Nihon Rashii

8 year old daughter has decided that on the cooler, Summer days, she would like to wear this around the house.  I think our good friend gave it to us (Oink Oink).

Japanese Legacy.

Dinner at our house, inspired by our experience in Japan earlier this year.

Gohan Bowl.

The bowl was my gohan (rice) bowl when I was an exchange student to Japan.  Aunty L has given the bottom two plates to me.  We try to use these often in our day to day use.

Local Smiles.

The great thing about living in a flat in a part of Tokyo for a short time, is that you can greet local people and perhaps get to know them a little.  These were the men who were in the octopus ball shop everyday.  They were so friendly with huge smiles.  It was really a highlight to see them everyday and quite sad when we waved goodbye as we left this area.

Gomi.

Gomi (rubbish) is an interesting process in Tokyo.
To the right is a cupboard to hold our shoes and the left is a slipper storage rack.  In the middle is a complicated recycling system to be used during our stay in Tokyo.  Combustibles, incombustible, plastic bottles (lids were separate, as were labels), general plastics and paper.
There were different collection days for various categories.  The bins would be unlocked by the local garbage person, and that night, the bins could be filled.  The next day they were emptied and locked up again.  If people had made a mistake rinsing or separating garbage, a large sticker is placed on the bin and the rubbish is left.

There is not a great deal of space for garbage in Japan, hence this highly organised system.

We did not see any litter whilst in the cities we visited in Japan.

Castles.

The Imperial Palace, Tokyo.

Nagoya Castle

Kyoto.

And these days in Kyoto, were precisely as I imagined traditional Japan to be.  We were so very comfortable in our old house right in the traditional part of Kyoto.

The Stig in Train Design.

The Stig

Google Images.

Shinkansen

Husband E.

Hikari, Hayabusa, Nozomi, Kaiji.... all names of trains that we got to enjoy in Japan.  I just think that these trains are so handsome!

13 year old son first thought of the Stig simile.

Meals near Mt Fuji.

All part of an amazing dinner near Mt Fuji.  Dessert was jelly with gold specks through it.  We did not photograph the dessert plate in time.

Tokyo Tower.

Can you see Mt Fuji in the distance?

Looking down through a glass floor in Tokyo Tower.

Nihon (Japan): Tokyo Part One.

We have returned from our trip to Japan, which was an amazing experience for us all.  We were greeted by many friendly and helpful people.  We hope that this trip will form a lasting impression for our children.  

Our first glimpse of Mt Fuji.

We stayed in a flat in Tokyo, living as the local people do; buying groceries, using the trains, waving to the shopkeepers......

This was the local grocery store.

Plastic examples of food which this restaurant served.

One of the many alley ways.

Ja Mata Ne.

Back in three weeks time.