Miraikan, The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation

The results of what you do in the bathroom behind closed doors, and what you do in it, are on display at Odaibas Miraikan's newest special exhibition.  The title "Toilet?! Human Waste and the Earths Future."  I love a great museum, and this was one the boys were dying to see...

Konnichiwa!

Gold plated designs

crystal encrusted toilet

The exhibit was actually very well done and very informative.  The hands down highlight was sliding down a giant toilet with a poop hat on.  Complete with flushing sounds, it was very odd

aiming correctly...sigh

They even had several different animal waste examples

This was the giant panda

Asian elephant

play doh to make your own!

singing toilets at the close of the display

We actually loved the museum itself and spent most of the day wandering and learning of Japans past and present innovations.

The highlight of the museum was a android I somehow didn't photograph.  It was incredible

We could have stayed many more hours, but Audrey was beat!

We had dinner at Divers City next door...we have been before but every time the boys want to pose with gundam!  Can't say I blame them, he is impressive!

Very memorable day!

Back to School happenings

The kids are back to school.  I dread it every year, and every year I wonder why on earth I don't just home school.  But then I remember awfully quickly my lack of patience, and I am at peace with it.  They were very excited to go back, Tommy was nervous about who would be in his class and how he would like his teacher, but everyone came home happy and smiling and with one week under our belt all seems to be going well.

Off they go

Siblings

1rst grader

4th grader

2nd grader

I just had to include this photo of this sumo wrestler we met the day before school started while out for last minute supplies.  He was signing autographs with another wrestler and was kind enough to pose with the boys.

After I sent the oldest three off to school I had to take Audrey to the dentist because she had been complaining to us that her front tooth was bothering her for several days.  Reluctantly we headed off and my fears were confirmed that the tooth she had hurt in a fall a couple years ago needed to come out.  I knew this would alter her appearance drastically, my baby is growing up.

One last glimpse...

Ready to do it!

That night, at bedtime, she lifted up her pillow to reveal to us a tiny pink treasure chest which the dentist gave her.  She rattled the tooth inside a bit before carefully opening the chest to reveal its contents.  "See?"  She mournfully said.  "It died."

Udon Grand Prix

The Udon Grand Prix sees shops from all over Japan competing to find out who has the best noodles...

The thick, wheat flour noodle may seem a tad boring (it was to me when I first arrived here), but just like ramen, it is a serious deal in Japan. Kagawa prefecture, in Shikoku, has even been talking of changing its name to "udon prefecture" since the dish is so famous there.

For 2 days last weekend, representatives from the various udon shops across Japan gather around pots of boiling water, throw in their noodles and cook up some special broths in hopes of taking home top honors in Tokyo's Yoyogi park.  Visitors can taste noodles from Akita, Hokkaido, Fukuoka and Okinawa to name a few.  I took my three oldest and we had a great time tasting and voting...

these were from Sapporo...and were delicious.  Plums, seaweed, and fish were the toppings...

odd combination

Our favorite from Shikoku, a more traditional type with green onion, and egg in a sardine broth

Slurp!

fresh!

Chips on a stick!

Most booths were clearly marked with the area their udon came from

this was out voting card with the udon shop name

and we then put it in the box to coincide with how we felt about the noodles.  

Green- not satisfying

Orange- satisfying

Red- very satisfying

They were without question the best noodles we have had to date here!

The children loved all the dancing that was going on at the park with the festival.  There were countless performers, and it was just fascinating to see all the costumes, and to people watch that day.

Hanano Miyako Koen

A few weeks ago we spent the day with friends at Hanano Miyako Koen, for their sunflower festival.  Located very near the base of Mt. Fuji, we were hoping for clear views of the mountain, and a break from city life.

She delivered, but Fuji is not nearly as beautiful without its snow cap!

Trying to get a photo with these monkeys that day was almost impossible.

This was more up their alley

 We had just gotten our Nova Scotia shirts the day before from Aunt Kristi, so here they are in Japan!

Note it was about 100 degrees that day, and the girls managed to smile with their sweatshirts!

Just chilling

On the grounds there was a lovely greenhouse with beautiful orchid displays...

but we loved this waterfall we came across with hydrangeas growing everywhere around it

Molly at the top

We ended the afternoon with a swim in Lake Yamanaka.  One of Fujis five lakes, it is quite warm due to the rising magma underneath.  Water levels are rising, and they are watching it closely for signs of a volcanic eruption.

The areas around Fuji are one of my favorite areas of Japan to explore.  Its so vastly different from Tokyo, and yet so close....throw in any flower festival to enjoy and I'll be there!