Kiyomizu Temple

Here we are at the top of a steep hike we took to get to Kiyomizu temple, with the city of Kyoto in the background.

I realize that I didn't get the whole bell tower in the picture, but I wanted to see the detail work underneath. Jane is not hiding from the paparazzi, as one may guess, but is waving to the camera.

Here are some tourists getting ready to go into the Kiyomizu temple. Note the fine scaffolding in the background. We actually didn't go into the temple because we were so disheartened by the repair work, and there was a door fee.

Fushimi Inari Shrine

One of the best parts of going on vacation and taking a lot of pictures is that I get to keep remembering how much fun we had and how much warmer it was down in southern Japan. Can you see Ryan and the girls at the entrance to the Fushimi Inari Shrine?

Here is Helen with the map of the area. Someday we may know how to read the signs, but for now we just wander along the paths.

As you will see in the following pictures, once we commenced on the path, it was really hard to lose our way, or wander off to be lost.

This is perhaps one of my favorite pictures from the trip

Arashiyama

This is the restaurant where we had dinner before we caught the bus into Kyoto. Luckily for us, there are plastic replicas of the meals in the window front so we can decide if there are things we are brave enough to try.The girls got some fried rice and I got Udon noodles with beef and curry. The proprietress had pity on us and distributed forks and spoons as appropriate.
We saw this fan shop and thought it was worthy of a picture. Sadly we couldn't think of anyone in dire need of a fan, so we didn't go in.

Hiroshima and Arashiyama

When we discovered that we were coming to Japan I made it a family goal for us to see some snow monkey that I had heard about. When we were in Arashiyama we had the chance, although they weren't in hot springs, they were the same kind of monkeys so I count it. The beauty of the sign below is that the trail is straight up the mountain just as it appears. This was not a hike for the faint in heart. Luckily we were able to leave the stroller at the bottom and Ryan got to carry Jane all the way up. What a good dad.Here we are at the top with the city of Kyoto in the background. I think that Alice missed the whole experience. The monkeys fascinated the girls.
Is there anything as fun as looking at a monkey staring at you? I don't think so. Especially not when it's up close and personal like this.
But he wasn't interested in a chit-chat, he really just wanted food.

One of the things we learned on this vacation is that when you travel off season, there won't be nearly as many tourists, but many of the sights are going to be under scaffolding. This is the A-Dome in the background. I have to admit that I was really disillusioned, but they want to keep the building looking just like it did when the atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima.

Island of Miyajima 2

Here is what we decided was the world's largest rice paddle. As there were no signs in English, we are pretty confident in our assumption. On the island, they are famous for making stuffed maple leaf shaped desserts. Now if you were given the choice of these tasty pastries, which one would you choose?They are also famous for oysters and here they are grilling up some oysters for the tourists. You may not be able to tell, but these are delicacies. The dark black mixture is squid ink, we don't know what the rest of them are, but they all had a smell reminiscent of the sea.
Ryan took this picturesque photograph. I think he has a future in photography if medicine doesn't work out. We went to the neatest aquarium and they had this tank set up so we could take the pictures so it looks like our family is in the drink.
Once again Helen is found by the octopus. This one is different, as it is alive.
The best part of this island was that we could walk all over the place with no threats greater than the random deer snatching paper to eat from unwary tourists.
There is the floating tori gate in the background of the large temple square.
Can you see Ryan and the girls underneath the old wooden temple in front of the pagoda?
Jane has become increasingly independent and would rather walk up stairs, no matter how steep or how many.
I think this is a cool looking lion and the girls were good enough to pose by it.

Island of Miyajima

I am feeling a little overwhelmed with all the pictures we took on our vacation, so here is just a snapshot to get started. Helen and a rice paddle, Jane as a spiritual leader and Michelle as the filled maple leaf waffle maker.

Happy Birthday Michelle

I was spoiled rotten yesterday for my birthday. Ryan and Helen made a delicious lasagna for me. Then while Helen and I went for a walk, Jane and Ryan made a delicious Texas sheet cake. The girls decorated the cake with all sorts of flammable things, which made the lighting of the sparkler candle even more exciting.

Here is a picture of our newest Japanese wonder. Our bathroom door is normally open because of the step stool that gets in the way of the door. Now we have this fabulous noren curtain to separate the bathroom from the rest of the house.

Transportation Vacation

Last week we traveled from the snowy north of Japan to the slightly less cold south, visiting Hiroshima and Kyoto for a few days. A major topic of discussion and excitement during the trip was "Transportation", as the Japanese have many more options easily available besides the car and the plane. For fun, we made a little collage for you of all our modes of travel. See if you can match each picture with the correct vehicle. The first to get them all correct wins a bowl of ramen noodles at the Japanese restaurant of your choice (must be claimed in Japan). Enjoy!

Options: (1) Streetcar, (2) Taxi, (3) Ferry, (4) Plane, (5) Bullet Train, (6) Bus, (7) Local Train