Mom and Dad in Japan part 1

My parents came to Japan and we had an AWESOME time! It was a true whirlwind travel vacation, as we got up early each day and usually didn't get to the hotel until late. But we got lots of rest on the Shinkansen (=bullet train; sounds like shin (part of your lower leg) kan (England's can) and (beginning of cents)).(though the above picture is actually on a subway)

There is so much that I'd love to talk about, but there isn't enough room, so I'll do some of the bigger highlights.
Mom and Dad arrived Sunday evening at Narita airports. We hugged, I cried, mom dropped her suitcase on some older Japanese guy who gave her a dirty look. After getting the 'rents JR Rail Passes (quite possibly one of the best passes for tourists anywhere). We took the Narita express into Tokyo. We had to take a subway and walk a bit to Homeikan, out first hotel, so or course we got lost! Luckily the staff at this ryokan (traditional Japanese hotel- futons in a big tatami room, public baths) were sweet, and had lost guest before. When we showed at the wrong ryokan, they drove us to the right one.
We put our stuff down, and got right back to Tokyo Station to meet Anzai-san, who was our Jazz Taxi tour driver. He drove us around Tokyo, showing us all the beautiful city scenes matched to themed Jazz music. At the end he even brought out a little welcome bottle of champagne. I had him drop us off near the illuminated sakura (cherry blossom trees) in Roppongi, and we walked to T.G.I.Fridays for some food (cuz it's the only time I can get authentic American food).
Most hotel-like places in Japan have a lock out time, and ours was at 10pm in Tokyo. However, we didn't get back until around midnight. Luckily, they leave a side door unlocked for night owls like us!Monday we got up early and headed back into town to search for some sakura. We found a bunch at Ueno park. We followed the crowd down a sakura lined path, taking pictures, talking to other tourists, and staring at the Japanese having hanami under the trees. Hanami is an important part of Japanese culture in the spring. A group gets together- work, school, family, or friends- and you grab food, drinks, and a blanket and go have a picnic under the cherry blossoms. It gets really crowded, so you have to get there early to get a good spot, and since sakura only last a week or 2 at best everyone goes. Even though we have picnics, it's not really quite the same as the whole city showing up at the same place to do the same thing on the same weekend. The only thing I can liken it to is going to the beach on a hot summer weekend.
After we got some good pictures we headed to Asakusa temple. It's a huge temple with and even larger shopping area, and a famous big red lantern. I actually went here when I came to Japan 7 years ago, so I was really excited to go back. Lots of nostalgic memories! We took more pictures, and I bought a special tourist kimono and some sugar star candy.
We grabbed our bags from the ryokan, and took the train straight out to Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi) to see everyone's favorite volcanic landmass- Mount Fuji! It was a little hazy on the way in, but we were able to see Fujisan ( always Fujisan or Mt Fuji, but never Mt Fujisan). I'm glad we took some pictures from the train, cuz when we got up the next morning it was cloudy and looked like it might rain! We didn't see it at all on the way back to Tokyo (Fujisan is about 3 hours, give or take depending on your transportation mode, from Tokyo)!!
Tuesday was pretty much a travel day. We had to get back to Tokyo station from Fujisan, and then jump on the Shinkansen so we could get to Miyajima before nightfall. Miyajima is an island right of the coast of Hiroshima. If you've ever seen the picture of the red gate in the water, that's it! I think Miyajima was a favorite spot for all of us. The deer on the island are just like dogs! You can walk right up and pet them, or feed them (even though there are signs everywhere that say don't touch/feed!), and they will just follow you around.
We arrived to late to get a taxi, but luck was just on our side this trip. One of the drivers for the fancy hotel said our little "hole in the wall" ryokan was on the way, and drove is. Our place was actually past his hotel, but he wouldn't take any money. Instead we went for a night walk and stopped by that fancy hotel for some yummy Japanese dinner.
In the morning we got up early, again, and walked up part of the mountain to the cable car. The cable car took us to the top of Mt. Misen, and back down again when we were done. On top of the mountain you could see forever. A Buddhist monk climbed it countless years ago, and founded some temples to help find enlightenment. It's a really long hike, even from the cable car drop off. My mom said there should have been warning signs! I think he must have just felt very important being the first man on top of the mountain. Maybe as he looked across the blue water dotted with emerald islands to the mainland shore he thought he'd serendipitously found God's abandoned thrown.

Sadly, we did have to leave mystic Miyajima, so took the ferry back to the mainland and made a beeline for the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, where you can find the A-Bomb Dome, the Peace Memorial Museum, and the Arch tomb dedicated to the victims. Needless to say, especially if you've been to a Holocaust museums, it is sad and impacting. There are tons of items that give personal witness to the devastation of the atom bomb.
The worst part was that Wednesday morning we actually spent too much time on Miyajima, so our time at Peace Memorial Park was cut short. When we were kicked out at closing time, it had started to rain, so we took a (normal) taxi to the station and caught the next train to Kyoto, where we spent Thursday and Friday.

In Kyoto we saw some other famous sites- Kinkakuji ( the golden pavilion) where we had green tea and a sugar anko (sweet red bean paste) cake in a tea house, Inari Shrine (the fox shrine with hundreds of red torii), and Gion (Geisha district plus shopping). We also took a tour of the old Imperial Palace. Kyoto was the capital of Japan until 1868 when the emperor moved his residence to Tokyo. No one lives in the palace now, but sometimes has been used for ceremonies, and one of the rooms can be opened to show visiting heads of state. The outer walls of the inner building are painted with the red-orange color you see on all the torii gates. We learned that this color, in the good old days, was thought to ward of evil spirits and ghosts. Something else interesting is that the word Geisha isn't really used. In Kyoto, Miako ( the girls you see really dressed up with flowers and red ribbon in their hair, and painted faces) are girls training to be Geiko (Kyoto's Geisha). At night we went to Nijo Palace and one of the parks to see sakura illuminated at night. Friday before we left, my mom and I found an antique and new kimono store and we each got some good deals! Friday evening (after running back to Inari shrine for last minute gifts) we took the train and made it home sweet home Koriyama!

Kinkakuji (the Golden pavilion)
Mom and Dad with some normal girls out in their kimono for a hanami
A girl dressed up as a Maiko. Probably a tourist makeover, cuz the white paint is very expensive so real Miako only use it at night when they are working.