Chinatown Field Trip

This past week Macie's school went on field trip to Yokohama to visit Chinatown. We started out at the Yokohama Foreign cemetery and then walked our way down the hill to Chinatown. The cemetery was created when a sailor on Matthew Perry's ship died and permission was asked to bury him on land. Matthew Perry, of course, is a significant figure in Japanese history - he is credited with opening Japan to trading with the rest of the world. It was definitely an interesting field trip.

There are several gates that signal that you are entering Chinatown.

 It seemed like every time you passed a building, there was a small side street.

Macie in front of one of the many shops. Every few feet, there was either a shop or a place to eat.

There were lots of shrines. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to go inside them on this trip. But they were very interesting to see from the street.

There were lots of shops to try things we had never seen before. This was a place that combined ice cream toppings and fruit with shaved ice. Kind of tasted like the dipping dots you buy at the mall.

Macie shared hers with our group.

The kids were not too excited by stores like this one - those are whole ducks hanging in the windows.

Pandas are big in Chinatown. Definitely a unique way to attract people to your shop.

The kids got a big kick out of this statue. It is Dumpling Man. Dumplings are big in Japan and this was in front of one the shops - lots of people were stopping to have their picture taken.

More photos from Kinugasayama

   Yesterday, we found out what the yama means in Kinugasayama. It means mount - as in Mount Kinugasa. The top of the park is over 1400 feet - which is quite an increase in elevation since we live at sea level only two or three miles from the park. The view allowed us to look down on Yokosuka and see the town from a completely different perspective. From the base, Yokosuka doesn't look that big but the pictures toward the bottom show why the city actually has a population over 400,000.

Kinugasayama Park Cherry Blossoms

   This is Cherry Blossom season is Japan. We are planning to visit several cherry blossom sites - trying to find the best places to go. Lots of places to choose from. Another thing we are going to be looking for is the right time to go - when the trees are in full bloom.
   On Wednesday, we went to Kinugasayama Park - a very pretty park with lots of trails and a view that overlooks the city of Yokosuka and Tokyo Bay. The cherry blossoms were very pretty although I don't think they were in full bloom yet.
   There is going to be a parade on April 17 with samurai dressed in armor to commemorate the Miura clan supporting the first shogun of Japan - Minamoto Yoritomo. Hopefully, we will get some good pictures for the blog.

Entrance to the park

The Kinugasa Shrine

There were wooden animal sculptures
 throughout the park. 

Mona is steppin' out

Mona made her first solo trip driving in Japan this past week. She was a little stressed (maybe a lot) as the big day approached. But she did well despite running into heavy traffic both going to Yokota and on her way back to Yokosuka. It was definitely a red letter day in our time here in Japan.

Here is a screen shot of Mona's trip. Notice how the suggested trip weaves and winds its way from Yokosuka to Yokota. The reason for this is a combination of the hilly terrain and the toll roads that crisscross Japan. When you travel from one city to the next, the only way to get there is by using the toll roads.

Mona's stressing as she
starts her trip.

We don't usually encounter heavy traffic. 
This was as she approached a toll booth.

Mona got into heavy traffic again as she was
going from one toll road to another.

Mona arrives at Yokota. She was very relieved.

On her way home, she knew she was going
the right direction when she saw the Coke sign.

Heavy traffic on the way home. Mona actually 
didn't mind the traffic - she enjoyed going slow.
That way she had time to make sure she was
going in the right direction.

Week of March 14

There are so many things to put on the blog that I end up suffering paralysis by analysis. So, I have decided to at least try to post pictures from each week if not writing an actual blog entry. This week, Andrea had a friend from her former job in Dallas visit her. They spent time in Tokyo, Yokohama and Kamakura.

Tokyo Tower

300 Year Old Pine Tree at
Hanarikyu Gardens

Tokyo Sky Tree

Tokyo Tower  - A window in
the floor that allows you look to
straight down onto the streets below.

Hanarikyu Gardens - The Flower Field

Views from Tokyo Sky Tree

Cherry Blossom Tree -
Hanarikyu Gardens

Interactive view from the
Tokyo Sky Tree

Downtown Tokyo as seen from
the Hanariku Gardens

View of Tokyo skyline from
the Tokyo Tower