Mom and Dads visit to Japan

Oh the anticipation, the excitement, counting down of days!  We were SO excited to have my parents come to Japan and see our home here in Japan.  The time flew by way too quickly, but every day was a treat and we loved every moment of having them with us.

Arriving at Narita!  They were exhausted but you would never know it!

After a few down days at the base we were ready for our first real adventure.  The Mount Fuji area.

We had a glorious day for the trip and we showed them some of our favorite places.

Our first stop was a thatched roof village where we had the opportunity to dress up in Japanese attire.

kimono ladies

shogun warriors

Drying Persimmon

Frame worthy!

Lake Motosu

Shiriato Falls

enjoying the roar!

A full day but any day with unobstructed views of Fuji is great!

last day

We woke up ready to head home.  There was a hurricane coming into Tokyo later that day and I really wanted to avoid as much rainy driving as possible.  Several stops had to be made first so we had an early start.

This circle K convenience store had a parking area for people like us, who just want a place to sleep in their car for the night.  We were free to use the bathroom and shower, and this was a great place for fresh bread in the morning.

Sleep area

We started driving along the coastline of Japan where the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit on March 11, 2011.  I knew it was bad, but the sheer reality of driving through town after town utterly wiped out was really hard.  I wanted to take more pictures, but with so many working to rebuild with what had happened  I could only muster a few.  I felt guilty somehow.

A sign always indicated where the tsunami had hit 

huge sea walls being built

getting ready to rebuild

nothing left

The children learned a lot about tsunamis that day.  Visually.  They knew a lot already, but this hit home more for all of us.

The Kitayamazaki Cliffs are along the coast here and we stopped here for a hike and some time to run around.

flowers from my girl

Enjoying cliffs, seems to always include hundreds of stairs!

Heading inland we made our last stop before the final push home to Ryosendo Cave.  A extensive limestone cave in the mountains.  Large volumes of clear blue water gush out from the depths and form an underground river and four underground lakes.  We were able to view 3 of the lakes which are 35, 38, and 98 meters deep respectively.  Of all we saw on the trip, this is what was written about in the children's journals back at home the most.

Standing over the river

deep water...pictures were almost impossible

loving it

Lunch time!

tofu and fish on a stick

YUM!

The best part is the fish tail, and this boy made quick work of his

And this boy

Our favorite lunch...except for Molly

Well I did not beat the wind...or the rain from the typhoon...and my bed felt heavenly...but we had a amazing trip!

Shimokita

A restful night had us ready to go north to the 'ax head' of Japan.  A very remote peninsula on the northern part of Honshu, it had been a place of interest to me after seeing some paintings of  gray cliffs on the western side of the island peninsula.  Our first stop however, was Osorezan or more commonly referred to as 'the gates of hell' to the Japanese.  Translated as "Fear Mountain", a name that comes in part from the mountain's exceptional landscape.  The area is rich in volcanic activity, and a strong sense of sulfur permeates the air.  The ground is gray and barren and marked by openings that steam, bubble and blow hot water.  Lake Usori, located next to the temple, is colored various shades of blue due to its high sulfur content.

The Japanese view this place as an entrance to the afterlife, because it features geographical elements similar to descriptions of Buddhist hell and paradise, including eight surrounding peaks and a river, Sanzu no Kawa, which is to be crossed by all dead souls on their way to afterlife.  It felt very ominous to be in this area, and though beautiful, I was ready to leave very quickly.

The bridge or 'Gate'

ominous gods

beautiful lake

Bodaiji Temple

food offerings

piles and piles of stones and pebbles, offerings to the god Jizo in the hope he will help their children gain access to paradise.  Heart breaking

shades of blue

steam vents

From here I headed to the Yagen valley via a dirt road highway hoping to relax in a onsen on the river.  The drive was beautiful but the children were not cooperating so we headed on to the cliffs.

Yagen Valley

Main highway

dirt road 

Hotokegaura are the wind carved cliffs that were a huge reason in bringing me up here.  The whole coast of this part of Japan was beautiful and despite a very long hike to the ocean was thoroughly enjoyed.

Enjoying the scenery

Hotokegaura cliffs

my girls

photo courtesy of Stanley

The LONG hike up and down

This caused mild concern...but no sightings

The late afternoon sun was starting to set so I set up the beds in the van and headed for the east coast of Japan.  The coast where the horrific tsunami of 2011 cost some 19 000 people their lives.  We stopped in for the night at a rest area, and were going to start home the next day.