Our Family Trip to Nikko, Japan

Over Columbus Day weekend, we decided to take a family trip up to Nikko, Japan to see the waterfalls and famous temples there. It is about a 4 hour drive, so we loaded up the kid and the car and headed off. Mallory was thrilled, as you can tell-ha!

It rained pretty much the entire drive there, which had me worried for the weekend. All the activities there are outdoors, so it could put a damper on things. Mallory at road trip cheetos and didn't seem to mind :)

We checked into our hotel, which was right in the heart of the little town of Nikko, by the train station. We wandered around the town a bit in the rain (but as Japanese citizens we were prepared as you learn to pack umbrellas and rain coats when you go places around here), and then went to dinner at a ramen shop. Yummy!! Mallory got a kid's ramen meal, complete with a bowl of ramen, orange juice and a toy.

The adult ramen bowl- there was a LOT!

Daddy and Mally share a "Lady and the Tramp" moment :)

After ramen for dinner we headed back to the hotel and just hung out and chatted. The bonus to going out of town in Japan is that, even though there is a tv in your hotel room, there aren't any English channels, so you are pretty much forced to turn it off and chit chat with your family! Mally played with her "happy meal" toy from dinner and then we all settled in for a good nights sleep on the tiny, rock hard hotel bed, hoping for better weather in the morning. Luckily, we woke up the next day to bright and sunny skies! Yay!

The view of the train station "square" from our hotel room.

Tori gate into town

We set off to see the waterfalls and Lake Chuzenji. There are 3 main waterfalls along this drive up thru the mountains. M fell asleep as we reached the first, so we decided to drive to the top and work our way down instead of waking her up. We passed the lake as we drove along.

There is another, smaller lake at the top, so we got out and took some pictures. I'm no photographer, so my photos do not do justice to how beautiful it is in Nikko. We also went right as the leaves were beginning to change colors in the fall, so it was just gorgeous.

I love this pic of M and Dada walking along.

Out of the carseat and stretching her legs a bit.

Checking out the lake from the "good seat" way up high!

So beautiful and serene!

After a stroll by the lake, we went to see the first waterfall. It was amazing.

There were some shops set up by the parking area. Fish stick anyone? (I will never think this is an acceptable food- gross!)

Driving back down the mountain to waterfall #2.

Aren't the fall leaves gorgeous?

Walking to the second waterfall. I will never get over what the Japanese wear sometimes. Here we are, on a mountain that is totally surrounded by nature, and these girls choose these outfits to hike around in...check out the heels on the boots....seriously???

The second waterfall, Ryuzu Falls

Just gorgeous

After that, it was lunch time, so we stopped at a cute restaurant about 1/2 way down the mountain. It was very Japanese, but cute and we had some more noodle bowls and some curry for lunch (pretty much always a safe bet- at least you know the main ingredients). There was a porch outside, so Brett walked out there and took our picture.

Front of the restaurant

After that, we drove back down towards the bottom of the mountain to the last waterfall. We passed this building covered in red ivy that I thought was really pretty.

The last waterfall is called Kegon Falls. There was a line to get into the parking lot and we debated about even stopping (I mean, it's just another waterfall, right?) But I'm so glad we did. We had saved the best for last, without even knowing it!

It is simply breath taking, and amazing!

Family shot by the falls- clearly M had fallen asleep again.

The sides of the mountain by the waterfall were pretty incredible to look at.

The sign says that the amount of water falling on that day was 1 ton per second. Incredible! It is 97meters high, 7 meters wide, and 4.5 meteres deep at the basin. Wow~

The falls and lakes were beautiful and so worth the days drive. Very relaxing to spend the day with family seeing them all. On the way back to the hotel, we passed this bridge, which is famous and sacred in the town. I'll admit, I have no idea the story or history behind it really, but it is pretty. We didn't get out and walk on it as you have to pay, and we are cheap like that :)

We went back to the hotel after a full day and had dinner at a little cafe near the hotel. Apparently Nikko shuts down by about 7pm, and it was literally the only place we could find open. It was either that, or random snack food from the 7-11 up the street. The next morning we got up at ate breakfast at the hotel, in this little lobby area.

The front of our hotel (not a bad place, but it was no Ritz Carlton either).

The next day was Sunday, so we were going to see the famous temples in the area and then drive home. I'll admit that after living in Japan awhile, and not practicing the Shinto or Buddhist religions, after a while a temple is a temple is a temple. But these are famous and listed on the world heritage sites, so we figured we should go see them. So off we went.

The tori gate into the temple area.

Another set of Japanese ladies sporting some interesting "temple wear"

5 story pagoda- you can't go into these but they are always very pretty and Japanese looking to me

There was a horse outside one of the temples. For a few hundred yen you could buy some carrots and feed him, so we thought we would see if Mallory would get close this time. (She was petrified of the horses at Tama on July 4th). Daddy was close by, so she didn't seem to mind too much.

She did close her eyes when the horse started to munch on the carrot.

Dada can feed him and then she was ok.

This was about as close as she got and I think she was glad when we decided to move on to other parts of the temple.

The main reason these temples are famous is this right here: hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. Pretty cool to see the original. Although I'll admit, I thought it was going to be much bigger. The monkeys were just carved onto the side of the wall, and weren't very large at all.

This horse was inside one of the temple buildings. You couldn't feed him. Actually, I didn't realize he was real, as he literally didn't move. Kind of a boring gig for this horse, if you ask me :)

The shrine with the monkeys carved into it. See, they aren't very big, are they?

A family tori gate picture (with about 20 of our closest Japanese friends :) - it was pretty busy at the temples that day.

Me outside one part of the temple. They are very ornate and amazing to look at.

This is a "fortune". Basically you pay 100 yen (about $1.20 these days) and pick a piece of paper. There is a Japanese character on it that tells you "how much luck" you have. We didn't pay to play, but I thought it was an interesting concept.

My husband, the Samurai Warrior- hahaha!

This huge circle wreath is also a good luck symbol for the people who practice Shinto (the religion is based a lot on luck and the earth and things like that). Basically, you had to walk thru it clock wise and then counter clock wise and then straight and then write a wish and hang it on the side.

We pretend to take this pic of the tori gate and me. Really, we wanted to get the back of that girls' shirt behind me. "There is, at a glance, dynamic yet delicate"....huh? I crack up here at shirts sometimes. They want to wear things with English on them, but I'm not quite sure who their translator is!!

One of the places of prayer at the temple. The 2 people facing the building put a coin into the box, clap and offer up prayers.

The "lightning bolts" are also a Shinto symbol.

Brett in front of the entrance to yet another part of the temple (these temples are huge and have lots of buildings).

I think Brett was trying to look like this guy. Kinda hard to do with a baby hanging off your chest :)

So ornate

After touring the temples completely (or as completely as these 2 Americans were going to do) we hopped in the car and headed back home. It was a wonderful family weekend filled with Japanese culture, food and language. We really enjoyed Nikko and I'm glad we took the time to go up there and see it. I'm really going to miss Japan when it is time for us to leave here.

EARTHQUAKE!!

Wow! So as of next month, we will have lived in Japan exactly 2 years. In that time, I've felt 2-3 very small quakes. The room "spins" for a bit and then you move on. No big deal and not anything worth remembering or talking about. I've felt more of a dizzy sensation being drunk than from those small quakes (although I'm sure I shouldn't admit that).

Today that changed! It was a beautiful spring day and we'd just come home from the store about 30 minutes earlier. I was sitting in our dining room and Mallory was upstairs asleep in her crib, when the room started to shake. At first I thought, "oh, an earthquake". No biggie, as we'd just had one 2 days ago and I didn't even notice it. But then the windows rattled, pictures started shaking and a few fell off the walls. The back sliding glass door was banging like crazy, as were the blinds on the windows. It kept going and going, and got stronger and stronger. It wouldn't stop, and I start to get scared. When I stood up from my chair, I had to brace myself with my hand on the table. I thought it would stop after a few seconds, but it just kept going. So I ran upstairs to get Mallory. Sorry girlie, no nap for you today. She had fallen asleep, but I think the quake woke her up because as I entered her room, she was lying in her crib with a very confused look on her face, staring up at the ceiling with her hands on the slats of her crib. I scooped her up and went back downstairs and sat down in the living room. I guess I should have gone outside, but I was just seriously terrified and not sure what to do. I just knew I needed Mallory with me and I wanted it to stop. It lasted at least 3 minutes, if not longer. But it felt like an eternity!

After it FINALLY stopped, my neighbor called to check on me/calm herself down and then I got online to see what the deal was. Apparently it was an 8.8 quake off the coast, about 200 miles from Tokyo. They said it is one of the largest earthquakes to ever hit Japan.

Then the aftershocks started and kept going. And THEN about 30 minutes later ANOTHER quake hit. It was about 7.4 and the epicenter was on land, north of here.

Sadly, as I type this, they are showing a tsunami sweep across the Japanese coast and fires in various buildings around Tokyo and northeast from there. We aren't in danger of a tsunami (thank God we are pretty far inland so that isn't a real concern) and we live on base, so if something did happen, we are near resources at least.

I'm very thankful I was at home and not out and about in Tokyo or somewhere, as I am not sure how or when we'd get back home, as they have shut down all the airports and trains and some of the highways too. But I think about the Japanese people I know and how several of them have family in various parts of Japan. I pray they are all ok, as well as those people I don't know but may have been affected. Although I'll never be Japanese, or even fluent in the language, the Japanese people are some of the kindest souls I've ever met and my heart already aches for those who were truly affected by this. Watching the tsunami sweep across the coast taking cars and houses in its wake, I can only image there will be a death toll and that is so sad and devestating.

I have so many memories of Japan and have loved my time here. This will most definitely be another memory of our time here, although not one of my fondest. I'm hoping the aftershocks are over, but if not, I have a diaper bag packed and my shoes nearby. We are fine, thank God, and Brett is fine (he was at work). But say a prayer for those who have been affected and that Japan doesn't suffer to much from this natural disaster.

Where have you been all my life...or at least the last 2 years?

Ok, I'm interrupting my quest to catch up this blog with a quick recent story. I don't have any pictures to go along with it, but just had to blog anyway.

So, I've been needing a quick hair trim for the last few weeks, and once I get that feeling that it is time, I really get antsy about it. I'm not a big fan of getting my hair cut and having a big language barrier. It is scary to try to describe what you want to someone who is sorta looking at you like you have 3 heads, but I'm not going to the states until June, and it was time for a haircut. I've cut it here a few times, but only at the on base salon, where they work with pretty much all Americans and speak fairly good English. But I have a few friends who have gone to the Aveda salon at the Diamond City mall off base (but close by), and they raved about it. Mallory was at school for 4 hours today and I didn't have anything else planned (besides laundry, dishes, making dinner...but I mean REAL plans) so I thought, "what the heck, I'll go check it out".

Armed with 4 pictures of what I was picturing (basically my same hair cut with a dash of long side swept bangs) and all the courage I could muster, I went in the salon. I was DELIGHTED with what I found. In true Japanese style, I was greeted with a warm "mushi mushi" (hello) from about 5 different workers immediately. I said and pantomimed that I wanted a haircut. They directed me to a couch, where I was immediately handed a warm, scented towel and a cup of tea. Just a few minutes later I was led to a room where I was to hang up my coat and leave my bag and shoes in a locker, and put on some slippers and a robe. I did, and then was directed to my chair. I had my pictures with me and explained what I was thinking to the lady. She studied them and my head and said ok, and led me to the shampoo room, AKA heaven. They have these awesome chairs that are like beds and they place a blanket over you and a scented towel on your face and then wash and condition your hair while giving you an amazing head massage. Wow. Back to the chair for my hair cut, and yet another head massage. She cut and blow dried and was very good about getting it exactly like I wanted. She was also meticulous about not getting 1 stray piece of hair on me!

When that was all said and done it was time to change back out of the robe. There was another customer in the room, so they offered me a hand/arm massage while I waited -yes please!

I changed, paid (and all that was only 5500 yen, or about $67 with the current conversion rate and left a very happy customer. I love that while sitting here typing this I still smell like the lovely salon smell.

There isn't anything wrong with the salon on base, but Aveda has a new customer, at least as long as we live in Japan!

ABC's of ME

Saw this on another blog and thought it would be fun. Plus it's easy and I don't have to upload pics :)

Age: 33

Bed size: Queen (Although when you get 2 adults, 1 squirmy baby and 1 dog in it, it feels like a twin. We've already decided to get a king when we move back stateside!)

Chore you hate: Making the beds

Dogs: Yep! My weenie dog Maverick. He's 9 years old now, and been my buddy since he was 7 weeks old!

Essential start to your day: a coke- real, not diet.

Favorite color: blue

Gold or silver: Silver

Height: 5'1"

Instruments you play: Ummm, I can play the triangle :)

Job title: domestic engineer (mommy, house cleaner, laundry folder, taxi cab, grocery buyer...)

Kids: 1 sweet little girl, Mallory Isabella, 18 months

Live: Just outside Tokyo, Japan for the last 2 years (1 to go). We live on base in very crappy (yet free) base housing.

Mom’s name: Jane

Nicknames: Kimmy, Kimchee, Lil' Kim, Mal's Mommy

Overnight hospital stays: 3 nights when Mallory was born. I've had 2 other surgeries, but they didn't require overnight stays (just some really good pain meds!)

Pet peeve: When people smack their gum or make weird mouth noises; when people leave their blinker on and aren't turning; when my husband leaves his dishes NEXT to the dishwasher but not IN the dishwasher (love you babe!)

Quote from a movie: "I feel the need...the need...for speed.."

Righty or lefty: Righty.

Siblings: One little brother (younger that is, he's certainly not littler than me these days)

Time you wake up: Depends on what time Mallory wakes up, usually between 7-8 am

Underwear: Yes!? I'm not sure how to answer this question, really. I mean, I do own it and wear it 99% of the time.

Vegetables you dislike: beets, brussel sprouts, spinach

What makes you run late: I blame it on my kid, but really it's my exceptional ability to procrastinate.

X-Rays: I've had a few but nothing crazy.

Yummy food that you make: My favorite recipe is my mom's chicken enchiladas. Luckily though, I have a husband that tells me just about every night that I make great food. With the exception of "the night of the tar" (some crazy Thai peanut sauce w/ noodle dish I tried to make) he's never complained.

Zoo animal favorite: I pretty much like them all. I could skip the insect part and maybe the reptiles too. I love the big animals, like bears and tigers. Mallory's favorite must be the lion, as it is still the only animal you can name and she knows the sound that goes with it (raaawr).

Edo Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

On October 6, 2010, the Japanese ladies in our Culture Club took us to the Edo Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. It was quite interesting to see some buildings and items from Japan's past.

The main building, where you buy tickets and there is a gift shop, etc.

These are my FAVORITE trees in Japan, in the fall anyway. (My absolute favs are the cherry blossoms, but these are my fav fall tree). They have these orange blossoms and smell AMAZING!!!!

Map, showing the lay of the museum.

First we went to this house (I don't know who this guy is- some rich Japanese dude).

Some of the pretty grounds at the museum.

These Japanese kids were outside playing. Some were on stilts and others were rolling hoops with sticks. Very old school- I loved watching them!

We all climbed on an old bus and took a picture.

Kimiko took this picture so I could be in it.

There goes Kimiko with her umbrella- very Japanese to stay out of the sun.

We stopped for lunch at a restaurant in the museum. They served us soba noodles. They are served cold, and you dip them into the soup broth on the side. They were pretty good, and were served with green tea of course.

Eating lunch

Check out my use of the chopsticks- it's pretty much not even a big deal anymore, after living here almost 2 years now.

We walked around some more of the grounds. This was an old onsen bath.

The drawing of Mt Fuji on the onsen wall.

Beautiful scenery outside the onsen window

Next we went to an old store front. These bottles were lined up on the wall.

Joan, Suzie and myself outside the store.

Our whole group for the day

A pretty kimono hanging up on wall.

Japanese "shoes"

Reproduction of a tea ceremony

Banzai trees

Some old soy sauce containers.

My attempt at being artistic

Noriko and a Japanese umbrella

Myself and the umbrella

Look at us looking so Japanese

After walking around a bit, we stopped for a drink. The ladies bought us these drinks that tasted a lot like cream soda. The bottle was the coolest part of the drink.

The pretty Japanese lady who served us the drinks.

After you peeled off the plastic wrapper, you popped up the top part. Underneath it is a marble.

You push down on the green top part and the marble pops into the drink, and then it is open. So fun, and delicious.

Posing with our drinks

At the end of the day we went by one more building which was once a house. A lady was showing how they used to cook, and tend the fire.

She let me have the "stick" and tend the fire as well.

It was a great day and I learned lots about Japan's past and of course strengthened my friendships with the other ladies in Culture Club.