JAPAN - PART ONE

KYOTO, OSAKA, SENDAI, KOBE, NISHINOMIYA

Kyoto - Kyoto is one of the oldest continously existing cities in the world. It was the capital of Japan for over 1200 years, and was spared the devastation of U.S. bombing in WWII due to the lobbying of a history professor who understood the cultural heritage that was at risk.

Nishinomiya/Osaka/Kobe - Osaka is a huge and modern city not far from Kyoto, but totally different. Destroyed by U.S. bombing, it has been rebuilt anew. Known for businessmen who make lots of money and spend it on food. Osaka is home to Universal Studio Japan, aka America-Land theme park. Nishinomiya is more-or-less a suburb of Osaka, and home to the Hunter-Greens. Kobe is the next large city westward of those two. Flattened in 1985 by a major earthquake, Kobe has since been rebuilt almost totally. Home to Kobe beef, which comes from cows that have been fed Sumo wrestler food and beer. Kobe is also home to Casey Spencer and family, a friend of Carlos' made through an internet email group. Casey is known throughout this part of Japan for his laundry and driving skills.

Sendai - a coastal city north of Japan by a couple of hours on the bullet train. Home to Barry Lewis and family, a friend of Carlos' who plays Irish music on an instrument called a cittern. Sendai is near to several outdoor natural areas, including a number of famous ski resorts.

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Kyoto Station. An incredibly huge and deep structure which is utilized for all kinds of civic events.

 

 

 

 

Here is 3/4 of the family standing in front of the infamously ugly Kyoto Tower. It is supposed to look like a burning candle. Great claim to fame. Kyoto was the capital of Japan for 1200 years, and was spared Allied bombing in WWII because of the historical significance of the Temples, Shrines, and Castles. Someone apparently thought that putting up a Jetson-style tower would fit right in. Check out the other pictures on the "Places" page for more Kyoto pics.

 

 

 

 

The Path of Philosophy. This is a famous canal walkway in Kyoto that has inspired generations of philosophers to think deep thoughts. It inspired us to think about lunch.

 

 

 

Thousand-And-One Buddhist Temple. Michaela was smitten with this lovely tree and wanted a nice picture, with Dad in it.

 

 

 

In Kyoto there are Temples EVERYWHERE. Here is an interesting juxtaposition of the Kyoto Tower with one of the famous Temples.

 

 

 

A view of the same Temple from inside the compound.

 

 

 

Doing some shopping in one of the many tourist districts in Kyoto.

 

 

 

 

Being foreigners we are often accosted by schoolkids who are trying to fulfill their assignment of accosting foreigners and trying out their English. A few simple questions and it's all over; no one is hurt, and everyone is smiling.

 

 

A group of Kyoto schoolboys on their way from school, probably going to the video arcade to try their luck at the Taiko Drumming video game.

 

 

We visited the local monkey park in a suburb of Kyoto, up in the hills. Check out the view of the city in the background, IF you dare to get close to the telescope!

A picture of the famous wooden bridge in Arashiyama, a northern district of Kyoto, where the Monkey Park is located.

 

 

 

 

 

The incredibly beautiful Himeji Castle, west of Kobe. This place is known for its glistening white walls and beautiful cedar woodwork throughout.

 

 

 

 

Here is the view of Himeji city from the Castle tower. Note the interesting juxtaposition of the very Japanese tower ornament, foreground, with the very Japanese microwave tower. Cool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are Casey, Sharon, and Keilani Spencer. I met Casey through a Stay Home Dads email group. Casey showed impressive hospitality and generosity. He also has the coolest camera equipment in Japan. His driving rivals the world's greatest roller coasters. No wonder his side view mirrors are replaceable.

 

 

 

 

Ahhhh! Eating at a Kobe Beef restaurant, with the Spencer family, where we grilled our own meal at the table.

In Sendai, a city in the north of Japan, we met up with Barry Lewis and his family. I had met Barry on an email list about playing the cittern, a celtic music instrument. Here is Barry and his wife, Mariko, their son, Justin, and Mariko's Mother, who makes the BEST gyoza in Japan.

 

 

 

Barry took us to a great English style pub (with the unlikely name of "Shaft"- it must sound very British to them) in Sendai for an Irish jam session. There's me and Barry thrashing away on our citterns, ably guided back to a regular tempo by Scott and Rob. Great craic and plenty of beer.

 

 

 

After Sendai we hopped the train back down south to the Kobe area, where we met up with several familiar faces. Here is James and Bridget Hunter-Green and family: Ceilan, Zeke, and Finn. They not only put up with tired and sweaty travellers from the States, but they also very cordially invited Michaela and Zachary to come spend a couple of nights and visit Ceilan and Zeke for a school day.

 

 

 

 

When we dropped the kids off at their house, a gaggle of giggling gangly and garrulous girls came to pick us up at the train station. Here is Ceilan and her schoolchums, all overly-excited to meet Michaela.

 

 

 

 

James has a great regular gig at Universal Studios Japan, playing as an Irish musician in the on-site Irish pub, Finnegans. We had a brief Nots reunion and whipped up some of that good old energy, this time as the Finnegan Brothers.

 

 

 

All in all, the kids were quite happy to see each other and behaved in a serious and respectful manner.

 

 

 

Don't come here if you have a hard time deciding which ice cream flavor to try. Zeke Hunter-Green had no trouble, though, and was eating within a few minutes.