Getting Out of the Concrete Jungle

Feb. 27th--We wanted to see what Japan was like outside of Tokyo, so we planned to take a day bus to Kyoto.  

It was an eight hour trip, but since it was the first day of our journey, everyone was well rested and traveled easily.   

 We booked all of our bus tickets through a company called Willer Express.

 The buses turned out to be pink on the inside and out, which thrilled Audra.  She thought riding on a pink bus was the coolest thing ever.

 We made good time and stopped every two-three hours for a break.  The time went fast and we were easily entertained looking out the windows at a whole new view of Japan.  We were not in Tokyo anymore, that's for sure!

 We drove past rice fields....

 ....freaked out when we saw Mt. Fuji......

 ....enjoyed a view of the ocean since the road hugged the coastline most of the time....

 ....saw orchards, vineyards, and other agriculture growing up slopes.....

 ...got to see smaller cities and towns....

 ....and were excited to see some mountains. 

 

 Japan is expensive.  Being a large family in Japan is hard on the wallet.  When we were making plans to visit Kyoto, we were amazed at what hotels would cost us.  Hotels in Japan charge PER PERSON, not per room like in America.....that is a bit of a problem for us.  We looked outside the box and found this old dance studio that had been converted into a rental.  We worked with the owner and settled on a price of $140 USD a day.  For our family size, that is a steal in Kyoto.  It ended up being the perfect place for us to set up camp for six days.  There were plenty of beds, a small fridge and microwave, a sitting area.....

 ....and two floors for the kids to run around and play in.  We didn't have to keep telling them to be quiet and step softly like we need to when we are staying in hotels.  They had plenty of room.

It wasn't as clean as we were expecting, but it was decent enough.  We didn't need anything fancy, we just needed something big and very cheap.  This old dance studio was simply perfect. 

Spring Break 2015

For Raymond's first spring break of law school, we remodeled our front room and put in new carpet on the whole first floor of our home.  For the second year of law school, spring break was spent having Boyer baby #7 and outlining for law finals.  For our last spring break of law school, we decided to explore more of Japan by traveling to Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Miyajima Island. 

Ten days, nine people, eight bus tickets for three long bus rides, seven hungry kids always wanting to eat instead of seeing cool stuff, six rental bikes, five carry-ons, four different sleeping places, three really amazing cities, two crazy parents, and a stroller.  But there was much more to it than that. 

It was a crazy and amazing adventure, one that I feel truly BLESSED to have been able to experience.  As a family, we grew a lot.  Grew in the knowledge of Japan and the culture, but we also grew closer as a family.  We made some great memories.  Ones I hope the kids always remember and cherish.

The kids researched and chose the places they wanted to see in Kyoto.  They picked 31 places, and I think we were able to hit 25 of them.  Each one is worthy of their own blog post, so I will journal each place separately.  Then, we spent two days in Hiroshima and Miyajima Island.

Here are the kids' overall thoughts on our trip and their favorite city:

Caitlin:  I didn't find Kyoto and Miyajima Island very life changing.  Hiroshima was a little life changing, mostly because you can't help but notice that the Japanese people had forgiven the U.S. for dropping the a-bomb.  All they want to do now is move forward.  My favorite city was Arashiyama, a suburb of Kyoto.

Tayla:  Before we went to Hiroshima, I was afraid that the Japanese wouldn't like us because of the atomic bomb.  I have a higher respect for the Japanese people now.  They forgave the Americans for the a-bomb, and I was not expecting them to have done that because I know I would have a hard time forgiving.  In Hiroshima, a man on the street trolley randomly gave me a Hershey kiss.  I was really touched.  My favorite city was a tie between Arashiyama and Miyajima Island.

Christopher:  I loved the trip.  I learned more about Japanese culture.  It was how I imagined Japan to be before we came here.  Tokyo is a lot different that how I thought Japan was.  I learned new things about Japan that I didn't know or think of before our trip.  I felt sorry for the kids in Hiroshima that were burned and killed from the atom bomb.  I kind of respect Japanese people a little more than I did because of how desperate they were to survive and how they would help each other get safe.  I also now respect them more because of how nice they are.  I liked the cities all the same.  They were all super cool and I don't have a favorite.

Logan:  I learned what the atom bomb did to Hiroshima.  I felt sad and sorry for what America did to Hiroshima.  We kind of had to drop it to end the war, but if America knew what it would do, I think they would have lowered the power and made it smaller.  I learned that Japan isn't just skyscrapers, busy cars running all over, and the sound of policemen at stop lights.  Japan is a really kind, quiet, and beautiful country.  My favorite city was Kyoto.

Nathan:  I didn't know there were monkey parks.  At first I thought that Japan was in Tokyo, but now I know that Tokyo is in the middle of Japan.  I learned that there is an island where the gods live.  My favorite city was Miyajima Island.

Audra:  We ride on a pink bus.  I like the bus.  I like Hello Kitties.  We saw a lot of them.  Birds like Hello Kitty.  The deer bite me.  They tried to eat my coat.  And then, I never get my coat ever again.  Animals are bad. 

Seeing Where Sushi Comes From: Tsukiji Fish Market

Feb. 26th--This morning was dreary and drizzly, but we still left the house around 7:30 a.m. to go to the world's largest, busiest fish market.

This is a business, but many tourists still come to check the place out.  The action begins at 2 a.m. with the live tuna auction, but they only let 120 people in on a first come, first serve basis.  We didn't want to even attempt to see the auction, but instead hoped to get there around 8 a.m. to see the market in action.

We knew we were close before we even turned the corner because of the awful fish smell.  It smelled much worse outside of the building than inside, however.

The fish market has many different kinds of seafood for sale and anyone can come in and buy whatever they want.  All of the seafood was caught during the night, so it doesn't get any fresher than this!  Tayla's look on her face says it all.  We saw all kinds of funky things from the ocean. 

We saw many fish being gutted and cut up to be sold.  The kids regularly fish with their dad and the older ones know how to kill and gut a fish, so this wasn't new to them. 

Look at the ink in the water in the left tray.  An eel is in the right tray.

Those are Caitlin's shoes, so you can see how big these fish are.

We also saw some large slabs of fresh tuna for sale.  Unfortunately, we got here too late to see the tuna after they were sold and before they were cut up.  Maybe we will have to come back.

Some of the tuna wasn't caught fresh from the night before and were in frozen slabs like this.

They would cut the frozen pieces with a jigsaw. 

 After browsing through all the strange sea animals and live fish, you could wander over to some shops nearby and buy sushi.  'Cause that's exactly what you feel like eating after seeing a bunch of dead fish, guts and blood, right?

We did stand in line for a little while wanting to buy some sushi, but we decided to just go back to the shopping street near our home and buy some sushi there.  We have purchased sushi from there a few times already and it's really fresh and much cheaper than what was for sale at the fish market.

 As a family, we are no strangers to sushi. Living in Japan 20 years ago, Raymond often ate sushi and introduced me to it on a date before we got married.  We've regularly eaten it since.  The kids have grown up eating it--it's one of our favorite things to eat!  It just costs a lot in America, so we don't get to have it as often as we would like.  A few years ago, I learned how to make sushi rolls and make them all the time, but I don't dare make the sushi with the raw fish.  At the little sushi shop on the shopping street, we can get all of this sushi for about $20 USD.  So cheap!!

 The sushi here is so much better than in America, too.  I don't know if it's the freshness factor or what, but we have been spoiled.  Sushi will never be the same once we go back to America.

We have been able to try some sushi that we have never seen in America as well.  The kids have been adventurous and have enjoyed just about all of it.  The roll with the salmon eggs on top is a favorite one that they all fight over.

Nathan tried this one--it looks like squid, but it isn't as "rubbery".  We didn't know what it was, but Nathan didn't care for it.

He ate the rice and gave the "fish" to Christopher.....

Chris thought for sure that Nathan was just being picky--again--and was excited to have an extra piece of sushi.

But, he didn't like it either!  This mystery fish is not our favorite when it comes to sushi.  But, good for them for trying it! 

At Tsukiji Market, we bought  these mochi at a booth and took them home to enjoy.   We divided these in half to share them, and oh boy, were they good!  These ended up being the best, most fresh mochi that we had during our entire time in Japan.  

Karate

 Feb. 25th--A neighbor and fellow member of our church teaches karate twice a week at the Recreation Center.  We signed Logan and Christopher up for the short time that we are here just because karate is part of the Japanese experience.  In addition, it gets the boys out of the house and gives them a place to focus all their pent-up "energy". 
The boys don't have a gi to wear because they are really pricey here and we don't know if they will want to or even be able to keep karate up when we return to the states.  The boys do not like not having a gi and feel out of place in class--but it makes it easier to spot them in class. 
Here are some pictures that the sensei's wife took of last night's class.  You can see Christopher's arm and leg in the far right.

And Logan is to the left of this picture.  They really enjoy karate!  It's much different than any sport that they have played thus far.  Much more technical and they really have to focus.  I think it's been good for them.  I hope to get some better pictures of them in class later on.

25th International Orchid Festival

 After we went to see plum blossoms, we were heading back to the metro and passed by Tokyo's baseball stadium.  There were a lot of people around, standing in line with tickets.  Raymond asked what was going on because the baseball teams are in training right now.  We were led to this poster and told that it was the 25th International Orchid Festival.  Hmm.....could be interesting.  Could also be dumb for the kids.  I love orchids and enjoyed tending for two orchid plants that I have had for a long time.  I had to let them go when we moved to Tokyo, so I wanted to go the festival.  Through discussion, it was decided that we would all go check it out. 

 We didn't really know what to expect, but were blown away by the plethora of orchids that we beheld as we entered the stadium.

 There were literally thousands of orchids, all different varieties. 

There were also booths that were decorated in many different ways, but the focus was always on the orchids.  The booths were judged in a contest of some sort, and the results were displayed at each one.  We were amazed at the creativity and sheer beauty that we saw.  It became a family discussion at each booth as to whether or not we liked the booth and if we agreed with the results of the contest.

 This one was awesome.  They used small orchids to re-create kimonos that are often hung up as decoration. 

 These orchids had glitter spray on them and also had been stamped or stenciled. 

 Our jaws were open through the entire thing as we walked around and looked at all the beautiful displays.  We all thought it was awesome--even the boys!

There was also an area where individual orchids were judged.  Some had ribbons on them.  Having grown orchids myself for a few years now, we all appreciated the work and care that went into each breathtaking plant.

 Every orchid was different.  Some looked like faces with long mustaches, others didn't even look like an orchid at all.  Some were displayed growing on a piece of bark instead of in a pot, like they do naturally.  It was fun to look at them all.

 The Okinawa Aquarium brought in a very large fish tank for the event, and the kids spend some time watching the fish.  There was a very large eel that kept them entertained, along with a puffer fish that actually blew itself up in front of the kids. 

 This is a silk replica of Queen Elizabeth's wedding bouquet that is always on display in England.  It was sent to Tokyo by the British government just for this event.

 Kind of an interesting story goes along with this bouquet.  The queen walked down the aisle of Westminister Abbey holding her bouquet of orchids, but some time during the couple's return to the Palace, the bouquet was mislaid and couldn't be found in time for the wedding pictures.
A week later, the florist was asked to make an identical bouquet so that the bride and groom could be rephotographed - this time with her wedding bouquet. For Princess Diana's wedding, the florist was asked to make two identical bouquets because someone at the Palace remembered what had happened in 1947.
We started this day wanting to look at plum blossoms, but because we stumbled upon this festival, we will be dreaming about orchids tonight!