Tokyo Pit Stop for Ryan - Culture Day - Sushi Go Round

We had also gotten Ryan a kit, but it didn't fit in the March Box so we brought it with us. Ryan is really into Cars and we had found a cute Legos Tokyo Pit Stop Kit. It was great one-on-one time with him!

Nice job Ryan! Guido and Luigi as well as other accessories completed!

After lunch Jill, Ryan and John headed to Colin's school to participate in the closing ceremonies of their Culture Day. Colin had sessions in Martial Arts, Marching Band, Spanish, Ethiopian Games, Story Telling, Mochi ( a Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice pounded into paste and molded into shape) and Origami. He had really enjoyed his day.

At the final ceremony they gave awards for the class with the most spirit, sang songs, etc.

Ryan got a chance to pound the Mochi rice too!

After that was all over we headed to the "Dirty Dish Store" to see what we could find. It's a Recycling Center with all sorts of items...much like a super Goodwill. The boys found something which we will feature on another day! Fun shopping if you had a long time--and the adventure of getting here was something too! Hurray for GPS!! Jill has one for the area that leads her into really cool places! What Japanese call a two lane street we'd never be able to maneuver! Lots of very small cars here!

After the Dirty Dish Store we headed back to a Mall we had passed to see what they had for restaurants.

You learn to always have a place to return to...parking or train when you can't read the signs! After looking at all the food options, we decided on "sushi go round".

Colin poured in the tea...

Ryan added the water...

and the sushi went round....

and the boys shared a car with a great variety of sushi...

we had tuna, salmon, and several unidentified items, but all was good!

We got the impression that this particular shop didn't see a lot of cute American kids. They kept coming with the treats. This one they turned the crank and got a colored marble...both white...and the waitress brought a basket full of toys. Both boys took cars....then she returned later with lollipops. Just a fun evening!
After dinner we wandered a couple of the shops. The boys loved the sunglasses...it's all about attitude! Then back down to the car...no trouble...and home. Very fun day!

Laid Back Sunday!

It was a laid back Sunday with everyone sleeping in after a very late night We had bought our favorite pasty in the Kyoto Train Station and brought six Apple Crisps home for breakfast..yum! After a little more cleanup we headed back to the Bouncing Mushrooms but they were very crowded!

.We did finally see a plane head in for a landing.

The park is right at the end of the Atsugi runway.

watched a good foodball game for awhile...

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon!

Because the other park (off-base Japanaese park) was so crowded (it's the beginning of Golden Week where schools, businesses and others close for a week of visiting family etc.), the three boys, Colin, Ryan and John rode down to the Dinosaur Park by school (on base) and burned off some energy!

When they came back Colin got out a Salt Powered Car Kit we had sent in our March Box. Jill did a little fine trimming while he assembled the rest.

Once he got all the parts where they needed to be, he made the salt water solution (1:5) and dropped it into the appropriate places...

He put the metals plates where they belonged and assembled the car...ready for the test run!

Hurray...it made it all the way to Ryan! Salt Water Power Works!

One last treat for Grandpa! His muscles are still
a little sore from carrying his camera pack
through all of Kyoto! Good work Colin!

Colin adds the final touch! Great day!

Toji Temple - Nijo Castle - Shinkansen to Bairds

Toji Temple

We walked about 10 minutes from the hotel to Toji Temple. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day! We got there just as it was opening. Toji Temple was one of two large temples built in 794 when Kyoto became the capital of the country. It is the one remaining guardian temple on the east side of Kyoto. It is now the central seminary of Esoteric Buddhism and is known as a treasure house of Esoteric Buddhist art due to it's large numbers of Buddhist statues, carvings and paintings brought back from China hundreds of years ago.

Our first siting of the Five-storied Pagoda that measures 187 feet and is the highest pagoda in Japan. The original Pagoda was built in 826. It has been struck by lightening four times and this present pagoda was built in 1644. Stored inside are 4 buddhas.

the detail was incredible...

The grounds approaching the pagoda are beautiful!

These double cherries were spectacular!

This heron was having a feast!!

There was a stunning tree peony garden...

There were also other stunning buildings on the grounds.

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In the main Lecture Hall is located a wonderful set of 21 Buddhist statues arranged according to the Mikkyo Mandala described in the main sutra of Esoteric Buddhism.

No pictures could be taken inside the Lecture Hall so these are photos from off the internet. this whole area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was a delightful wander! We headed back to the hotel and checked out and left our luggage there and then headed north once more to visit...

Nijo Castle

This Castle was constructed in 1569 by Ieyasu the first Tokugawa Shogun. It has stunning gardens and many wall paintings of great value. This also is a World Heritage Area.

The corner guardhouse for the outer moat.

Gate to inner area...

This entrance to the Ninomaru Palace contains lovely wall paintings throughout and many large tatami mats. No photos allowed.

South turret

Beautiful copper gates...

very nice gardens...

and wonderful views.

We left the palace and headed for the bus stop. Watched a 101 that we needed back to Kyoto Station go by as we were waiting at the light on the other side of the street. But, another came by within 10 minutes. We decided to stop for a bite to eat before going back to the hotel to get our luggage. We found a wonderful place...best yet...just after the escalator.

Next time you're in Kyoto Station stop here! It's GREAT!

a great sashimi bowl...

and a really good soba noodle bowl!

After lunch we headed back to the hotel, retrieved our luggage and then headed back to the train station. We had about an hour to kill so thought we'd make another visit to our favorite ice cream store...and then headed to the Shinkansen waiting room for about 15 minutes and then headed back to track #11. Before long our train was there and we were off...

abundant cabbage and fields ready to be planted..

and a lot of rice had been planted in the flooded patties.

When we got to the station by Jill's, we tried to call the numbers she had given us on the public phone with no luck. Finally we asked for help from the locals and they tried also...we got quite a nice group working on the project. Finally one of them just called on her cell phone and it went through just fine. Quite a celebration after that!

We're found the Japanese to be wonderful at helping you with directions and finding trains whether they speak English or not! We finally got in touch with Jill and she headed for the station, just a few minutes away. She had trouble getting off the base as they had had a huge Spring Festival with hundreds of locals in attendance to only one gate was open at a time and she hit the change of gates. But we got home just fine to a group of about 30 adults and children at their house for a Hale and Farewell....one person joining the Squadron and one leaving and moving on to another assignment.

The kids loved the somores!!
We socialized for awhile but hit the hay
about 10:00 pm. The party went on much
longer, but we never knew it! It was a
Grand trip to Kyoto...a must see when you come!