Hanami - April 2010

It's hanami season, cherry blossom watching season. During hanami season many people gather at the parks to picnic all day under the cherry blossoms. We shared a relaxing Saturday at Hachimanyama Koen enjoying the beautiful cherry blossoms.

Our good friend Marc was visiting on business and was able to share the day with us.



Many vendors come to the parks to sell their goodies. The chocolate covered bananas are the girls' favorite!

Hachimanyama koen is know for it's large suspension bridged and tall viewing tower.

View of Utsunomiya from the center of the bridge.

Fun kids play area at the park.

More yummy festival food, fried chicken on a stick.

Rainbow ice cream....oishi!

Kids Karaoke - April 2010

Karaoke is such a popular social activity in Japan that they even have children's karaoke rooms. We had to try it once before we left. My girls love to sing, so I figured it would be a good time. We went with our friends, Laarni and her two children Aimie, Lewy, Noriko and her two sons, Dai-chan and Ko-chan, and Mioko.

Above: Avery, Rylee, Ko-chan, Aimie, Noriko, and Dai-chan

The girls thought is was so cool to have a real microphone!

The children's karaoke room included a fun play area with toys and a slide. How awesome is that, I love Japan!

Avery taking a break from singing to play the saxophone.

Baby Lewy was getting into the songs too! So cute!

The karaoke place also serves food, so we took a break to eat dinner.

Avery loves Mioko!!

Ko-chan and Noriko singing together, so sweet!

What a fun experience we all shared!!

Porcelain Painting Class - April 2009

I have been taking porcelain painting classes for last 9 months. I really enjoy it and feel so blessed to have such a talented instructor, Yoko Mohri.

Above: Mioko, Yoko, and Kwan

Mioko and I

Sue and Becky

Mioko and Kwan

Grammy and GrandDad's last day in Japan

We only had a half of a day to sight see in Tokyo before Grammy and GrandDad had to catch a train for Narita airport. We decided to walk through Ueno park since it is the number place to see the most cherry blossoms.

Where is GrandDad??

The typical way to picnic in Japan is by laying a blue tarp under a cherry tree. Before setting foot on the tarp you must remove your shoes.

Ohanami is the most popular time for picnicking and it's an all day event of eating and drinking.

Downtown Ueno and Ueno station to the left.

Ueno Market Place

We also made a brief visit to the Tokyo Edo Museum. There was so much to see we will have to make a second trip sometime. The Edo period was from 1603-1868. In 1868 Japan opened it's boarders for foreigners to travel and trade.

Edo period transportation cart, carried by two men, front and back.

Typical taxi in Japan. The taxis are very clean, often the driver wears white gloves. And you are not allowed to open or close the car door yourself.

The girls were NOT happy about Grammy and GrandDad having to leave. Avery was actually physically trying to stop them, it was so sweet and so sad!!

All in all we had the most wonderful time sharing our Japan experience with Grammy and GrandDad. We are so grateful they made the effort to come. We made many memories we will cherish forever!