Japan Trip - April 8, 2012 - Egg Day

Sunday - April 8, 2012 - Egg Day

We started the day meeting James and Kana at the Victoria Cafe in the substation area of Namba. Then we took the train to Yao, where we would prepare for the 'egg events' with Yuto, Waka and Souta. Our plan was to pick up some goodies for lunch and dessert, and hide the plastic eggs we stuffed yesterday. We stopped at the Mister Donut shop when we got to Yao and picked up some treats for the kids (and for Kana's parents when we stop by their shop). Then we headed to the grocery store on the bottom floor of Seibu where we bought items for sandwich making for lunch.  Of course, as all good stores do, there were many samples - which we had to try. I enjoyed the coffee sample the most, and the bream sample the least (they had little eyes looking at me). 

A $15 dollar mellon? what?

This home in Kana's parents' neighborhood is oddly familiar, then Kana explains that the owner is obsessed with America and had this built to reflect a home in the U.S.

Lunch time

From there we headed to Kana's parent's home where we hid the plastic eggs for the egg hunt, and prepared for lunch.  Mika and the kids showed up at 12noon, so we ate lunch first.  Everyone enjoyed making their own sandwiches and eating the treats from Mister Donut for dessert. There was also a lot of treats at the house given as wedding gifts which we enjoyed, too.  

After we ate, the kids were ready to hunt for the eggs we had hid around the outside of the home.  The weather was perfect for this event - not chilly, no clouds or rain - just right.  After all eggs were found and the surprises in each discovered, it was time to color real hard-boiled eggs.  They enjoyed seeing the eggs change color, but I think they really enjoyed eating the eggs!

Waka with the silly bunny glasses we gave them in their baskets. James told them they had to wear the glasses in order to find the eggs... didn't last too long.

Yuto and Souta finding some eggs!

Coloring (and eating) eggs

We cleaned up the house, and said good-bye to Mika and the kids as they departed on their bikes. We walked a few blocks to Atsuko's hair shop where we just popped in briefly to say hello and leave some donuts to share. Back on the train, we headed to the hotel to do some packing - tomorrow is check-out day and I depart for my dearly missed home and family.

Atsuko's hair shop in Yao

Dinner was spectacular - I have never had eel like this before... if you are ever in Osaka you must try the eel restaurant in the Takashimaya mall (7th floor)... absolutely amazing!

Tomorrow I embark on my travel home; the long arduous trip begins in the afternoon on April 9th and amazingly gets me home to the east coast of the United States the evening of April 9th. Timezones will always amaze (and exhaust) me.

This has been a wonderful trip!

さようなら (goodbye!)

Japan Trip - April 7, 2012 - casual day around Namba

Saturday – April 7, 2012 – casual day around Namba

Highlights:

• Mom and I ventured out to restaurant district before James and Kana arrived from Yao
• Enjoyed coffee and pancakes at Brother’s Café for breakfast (again... had to share experience with Kana!) :)
• Search for certain items at Namba Parks center and then over to Bic Camera (OMG ... that place has everything imaginable!)
• Ventured back to hotel with coffees and chocolate croissants to enjoy in lobby area (Choco Cro)
• Back up in room, we packed Easter eggs for Kana’s niece and nephews for tomorrow
• Meandered back to the Dining Maison area of the Takashimaya mall to find great dinner again

Yes they even have a McDonald's

Flowers in a garden area of Namba Park

Almost everyone rides bikes everywhere so this was a common scene - a bike parking area

This restaurant serves octopus which is an Osaka specialty

Afternoon coffee in hotel lobby

Japan Trip - April 6, 2012 - Yukata search

Friday – April 6, 2012 – Yukata search

Kana spent the day with her niece and nephews, and James came out to mom and me at the hotel. We went to the Brother’s Café for breakfast and enjoyed pancakes with coffee.

Mom and James at breakfast

Pancakes, eggs and we think it was spam...

..but it was still good! :)

Then we took the subway to the Senba center, which was like an outlet center for clothing and other items. Crazy times trying to keep me on task – which was to find a yukata, or casual kimono, for Josie. Super excited when we finally found just the right one. There was a young boy outfit too, but it was too small for Peter.  We’ll find something else for him later.

Subway (cute bear picture over James' shoulder, but I have no idea what it says)

However mom found something for herself – a very nice, comfy yukata for her to wear at home.  The lady at the store even demonstrated how to put it on for her. After walking around quite a bit and exhausting ourselves, we headed back to Namba on the subway for dinner. 

The large Takashimaya mall really has everything anyone could ever imagine needing; including numerous dining options. We headed to the Dining Maison floors – 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th floors. We decided on a dumpling style restaurant – where the food is wrapped in dough and steamed in a bamboo box.  It was so good - we ordered so many different types - shrimp, pork, veggies.

Shrimp

Yummy green stuff :)

I like the kanji characters on the box (Din Tai Fung)

James and me in front of a big mural in mall

We headed back to the hotel (connected to the mall), put some stuff down in the room, and then went out to find some sweet snacks for later (chocolate craving). James headed back to Yao shortly after, and we tried to get to sleep although I think both mom and I ate too much!

Japan Trip - April 5, 2012 - Visit to Kyoto

Thursday – April 5, 2012 – Visit to Kyoto

Last night before departing we decided that today we would visit the pottery place out in the country.  But this morning when we woke and talked to Kana and James it was decided that Atsuko (Kana’s mom) would drive us to Kyoto instead.  Great!

It took almost an hour and a half to drive to Kyoto.  We talked and caught a cat nap.  When we got there it started to rain a little, and of course we were hungry. So, we ate lunch at a local restaurant, the Tofu House. It was such great food, all made with tofu.

Afterwards, the rain passed and eased a little, so we enjoyed some sight-seeing around this very historic area and shopping in little quaint local stores.  We walked down a path in a bamboo forest, there was some massively large bamboo!  Amazing.There was a spot to stop at a shrine and make a wish.  James and I tossed in a coin each, rang the bell to get the God's attention, and clapped twice, bowed then said our prayer in silence.

Along the path was the ‘back entrance’ to a world cultural heritage site, the Tenryu-ji zen temple, the head of the Tenryu-ji branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism (est. 1339). The weather was still overcast, rainy and chilly, but we enjoyed walking around the grounds of the temple.  We saw a large koi pond, zen rock gardens, and beautiful flowering trees.  It was very serene and peaceful. 

   

A cherry blossom trying to bloom

Mom :)

One of many blooming beautiful trees

In front of temple

Temple with koi pond and rock garden

How old is this tree???

We enjoyed green tea latte with a treat (mochi stuffed with sweet bean and wrapped with cherry blossom leaf) afterwards to warm up a little, and then returned to Namba. If I could return anywhere in Japan it would be back to Kyoto. I sense that this area has so much to offer, and we didn't even scratch the surface.

We finished the day with a curry dinner (Japanese style) across the street from the hotel… yummy!

Very small curry restaurant - only 6 seats!

Japan Trip - April 4, 2012 – Sleep in, Relax, Dinner at Goto House

Wednesday – April 4, 2012 – Sleep in, Relax, Dinner at Goto House

View from hotel window

We slept in this morning. Mom and I walked around the Namba area to finish some gift-getting for Kana’s family (wrapping stuff). 

At the Goto home in Yao

Mom and James at the Goto home

We met Kana at the subway around 3:30pm to make our way to Yao for a family dinner. Since we weren’t going to eat until 6pm, we enjoyed resting at their home and talking.   

Mom and I went with Kana to pick up Souta at his preschool down the street. Mika came to the house when she got off of work, and Kana’s father joined us later, too. 

Souta's preschool

The Goto hoome in Yao

Atsuko made a wonderful nabe pot meal with veggies, seafood, chicken balls for dinner. It was delicious! We enjoyed very fresh large strawberries for dessert.

Waka and Kana making meatballs

We exchanged gifts with the family. Mom and I gave Atsuko and Mika two Vera Bradley hand bags with hand cream and a change purse inside, and to Toyoji we gave a large Starbucks coffee mug from Washington, DC and three bags of coffee from the local Leesburg coffee shop.  Before we departed for the evening we toured their second home next door. James and Kana took us to the subway almost all the way to the hotel.  I think we're more comfortable on the trains now, however I still can't read or understand any of the language!  It's definitely nice to have a personal guide, or two for that matter. :)

Vegetables for nabe pot

Family enjoying dinner

James and Yuto