Osaka - Tsutenkaku, Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori

We took the bullet train (shinkansen) from Tokyo to Osaka. It can go as fast as 170 MPH. I couldn't look out the windows for too long - it made me sick seeing all of the building fly by.

After we checked into our hotel in Osaka, grandma Michiko's friend's friend's daughter picked us up and took us to the Tsutenkaku (Osaka Tower). We too the elevator up to the top where we coudl get a view of the whole city.
Here is Yuka. She is 19 and is in cosmetology school. She used to study Japanese dance. She is going to take us to Kyoto on Sunday to see a huge festival and parade.

Here is a view of one of the markets near Shinsaibashi. Katrina and I split an taiyaki maker, so we can make our own fish-shaped bean cakes at home!I tower over everyone in our group.

Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori are both near the river, and the markets surround both sides of the bridges.
Dotonbori is known for it's crazy signs. Here is one especially for Hana.



This is the sign for a fugu (pufferfish) restaurant. If you ate fugu that has been prepared correctly, there is a good chance you would die.

Osaka is famous for tacoyaki (little octopus balls, sort of like Japanese aebelskivers). There are octopus signs like this all over.
Osaka is also famous for it's okonomiyaki. They're pancakes made with egg, cabbage, and whatever meat you choose. You can also add noodles. We went to Fugetsu, where we could watch them make our okonomiyaki right at our table.

We were supposed to spend another day in Osaka, but we are going to the festival in Kyoto instead. If we make it back in time tonight, we might stop by Osaka Castle and then get some delicious takoyaki.

Mt. Fuji, Hakone, and Hara Juku

So, while Mr. Chucky Face was getting patched up, I was sightseeing around Mt. Fuji. We took a tour up to the Mt. Fuji visitor's center:

Then we went to the 5th station on Mt. Fuji. This is the highest you can drive up the mountain. There are 10 stations total. Some of them have noodle bars and places to sleep. From the 5th station, it takes about 6-8 hours to climb to the top, but you can only climb from July-September.

There are also Shinto shrines at many of the stations.


After that, we went back down to a hotel near Fuji for lunch. We had all sorts of yummy bits arranged in fancy stacking bowls.

There was miso, rice, chawan mushi (custard), fruit, sashimi, kamaboku, tempura, tsukemono (pickles), dumplings, jellyfish, and probably more things that I forgot.
Then we drove to Hakone, which is a resort town. We took the gondola up to some hot springs, and then took a boat around Lake Ashi.
Our tour ended here, so we took a bullet train (shinkansen) back to Tokyo and went to Hara Juku. That is the place where lots of girls dress up like manga characters, with big wigs, and fancy costumes. There is a lot of shopping there - inexpensive and very trendy. Sort of like an alternate Hello Kitty universe. We ate at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant; the one in Hara Juku is supposed to be the cheapest place in the world to get his food.


We're leaving for Osaka this morning. It takes 9 hours by bus, but only 3 hours on the bullet train (thank goodness we're taking the train). Hugs and kisses! I'll put up more pictures when I can.

Tokyo, Tsukiji Fish Market, Hama Rikyu Garden and Ginza

We walked and walked all over today. For breakfast, we headed to the Tsukiji Fish Market. The fish auctions are closed to the public since the earthquake, but we were able to wander around the market and find a nice sushi place for breakfast. We had tuna, eel, sea urchin, mackerel, clam, scallop, squid, and more.



From the fish market, we walked to the Hama Rikyu gardens. After that, we headed to the Ginza district for some shopping. We had a great dinner of bits and pieces from the market at one of the Ginza buildings.

Halloween

Damian and Carly went trick or treating today. It started out a lovely sunny evening, but after about half an hour a big thunder storm hit and we all got soaked. Damian was a vampire and Carly was a witch.
Here they are doing a scary face.

I could not help but get involved and dress up too.

Thanks Samantha

I was very excited when mum divided up the spoils of Samantha's package and gave me the candy coating I was after. I made these cake pops on the weekend and they turned out much better with the chocolate Samantha sent me than any chocolate I have tried here. So a BIG thank you to Samantha.

Below are some pictures from Carly's second birthday. It was a pink and white theme. Damian and I made this pinata, it is a camillia flower. The kids really liked it.

Jaylee giving it a good whack, it held together better than I thought it would, so all the kids got to have a turn of hitting it.

I borrowed a slide with a car, and this is grandad (graggy) giving carly a good push on it.

The only Carly wanted for her birthday was a cake, this is her showing mummy that she has some in her mouth.

The party table, all pink and white except for the cheezles that Damian insisted we have. According to him it is not a party without cheezles.

Papa's Treehouse

Papa brought us a new treehouse last week! The Scouts moved it out of a friend's backyard in San Diego, and my dad took it home and refinished the whole thing for us. Then, when we found William screaming, hanging upside-down from his cowboy boots lodged in the top rung of the ladder, Papa built us a William-proof drawbridge. For Hana and Lane, this has the added advantage of keeping him away from their tea parties on the top deck. Thanks, Papa!



...and a few more photos.

Just Pictures

Finally, some pictures. But sorry, no witty banter.

Will's new Sunday Best.


Hana's first school report - on Ponies.

Poor Will on his hand-me-down bike.


Selling eggs - those kids have earned enough to take themselves to Sea World!



Lane's Pink and Red Birthday Party.