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ArrivingLight
This page contains photos from our
Summer 2007 trip to Japan. Friends,
family, festivals and great places in
beautiful Japan for Tom, Dawn, and
Brendan!
Japan Trip 2007 Arrival in Japan
after a 13-hour flight and 20
hours of travel. We're ready!
Japan Trip 2007: Our wonderful
friends, Mr. and Mrs. Kurashi and
Wada-san and Nelida. Our first
meal in Japan after 22 hours of
travelling!
Japan Trip 2007, The Kuraishi
home. Thank you for your love and
hospitality! You are wonderful!
"Father" Kuraishi-san and
Okaa-san.
Japan Trip 2007 Mrs. (Mother)
Kuraishi. One of the best mothers
in the world!
Japan Trip 2007 Kuraishi-san's
home. Fantastic memories of
staying with a fantastic family!
In 1977 and 2007! We love you and
hope to see you again!
Japan Trip 2007, We are dining at
a Kaiten Zushi (sushi on a
conveyor belt) restaurant with
Mr. and Mrs. Kuraishi--in Asakusa
(in Tokyo).
Japan Trip 2007, Brendan loves
sushi!
Japan Trip 2007 The front window
of the sushi restaurant.
Japan Trip 2007 Asakusa street
scene
Japan Trip 2007 Asakusa shopping
arcade.
Japan Trip 2007 Asakusa street
scene, before the festival and
big fireworks.
Japan Trip 2007 Asakusa shrine
gate
Japan Trip 2007 Asakusa streets
& shrine
Japan Trip 2007 Asakusa
shrine
Japan Trip 2007 Asakusa streets
& shrine
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan with his
new fan, a useful item in Tokyo
during the summer.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan in front
of one of the beautiful rolling
doors in Asakusa (covering a
shop).
Japan Trip 2007 Dinner
possibilities on display at a
restaurant in Asakusa
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan at the
Ryokan Shigetsu in Asakusa (the
inn we stayed at). A pleasant and
worthwhile place to stay.
Japan Trip 2007 Finding
information at the train station
with Naoko and her husband.
Japan Trip 2007 Meiji Jingu Park
with friends Naoko, her husband,
and Mrs. Sugita!
Japan Trip 2007 Meiji Jingu
Park
Japan Trip 2007 View of Tokyo
from Roppongi Hills Towers (too
bad it was a rainy and hazy
day--Tokyo goes on forever!
Japan Trip 2007 Our very SPECIAL
friends, Naoko and Mrs. Sugita.
Thank you for the wonderful
Sunday together!
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan at the
entrance to the Ghibli Museum.
Those are soot-sprites in the
small opening!
Japan Trip 2007 Ghibli Museum
grounds
Japan Trip 2007 With our friend
Mariko and her family. Mariko is
too funny!
Japan Trip 2007 Shopping arcade
in Nakano (just west of
Tokyo)
Japan Trip 2007 Mariko's daughter
and GRAND-daughter with Brendan.
Mariko is an OBAA-chan??
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan with
Mariko and Mariko's
grand-daughter at the train
station.
Japan Trip 2007 Shopping in
Nakano
Japan Trip 2007 Shopping with
Mariko
Japan Trip 2007 A quiet early
morning at a shopping arcade in
Asakusa (Tokyo).
Japan Trip 2007 Anime (animation)
store in Nakano
Japan Trip 2007 One of Brendan's
favorite trains, the Azusa to
Matsumoto from Shinjuku (in
Tokyo).
Japan Trip 2007 A view of the
countryside from the train.
Japan Trip 2007 Matsumoto City
Street Signs
Japan Trip 2007 Matsumoto Street
Scenes
Japan Trip 2007 Matsumoto soba
noodle shop. Delicious!
Japan Trip 2007 The menu at a
Matsumoto soba noodle shop.
Brendan loves soba.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan and the
toad outside a noodle shop in
Matsumoto.
Japan Trip 2007 Matsumoto
Castle
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan on the
bridge at Matsumoto Castle.
Japan Trip 2007 Kamikochi
National Park sign
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan &
Dawn at Kamikochi National
Park
Japan Trip 2007 Early morning
frost in Kamikochi National Park
(in July)
Japan Trip 2007 Kamikochi
National Park
Japan Trip 2007 Kamikochi
National Park Mountain Lodge
Japan Trip 2007 Kamikochi
National Park in July.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan and the
conductor on the Highland Express
to Kamikochi.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan ready to
ride the Highland Express. It's a
very pleasant train ride.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan studies
the train tickets.
Japan Trip 2007 Train
platform
Japan Trip 2007 Narai
information. Narai is on old
village in Japan.
Japan Trip 2007 Narai street
scene
Japan Trip 2007 Our very spacious
room at our Minshuku (family-run
inn) in Narai. Great place!
Japan Trip 2007 Unwinding with
tea at our minshuku in Narai.
From snow in the mountains to an
old village in hours. Beautiful
Japan.
Japan Trip 2007 Narai street
scene
Japan Trip 2007 Shopping for
snacks in Narai
Japan Trip 2007 Chopsticks and
more for sale at a shop in
Narai
Japan Trip 2007 Water flowing at
a shrine along the main street in
Narai. Cold and pure water flows
freely in a lot of the mountain
villages.
Japan Trip 2007 An artist's
workshop in Narai
Japan Trip 2007 Portrait
Narai
Japan Trip 2007 The artist and
her workshop in Narai.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan's new
friend at the Minshuku in Narai.
The Japanese are extremely
friendly all over the country.
Absolutely wonderful and
polite.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan and our
good friend, Mr. Kinoshita, with
his 660cc Suzuki car. VROOOM!
Japan Trip 2007 Street scene in
the ancient village of
Tsumago
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan and the
vegetable seller in Tsumago
Japan Trip 2007 Tsumago street
scene
Japan Trip 2007 An odd way to
transport a cat! This man is a
visitor to Tsumago.
Japan Trip 2007 Buying snacks in
the village of Magome Can't get
enough sembei (rice
crackers)!
Japan Trip 2007 Mr. Kinoshita
with us in Magome (another old
village).
Japan Trip 2007 Getting ready to
catch the Shinkansen (bullet
train) in Nagoya (to Tokyo). This
train MOVES!
Japan Trip 2007 With Tahara-san
at Tokyo station before taking
the bullet train north to Aomori.
We were so glad to see
Tahara-san!
Japan Trip 2007 On the
platform.
Japan Trip 2007 The Shinkansen!
Brendan's favorite way to travel
in Japan.
Japan Trip 2007 Waiting for the
start of the Aomori Nebuta
Festival. Great seats thanks to
Mr. and Mrs. Ninomiya!
Japan Trip 2007 Drums being
pulled into place for the Aomori
Nebuta Matsuri (Festival)
Japan Trip 2007 The lights are on
and the team is ready for the
signal to proceed at the Aomori
Nebuta Festival
Japan Trip 2007 Aomori Nebuta
Festival
Japan Trip 2007 Aomori Nebuta
Festival
Japan Trip 2007 The castle in
Hirosaki Park
Japan Trip 2007 Shopping for
souvenirs in Hirosaki Park
Japan Trip 2007 Hirosaki Neputa
Festival
Japan Trip 2007 Hirosaki Neputa
Festival. Notice the people
standing on TOP!
Japan Trip 2007 Hirosaki Neputa
Festival
Japan Trip 2007 Hirosaki Neputa
Festival. Again, notice the
people on TOP.
Japan Trip 2007 Hirosaki Neputa
Festival
Japan Trip 2007 Goshogowara Tachi
(tall) Nebuta; notice that all
the drummers are women! This was
our third Nebuta festival (and
perhaps the rowdiest and
best!).
Japan Trip 2007 Goshogowara Tachi
Nebuta
Japan Trip 2007 Goshogowara Tachi
Nebuta
Japan Trip 2007 Goshogowara Tachi
Nebuta
Japan Trip 2007 Goshogowara Tachi
Nebuta, most of these nebuta are
3 or 4 stories tall! Now THAT'S a
lantern!
Japan Trip 2007 Goshogowara Tachi
Nebuta
Japan Trip 2007 Goshogowara Tachi
Nebuta
Japan Trip 2007 Goshogowara. We
have arrived. Sign in the train
station.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan's new
friends on the train from
Hirosaki to Goshogawara. Brendan
made a lot of new friends
everywhere!
Japan Trip 2007 New friends at a
train platform in
Goshogawara.
Japan Trip 2007 Goshogowara Tachi
Nebuta
Japan Trip 2007 Goshogowara Tachi
Nebuta
Japan Trip 2007 Sendai Tanabata
Festival
Japan Trip 2007 Sendai
Tanabata
Japan Trip 2007 Sendai noodle
shop
Japan Trip 2007 Sendai Pachinko
parlour
Japan Trip 2007 Sendai Tanabata
Information Desk
Japan Trip 2007 Looking up the
cliffs to the temples at
Yamadera
Japan Trip 2007 One of many
stairways in Yamadera (up to the
temples and shrines)
Japan Trip 2007 Yamadera
Shrine
Japan Trip 2007 View of the
valley from the top of
Yamadera
Japan Trip 2007 Yamadera
Shrine
Japan Trip 2007 The reward for
climbing the stairs at Yamadera -
a slushy!
Japan Trip 2007 Yamadera snack
shop--excellent rice crackers
Japan Trip 2007 One of many
Japanese dragonflies that Brendan
caught on this trip. Even the
dragonflies are friendly in
Japan!
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan waiting
for door 15 of a soon-to-arrive
bullet train.
Japan Trip 2007 Another
Shinkansen arrives! (On time, of
course. Take note, Amtrak.)
Japan Trip 2007 Nikko--A World
Heritage Site
Japan Trip 2007 Mariko &
Brendan at Nikko
Japan Trip 2007 Nikko
Japan Trip 2007 Nikko
Japan Trip 2007 Nikko
Japan Trip 2007 Nikko
Japan Trip 2007 Tom & Brendan
at Nikko
Japan Trip 2007 Mariko &
Matsumoto-san with Dawn &
Brendan at Nikko
Japan Trip 2007 Nikko: If you go
to Japan, visit Nikko.
Japan Trip 2007 Dinner at our
lodge in Nikko with Mariko and
Matsumoto-san.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan in the
lodge at Nikko. This was a great
place.
Japan Trip 2007 The wooded stairs
to our lodge in Nikko.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan &
Aunt Mariko in Nikko. Mariko is
Brendan's "Japanese Aunt."
Japan Trip 2007 Nikko, Lake
Chuzenji and Kegon Falls
Japan Trip 2007 Kegon Falls,
Nikko
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan with a
stuffed animal at Kegon Falls
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan & Tom
at Lake Chuzenji, Near Nikko
Japan Trip 2007 Nikko Imperial
Villa
Japan Trip 2007 Nikko Imperial
Villa, the Emperor's second
home.
Japan Trip 2007 Nikko Imperial
Villa
Japan Trip 2007 One of Brendan's
many semi (cicadas) that he found
on this trip. Brendan caught
dozens of semi!
Japan Trip 2007 Nikko Botanical
Gardens bridge
Japan Trip 2007 Stone Buddahs in
Nikko
Japan Trip 2007 Hotel St. Bois
bath (bathing) room, Nikko
Japan Trip 2007 Hotel St. Bois
bath, Nikko
Japan Trip 2007 At Hotel St.
Bois: Brendan & his stuffed
spider after a bath (in Nikko).
Very relaxing.
Japan Trip 2007 Mariko relaxing
at Hotel St. Bois, Nikko
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan with
Mariko & Matsumoto-san in
Nikko
Japan Trip 2007 Boarding the
train from Nikko to Tokyo
Japan Trip 2007 Chiba City
Japan Trip 2007 Chiba
Japan Trip 2007 Chiba
Japan Trip 2007 Chiba
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan with cell
phone jackets
Japan Trip 2007 Chiba City's
Monorail
Japan Trip 2007 Chiba's suspended
Monorail
Japan Trip 2007 Chiba Castle
Japan Trip 2007 Mariko & Dawn
at a party in Chiba
Japan Trip 2007 Reviewing old
photos with friends in Chiba
Japan Trip 2007 More great
friends (from the 1970's) at a
party in Chiba.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan with Mrs.
Kuraishi at a party in Chiba
Japan Trip 2007 Friends at a
party in Chiba. It was WONDERFUL
to see Koichi-kun, Tehara-san,
Fu-chan, Mr. Hatori, Kubo-san,
and everyone!
Japan Trip 2007 Chiba Party &
YMCA Meeting: Wada-san, Kubo-san,
Omi-san, and Mari-chan!
Japan Trip 2007 Party in Chiba
and a YMCA Y's Mens Club Meeting.
These are wonderful friends. You
will be in our hearts
forever.
Japan Trip 2007 Mr. Kuraishi and
Y's Mens Club Meeting
Japan Trip 2007 Shopping in
Chiba
Japan Trip 2007 Paul & Kazumi
Stacey (Stacey-san even looks a
little Japanese after all these
years!)
Japan Trip 2007 Dawn being fitted
for a yukata
Japan Trip 2007 Kazumi Stacey
Japan Trip 2007 Tom's old
apartment in Chiba, with
Wada-san. We had great times back
in the 70's in Chiba!
Japan Trip 2007 Tom &
Wada-san Wada-san and Nelida, you
are subarashii!
Japan Trip 2007 Wada-san, Nelida
& Maya: A GREAT FAMILY!
Japan Trip 2007 Wada-san, My
super-friend.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan shopping
for DS cartridges near Chiba.
Japan Trip 2007 Walking the road
in Seiwa in Chiba Prefecture. I
remember riding my motorcycle
here many years ago.
Japan Trip 2007 View of the
countryside at the lake in
Seiwa.
Japan Trip 2007 Rice paddy in
Seiwa.
Japan Trip 2007 Another of
Brendan's spider friends in
Seiwa.
Japan Trip 2007 Shrine in Chiba
Prefecture
Japan Trip 2007 Shrine in Chiba
Prefecture
Japan Trip 2007 Shrine in Chiba
Prefecture
Japan Trip 2007 Wada-san &
Brendan hunting for bugs in
Seiwa
Japan Trip 2007 The trophies from
the bug hunt in Seiwa.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan making
friends in Seiwa at a campground
where Tom and Wada-san used to
go.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan's
favorite semi (cicada), caught
near Seiwa
Japan Trip 2007 Wada-san &
Tom near their old camping
grounds. More great memories!
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan's
favorite semi (cicada).
Japan Trip 2007 Shrine in the
cliff during Obon season.
Japan Trip 2007 Shrine in the
cliff during Obon.
Japan Trip 2007 View of the
cemetery from the Shrine in the
cliff (during Obon in
mid-August).
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan hiking in
Chiba Prefecture near Seiwa
Japan Trip 2007 Chiba Prefecture
Seiwa
Japan Trip 2007 Wada-san, Nelida
& Maya
Japan Trip 2007 View from Mr.
& Mrs. Ninomiya's deck
Japan Trip 2007 Mrs Ninomiya
watching Brendan play the
Nintendo DS. The what???!!
Japan Trip 2007 Mr & Mrs
Ninomiya's House, which overlooks
Tokyo Bay. An absolutely
beautiful and fantastic
place.
Japan Trip 2007 Mrs. Ninomiya
& Dawn
Japan Trip 2007 The view from Mr
& Mrs Ninomiya's deck, near
Futtsu in Chiba Prefecture.
Japan Trip 2007 On the beach in
Futtsu on Tokyo Bay.
Japan Trip 2007 Successful crab
catch in Futtsu.
Japan Trip 2007 Hunting for crabs
on the beach in Futtsu.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan & a
new friend on the beach,
Futtsu.
Japan Trip 2007 Successful crab
catch in Futtsu.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan's
smallest crab in Futtsu.
Japan Trip 2007 A kaiten zushi
restaurant in Futtsu. Great sushi
and sashimi!
Japan Trip 2007 Cliffs above
Futtsu
Japan Trip 2007 Dragonfly in
Ninomiya's garden
Japan Trip 2007 Building lanterns
for the Toro Nagashi festival in
Futtsu.
Japan Trip 2007 Building lanterns
for the festival in Futtsu and
preparing to sail them down the
river to the bay and ocean.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan's own
creation on wood, in Futtsu at
the the Ninomiya's house.
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan dressed
and ready for the Toro Nagashi
festival in Futtsu.
Japan Trip 2007 Mr & Mrs
Ninomiya with Brendan and the
homemade lantern in Futtsu. This
was a special night!
Japan Trip 2007 Ready for the
festival in Futtsu
Japan Trip 2007 Mr & Mrs
Ninomiya on their deck in Futtsu.
What a great place! What great
friends and a warm welcome!
Japan Trip 2007 Wada-san &
Tom, Futtsu
Japan Trip 2007 Mr. Ninomiya
& Tom
Japan Trip 2007 A view of Mt.
Fuji from the Ninomiya's deck at
their house in Futtsu.
Spectacular! SUGOI! It doesn't
get much better than this!
Japan Trip 2007 Lantern festival,
Futtsu
Japan Trip 2007 Sailing the
lanterns down the river at the
Lantern festival in Futtsu.
Japan Trip 2007 Preparing to
light the lanterns, Futtsu
Japan Trip 2007 Brendan's lantern
ready to float downstream and out
to the ocean, Futtsu.
Japan Trip 2007 Lanterns floating
out to sea, Futtsu
Japan Trip 2007 Festival food
vendor, Futtsu
Japan Trip 2007 Breakfast time at
Mr. and Mrs. Ninomiya's House.
Thank you again for a great
time!
Japan Trip 2007 Preparing to
leave Japan. Our final good-bye
to Mrs. Ninomiya.
Japan Trip 2007 Mr. Kuraishi
(Father) & Brendan at the
airport, just before leaving.
Japan Trip 2007 Kyoko Kuraishi
and Brendan. Brendan got to meet
Kyoko for the first time. We were
happy to see you, Kyoko!
Japan Trip 2007 Mrs. Kuraishi,
Kyoko & Brendan
Japan Trip 2007 Wada-san, Nelida
& Maya with Brendan
Japan Trip 2007 Final Farewell to
Friends as we leave Narita
Airport. WE LOVE YOU AND WE WILL
BE BACK! Matta ne!
Japan Trip 2007 Our Japan Rail
Passes--they were very useful and
got us to a lot of places!
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