1000 warrior procession

So last Thursday I decided the pull the kids out of school for a special field trip.  I think once in a while should be ok, and the school here actually heartily encourages this if it is to see and experience Japan.

I had heard a month or so ago about this festival and thought the boys would especially find it interesting.  I mean what boy would not want to see 1000 samurai in full costume?  This festival is staged every year on October 17, and May 17th.  The procession is made up of calvary, warriors carrying guns and others with spears, archers with bows and arrows, and so on.  It is fascinating to observe and gives you some insight into 17th century Japan.  It is believed to be a reproduction of the funeral ceremony of the First Shogun of Tokugawa, namely Tokugawa leyasu (1542-1616).

I awoke the children at 4:30 to be out the door at 5.  The procession began at 11, but we had no idea what traffic would be like, and, being a three hour trip, the bus we were taking decided to leave at 5:30 to be sure we arrived on time.
We arrived around 9, to the most stunningly beautiful day we had yet experienced in Japan.  The temperature was perfect and the smell of cedar was heavenly.  We walked around the area until the procession was due to start.  It did not disappoint.  The whole day, being with good friends, seeing the festival, wandering the shrines and woods around them was wonderful...worth the task of pulling 4 tired little ones out of bed even....after all...this is Japan!  Where else could we experience such a thing?

                                                                         Saying Hello....

     Gorgeous cedar trees and stone....

                                                                       Pagoda

                                                 

                                                                 Waiting to begin

                                                                     Buddhist Prayers

                                                                         Samurai

                                                   The procession begins

                                                                Ouch!!!

                                                Some of the food they offer to the gods

                                                          Shinkyo Bridge  (no rain this time!)

We left feeling exhausted, but happy, the kids enjoyed it, but I loved it!

Tama Zoo

Andrew has been working long hours at work these days and this past Monday he had a much needed day off.  Neither of us wanted to do anything big, so a low key trip to the zoo was decided upon, much to the delight of the children.  Stanley had been asking to go since we arrived, but I could hardly bear the thought of all that walking in the near-stifling summer heat.  Monday was a perfect day, weather wise.  Unfortunately though, it was also a holiday for the Japanese and it was PACKED.  Note to self, never leave base on a Japanese holiday ever again.

After struggling to find parking, we finally arrived.  The children were thrilled to explore and see what they had to offer.  It was very much like any American zoo, with the exception of the food selection.  They had all the typical animals from Australia, Africa and beyond.  Frankly, I am glad, it was good for the children.
All in all we had a nice relaxing family outing...a much needed together time.

   I love Tommys face in this one....

    In his element!

             

  The butterfly house was amazing, there were thousands of butterflies everywhere....

Nikko

So, as many of you know, for my birthday we went to Nikko this past weekend.  Andrew has been unbelievably busy these last few weeks at work and I was very much looking forward to some family time away.  As the week leading up unfolded, it increasingly became evident that this was probably not the best weekend for such a trip.  But, alas we had already paid for alot of it so we stuck to our original plan that was made well over a month ago.

So, off we went with the hope that the forecast of rain all day both days was wrong.
Nikko National Park is a largely mountainous volcanic plateau studded with lakes,waterfalls, hot springs and swamplands.  It is truly beautiful in a very rugged way.

We rented a log cabin just outside the park, which the children loved.  They spent ages exploring the area around us, playing Japanese warrior games and secret missions of the samurai delivering scrolls.  While we were sightseeing, they were begging us to go back to the cabin and play longer.

Saturday we awoke to a steady rain but set off anyway.  We went to the town of Nikko, where, apparently about 1200 yrs ago a formidable Buddhist priest named Shodo Shonin, on his way to Mount Nantai, crossed the Daiyo River and founded the first shrine in this area.  The Shinkyo Bridge which spans the river marks this place.  We then went on to the Tosho-gu shrine.  This shrine seeks to dazzle the eyes.  For 2 yrs some 15000 artisans from all over Japan worked, building, carving, gilting, painting, and lacquering, to create this flowery gorgeous Momoyama-style complex.  It is said to be the most ornate shrine in Japan.

                                          Shinkyo Bridge

The children were cranky and we decided we were wet enough and after a traditional noodles meal, let the children go back to their play in the woods.

The next day took us to Mt. Nantai a beautiful volcano with Lake Chuzen-ji at its foot.  We hiked to several Falls in the area before the fog set in and we had to call it a day.  We will definetely be back, hopefully with more sunshine...

                                         Ryu-zu Falls

                                                        This is a lava bed on Mount Nantai