Sakura Suite. It had 4 futons and one western style bed.

We asked for a recommendation for a kid friendly place for dinner. The girl at the hotel told us about a restaurant gave us directions to a cute little restaurant right on the Migawa River. We had a great dinner...the kids were awesome and we met some fun Japanese people who were there celebrating a birthday. They even shared some of the birthday cake with the kids.



The next morning we got up and and went to the morning market that is along the Migawa River. There was produce for sale as well as fun souviners. We found lots to buy of course. Next we went to a museam that houses these amazing floats that they use in the two festivals that the have in Takayama in April and October. These were very ornate and expensive floats. They were beautiful. We stopped for lunch and did some more sightseeing.







Later that afternoon we went to Hida Folk Village. Think a Japanese version of Williamsburg. The kids loved this place where they could watch a woman weaving, a man making wood shingles and they also got to feed the koi in the pond. For dinner that night we went to a Hida Beef restaurant. Hida beef is riviling Kobe beef. It was the most delicious beef I have ever had. So tender that it almost melts in your mouth.








We had such a great weekend exploring a part of Japan that is a little less crowded and incrediably beautiful.

Tea at the Peninsula Hotel, Tokyo

My girlfriend Lee planned an outing for us girls to go to Tea at the Peninsula Hotel. I felt very grown up while we were there. The food was outstanding...very dainty and tea-like. We had such great conversation and managed to get a little shopping in before having to take the train back home.

Sakana Lesson

Allie enjoyed another Japanese culture lesson taught by Kenji. This month he made fishing poles for the kids. The poles has a magnet tied to the end of them and they fished for these beautiful water colored painted paper fish with paper clips attached to them so they would be able to be picked up with the fishing pole.

While the kids were fishing...Sybil, Betsy and I enjoyed cooking with Sumiko in the kitchen.

Derby Party

For the last AOSA (Atsugi Officer Spouse Association) Friendship event of the year, the Americans hosted a Derby party for our Japanese friends. This was complete with Big Hats, Sundresses, excellent food, and of course a horse race.

We had eight jockeys ride these adorable stick horses. We drew ping pong balls with the horses number on it to see if the horse advanced. The first horse to cross the line won. It was really fun. I was a jockey, however I think my horse ended coming in last place. Still was a load of fun.

Zen Zero

Another lunch date with fantastic friends. This place is probably the nicest Japanese restaurant I have eaten in since being here. It was amazing. The setting was beautiful, the service was impeccable, the food was so interesting (and looked like art) and the company was great. I will take Chad back one of these days.

Ashikaga Flower Park

For Mother's Day, while Chad was working, the girls and I took the train to a Ashikaga. First, I have to say what troopers Lauren and Allie are. They sat on the train for three hours and 5 transfers so that I could go to a flower park that one of my students told me about.

It was a beautiful day, a little on the warm side. At one point during walking around the flower park Lauren said "Mommy, I am SO hot, is there anyway I can get an ice cream cone to cool me off?" My kind of girl!



We really enjoyed our day. The flower park had Wisteria in bloom. One of the trees was 140 years old. We walked around, took lots of pictures of the flowers, stopped for lunch and then played on the park and had ice cream. After they park we took a taxi to Ashikaga Gakko which is the oldest school known in Japan. Stay tuned for my next post on that.

Here they are on the train home "sleeping".

Ashikaga Gakko

Ashikaga Gakko, is Japan's oldest known school said to be built in the 9th century. We loved touring the grounds which were surrounded by a moat. We were able to go into the library, main school building (take your shoes off while on the tatami mat) and various other buildings. Some of the roofs of the school were thatched roofs. They were so cool. It was very interesting and our favorite part of the Mother's Day adventure to Ashikaga.

Zama-no-Otako-age

Zama-no-Otako-age means Zama Big Kite Flying. Our fabulous friends Kenji and Sumiko took us to the Big Kite Festival. It was so great to have them with us, because instead of guessing what everyone was doing we had expert tour guides to answer all of our questions.


Here is ceremonial dancing to bring good luck to the kite flying.

There were so many men and women helping to get the kite into the air. The rope it was connected to was huge. One poor man got trampled and had to be taken off by ambulance. It was very exciting to see it being lifted up.

Airborn!

Here is Kenji spoiling Allie with a shoulder ride. This man is in his 70s and you would never know it. He is unbelievable.