New Year's Wreath

 The next day, we needed to get some toothbrushes, shampoo, and a few other things since we didn't know how long it would be before we got our luggage.  Only Kirstin was awake, the other kids were still sleeping really hard.  So, we left a note for them, grabbed the stroller, and Ray and I went for a walk.  I was excited to explore our new surroundings.

 So many interesting things!  Here is a gas station!  The pumps are on the roof, and there were attendants there to pump your gas, shine up your car, and guide you on your way back out to the road.  So fun to watch them. 

 Everything has a lot of detail and is ornate--even the manhole covers on the street.  Ours just say "SEWER".  Not nearly as cool as these.

 This huge city uses every bit of space available.  This is a parking lot, and it's two-tiered.  I wasn't able to see how they got the cars up and down the second tier.

 Found a 7-11 where we bought some cold sore medication and a few other toiletries to get us by until our luggage showed up. 

 While in 7-11, Raymond bought each of us a dumpling for breakfast.  It was warm and inside was some type of meat and onion.  It was so good!  We couldn't walk and eat, because that is considered rude.

 We then walked a little further to get familiar with our new surroundings.
 Futons being aired out.

 Open markets with big chunks of unappealing octopus and other seafood for sale.

 I don't know where this leads, but it's pretty.

 A bakery of some kind with different cookies and other treats for sale.

 All over, we kept seeing these beautiful wreaths.

 Most were on store doors, but some others were on walls of buildings.

 They were all different, but all very beautiful in their own way.

 I love this one.

Even found one on a car hood.  I asked Raymond what they were for, and he told me that they are traditionally hung in celebration of the New Year.  Christmas isn't a big deal in Japan, but the New Year is. 

 Many of them would contain an orange, which was a symbol of good luck for the upcoming year.

I just loved them!  Loved looking for them and seeing all the different ways they were made.  We found a floral shop that sold them, so we bought one.  Something kind of interesting is that it is considered rude to hand money to a clerk.  There are little trays at the register and you are supposed to put the money in the tray.  The clerk will count the money, and then give your change back to you.  To give change back, the tray is not used.

We hung our New Year's wreath up in our apartment to help ring in 2015.  I love it, and it will be a great way to remember this whole experience as we get it out every year after Christmas from now on and hang it up.