Cherry Blossom Hunting in Kamakura Part 2

Last Saturday the kids and i went to Kamakura to Hachiman Shrine for the day. We were mostly going to view new/baby Cherry Blossoms... but only saw a few. We still had fun, and Olivia really enjoyed herself. Evan on the other hand was a whole story ... but we wont go there! ;)
The photo's will show, we had an enjoyable time... looking/walking and ... as always Eating!
Please Enjoy!

2nd Torii Gate

Cherry Blossom Baby's

Olivia, taking a load off ... on the "Walk of Cherry Trees".



I spy a Cherry Blossom Tree Already Blooming.
It was pretty much the only on that had more than "A" flower on it.
There were many people and Camera's and even a TV Camera Swarming the area.
So, we did not go and get a 'close-up'.

We saw 2 Shinto Weddings while at Kamakura that day.
This one was over, and they were leaving the shrine.

A Nice View of Hachiman Shrine, Kamakura Japan!

Getting ready for Wedding #2



Wedding #2

Front Row "Seats!".
I was not (by any means) the only person Viewing the Wedding.
It's almost "open" to the public.
There were at least 100 other's viewing as well.
The kids and I were lucky to get this view.
Cameras were going off EVERYWHERE!



For whatever reason,... Squirrels are Rare in this area.
They are also "Good luck" a Japanese Older Woman told me.
This squirrel was ALL over the kids!
Everyone was snapping "phone" photos... ;)

The kids and i walked ALL over the grounds...
Looking around, and just exploring/having fun!
Although, i did learn the correct way to "pray" and visit the Shrine during my New Years Visit to Hachiman w/ the Japanese American Society (i also remembered a bit from visiting a few in Sasebo)...
I did not take the children inside.
We took a sit down in a nice shaded area (where others were sitting too) and ...
Had a 'lesson' on how the Japanese Pray and how we don't pray like them.
BUT, that it IS ok for them, and how we don't judge.
Olivia was very interested and asked a lot of Questions.

We took a little walk up to visit another area of the shrine.

I just adore this photo...
(If you visit the blog, those of you who get this via e-mail.... you'll see a version of this photo is my New Blog Header!)



This tree is over 1,000 yrs old!

These Sake Barrels are Gifts from Big Company's to the Shrine/Gods.
They cost in the Hundreds of Yens!
(the kids were chasing bubbles, btw.)

On our way out of the Shrine, we stopped at a few Vendors.
This vendor had the most delish Candied Strawberries on a Ritz Cracker covered in Sprinkles!
Odd, but GOOD!

As Always (with my kids....)
Yakitori Sticks!
They LOVE them!
Evan Olivia, who had decided she is NOT a vegan anymore! LOL



As we walk out, another view of the 1 tree... So Pretty!

We tried to walk through the shopping street of Kamakura. It was PACKED and WOW!
So, we stopped off and had a few Ice Cream cones.
for 300Y pp, i think ...we each got a cone. O got Vanilla and E & I got Coffee! mmmmm



This is the ONE shot i got... WOW! Me & 2 kids? NOT FUN!
So, we book'd it to the station and headed home!

Oh, and now that Olivia is 7 we buy her ticket.
She pays 1/2 price... and she just loves having her own ticket.
I need to head over to the Train Station and get her a Suica Card.
I always forget to bring her Passport! If/when i do...
They will print her name on the Sucia Card, and she will always pay 1/2 price Automatically!
So... maybe i should do that soon!

This photo is to show...
Olivia is saying "we are home"!!!!!
So, i guess this means we have 'moved in'!
We are at the Shin-Zushi Station in this photo.
That "Were home" while standing in ShinZushi made my day!
I hope yo enjoyed the photos! ;)

Date Night [March]

(I know... im late w/ this Date Night Edition)...

In March (After our Full Day in Tokyo w/ ITT) we dropped the kids off @ the sitter for Date Night.

We met up with our friends Tim & Kath and headed to Bunko to KouBou Chicken!

YES I said Koubou Chicken, or Chicken Factory. KouBou Chicken is our Fav Yakitori hut!

Enjoy the Photos! Short/Sweet... Just wanted to share!

Chicken Balls or Processed chicken, shaped into balls

Bacon wrapped Asparagus

In the background, Takoyaki Yakitori or Octopus balls on a stick.

Wasabi Chicken MMMmmmm!



Chicken Skin... a little goes a long way!

::ROAR::

Two Sundays ago on a lazy morning i remembered something...
The last time i went to the 100Yen store i saw these CUTE Masks for the kids to color & blow up. I thought, how interesting and fun, especially for 1 us dollar!
I dug through the desk... and found them.
Let me tell you, the kids had a blast decorating up their own masks,... then wearing them and playing 'Animal' (A fav game around here).
I underestimated Evan... he had SUCH a good time, and i was impressed with his coloring!
He NEVER colors... and i did not even know he knew HOW to color in the lines! :)

**We found these masks in Zushi Ginza. There is a 100Y shop at the end of the ginza on the right hand side. It's above the "Drug Store"... and, its a pretty good size, for Zushi. **

My Beautiful Sister Diana...

Snapfish:Photo:Shared

She is due the end of this month, and i miss her so!
We will be welcoming a little baby girl, and i cant wait.
((HUGS)) honey!!

Mid-Week Fun with the Kids

A few days ago I decided that it would be fun/enjoyable to get off base with the kids after school.
We don't normally go/do anything other than our routine, on the weekdays.
AU (our Japanese cell provider) & I have been having some issues so, this was a dual trip.
I don't generally drive when it comes to errands off base (as most of you know)... so of course we took the train.
Olivia is 7 now, ... so it's not as cheap... but it's still very enjoyable and fun. When both kids go with me, no matter how old, we have to pay for a child ticket, (70Y one way to Yokosuaka).
One Child Rides Free Per Adult Under 7 is a rule of thumb.

Here we are @ Kanazawa-Hakkei waiting on the train for Yokosuka-Chuo station.
Evan, before we left home... drew a map... so we knew where we were going.




This is AU (for you American friends/family back home), it's located in a outdoor shopping area.
This is where i have to go when i have a problem.

While we were waiting to be seen we saw this odd 'pet'. This gentlemen was also waiting, and ... wow... that animal was so funny... and it was also Yuck to me (as it pee'd everywhere! yuck!).... KIDS... don't touch, just look!

What is it?? Anyone know?
All i know is it kept the kids happy and busy, watching... while we waited to be seen.

After we were done with AU it was time for some 'fun'.
We walked down Blue Street, Ate some Yakitori and then went 100Y Shopping.
Then, before we went home... Vie De France Bakery!!!

Quaint Japanese Side Street to our Fav 70 Yen Yakitori Stand.

Rule? Pick a number, and stash all sticks in that one 'can'. Eat and Enjoy!
The kids ate 12 sticks i think... and Enjoyed themselves a lot!
Of course their fav is chicken balls (like meat balls) and plain chicken.
(They have other choices too... like Chicken Skin and Liver, but... um ... no thanks!)

This is the kids... going up to the 4th floor 100Y Shop.

We thought... maybe we would see Daddy walking home, as this is his route to the train station.
(and it was the correct time frame)
But,... nope!
The kids did have fun waiting for Daddy... watching these fish outside this store.
We must have stood there for 15+ minutes.

One of my Favorite things about Japan... French Bakery's! MMMM
I let the kids pick anything they wanted.
One each of course!


Next? Hachiman Shrine ...

Welcome Spring!

(photo: found here)

Today is the 1st day of Spring!!!
I am not quite ready for it, as we have not really had a Winter.
Oh Well! It's HERE! :)

Today is also when the Japanese Celebrate Spring! Actually its Vernal Equinox Day or Shunbun no Hi.
Basically, Today's Day and Night will be in Equal Length. (Hey, that's ok with me!)

I don't recall us doing anything Really Special while living in America for the 1st day of Spring. But, here in Japan its a National Holiday. It's a day to show respect, love and 'be one' with nature.
Along with having the day off (the Japanese, not us), and doing something special to show your love for nature, and plants... the Japanese also visit the graves of their family members and clean & offer flowers. Its also customary bring/lite incense to console ancestral spirits.
(I used Google/Kids Web Japan for my sources, and my good friends blog Our Unique Life ,as inspiration for this blog.)

So, today we woke up to 60 degree weather, (with a low forecasted to be about 40) and Rain! Actually its probably going to rain all day, because of it's a 8o% chance. I am A-OK with Rain today, as long as the forecast for the weekend stays a low of 20%! :)
I can not wait to get out on Saturday & Sunday, so i am 100% ok with NO Rain! :)

BUT, for today... the 1st day of spring... we will do something special! I am thinking a bit of 'Spring Cleaning' is in order for Me, while the kids are @ school.
For the kids?
I think we will make Cookies, in the shape of pretty flowers.
Olivia gets out of school early today, Evan has a full day.
I think her and I will prep things for the Cookies, while Evan is at school.
It's a Bit Rainy today, so we wont be doing much outdoors, but this weekend we will!
It's forecasted that the Cherry Blossoms will Start Blooming this weekend...(actually they already started blooming a Little) so we will be out enjoying the Beautiful Flowers of the the season.
I do believe, if the weather stays on track, we will be in for a Full Bloom within the Next 2 weekends! :) I can not wait to take my own photo's in Kamakura!

(photo: found here)

Happy 1st Day of Spring!

Sushi-Go-Round

Back in January I was invited to eat at a 100Yen Sushi Go Round in Uraga. (thanks Tammy!)
She drove, and it was really FUN!
About 1 week ago (maybe more) I suggested to Tammy that we try and take the train to Uraga & find that same Sushi Place.
So we did! :) Ethan joined us. It was fun and new to take the train to Uraga and see new sites on the way.
In this photo, we are @ Yokosuka-chuo Station waiting for a Train to Uraga.





We took the train, and the line Ended in Urage (Similar to Shin-Zushi's Station).

As soon as you exit the Uraga Station, walk across the street, and head down a small 'shopping' street. Your only walking about 1~2 blocks, and you will reach a 2 story building with a drug store on the 1st floor. There is Parking Provided, Pay by the hour. You cant miss it.
Walk up the Outdoor Stairs, to the 2nd floor, and you are @ 100Y Sushi in Uraga.

They have Booths & Bar stools.

Here are a few pictures of the food we enjoyed.
If you prefer, you can order off of the menu, and have it come around on the belt w/ your table name on the plate. It's the Same price, usually. Some items like Salad & Desserts are more, about 250Y... but you will know this, no worries.
They have Free Green Tea provided, and for 100Y you can get a small soda.

The following sequence of photo's is of Ethan unwrapping/making/eating a "Roll" that we ordered. All 3 of us had one, and i will say it was delish, and i will be getting more of those next time. The Seaweed was left for the individual to wrap around, so it's Fresh as possible. And, WOW! good choice! Mmmmmm













After rolled....... EAT!
It was VERY Good! :)

Shrimp w/ Soy sauce

More photo's of the other items we tried...





Here comes Dessert! See the "bowls" they are riding in? They have the Name/Color of our table on the side. When you special order, this is how it will be delivered to your table.



Now, as we were leaving, ... we saw this. It is Eggplant. It's Pickled.
It's Flavored like Wasabi... and NO! We did not try it. WOW... i am not THAT Adventurous! LOL

I hope you enjoyed the photo's!