While I was in Japan I captured some special moments, unique things, and delicious foods. In the next few posts, I’d like to share some of the pictures that highlight my trip home.
You might wonder why I am sharing my Instagram pictures. Well, that wasn’t my initial plan. I (I meant, my husband) carried my camera to Japan with this cool camera & laptop backpack he bought just for this trip (so that my hands are free to deal with the kids). I was planning on practice taking pictures, especially foods and scenery with the DSLR, away from the familiar photo shoot setup in my living room.
However, to be honest, it was really difficult for me to carry the heavy camera and the lenses around in that dreadful heat. On top of that, we walk everywhere and travel with public transportation. My two children felt very carefree being able to run around compared to our life in California where they are stuck in a car seat everywhere we go.
To make the story short, taking pictures with iPhone was most convenient, and there was either iPhone pictures or no pictures… I received requests from non-Instagram users to share pictures, so I’m more than happy to share some of photos from my Japan trip.
So here we go!
1) Here, my mom was teaching my daughter how to quilt (she’s a quilt teacher). I don’t have patience to sew but my daughter amazed us with her patience and neat sewing skill!
2) My dad took us to Yakiniku (Japanese bbq) dinner that night. My parents were so happy to spend the time with the kids.
1) Both kids went to school for about 10 days in Japan. They enjoyed playing with new friends and I was surprised how easily they can adapt to a new environment.
2) We went to a swimming pool almost every single day. They love swimming and it was a perfect activity on hot days.
3) Here my son was reading to his grandma and sister at the local library.
4) My home is not far from downtown Yokohama or Tokyo, but the neighborhood is surrounded by beautiful nature and greens which were preserved during city planning and development (not typical in Japan).
5) This 3-story log house in my neighborhood was my children’s favorite hangout place. It’s basically a giant play house with nice wooden play structures including an underground tunnel.
6) After the first two weeks of staying in Japan, kids started to complain they were tired of walking everywhere. Then grandma bought each of them a pair of Heelys (shoes with wheels) but they still haven’t quite mastered it yet.
7) Watching Doraemon is a great way to learn Japanese! Right? I still enjoy watching it with the kids.
8) In my home, we have one Japanese style room which floors are made of tatami mattress. The kids loved the texture and smell and liked playing in this room.
We take trains to go places (1) and went to Zoorasia (Yokohama Zoo) (2 and 4), Children’s Land (3), Nogeyama Zoo (5). It’s hard to explain how convenient it is in Japan to go to places without cars, and I thought the transit map below shows well how Tokyo/Yokohama transit (train & subway) looks like [click to enlarge]. Google maps is amazing in Japan for going from A to B.
1) Yokohama’s symbol, Yokohama Landmark Tower.
2) One evening I saw a gorgeous sunset from my house. I had to go out and take this picture!
3) My kids LOVE Japanese hot springs (onsen). We took a trip to Hakone for hot spring last year, but this year we didn’t have enough time so I took them to Super Sento (modern public bath facility). The kids enjoy soaking in all different kinds of baths!
4) Due to city regulation on fireworks, my children never had a chance to play with fireworks before in the U.S. For this trip, I really wanted them to experience (safely) playing with fireworks and they had a great time!
Japan is a small country, therefore there are lots of unique constructions built in a small area. There is a parking structure without ramp (1 and 3) and two story bicycle parking lot (2). And look, we found this very narrow office building (I think) in Osaka (4 and 5)!
Thank you for checking my pictures. Stay tuned for vol. 2 of the Japan Trip 2013! (You will never miss a post if you subscribe to Just One Cookbook. 🙂 )
Hi Nami, thanks so much for sharing your pictures of Japan….I love them. Your kids are so cute, glad you had a great time.
Thank you very much Terri! I had a good time with my family and it’s always hard to leave my family and country… 🙂
G’day Nami!
Thank you for sharing your special family memories of Japan, true!
As there is nothing more special than a family holiday and family memories that last one’s whole life through!
Cheers! Joanne
Hi Nami. Natsukashi! You just took me back 20+ years with your summer photos. My Japanese husband and I lived in an apartment right beside NogeYama with a unique access to the park from the top of our building. That outdoor pool nearby was an absolute life saver during the intense summer heat. We frequented the various Yakiniku diners at Kogane-Cho, and there was a little place somewhere just before the river at Sakuragicho. This place was tiny inside but had a round wooden tabletop placed over an old bicycle outside and served the most amazing eggplant dish I’ve ever had. Hope its still there!
Hi Leon! Nogeyama area has a beautiful view of Yokohama/Minato Mirai area (that’s’ how we call Sakuragi-cho area now). Thank you for sharing your lovely story. I hope you get to visit there once again!
What a fantastic trip to Japan you had. You just made me long for travelling again. I feel like packing my bags and leaving on a trip right now. I will bookmark this post for future reference when I go back to Asia. Your children are adorable (they remind me of my own when they were that age) and they are fortunate you keep bringing them back to renew their heritage every year. All the best to your family, Nami and thanks for sharing. Thank you, too for the nice blog visit 🙂
In my country, we can’t get a chance to walk much like in Japan, everywhere you go is by car. When we were in Japan, my 8 y.o. son often asking why we have to walk so much everyday. Ha ha ha ha!
He enjoyed very much to have ofuro with jiji everyday without fail, how about your children?
Hi Sandy! I know it is tougher when you have to walk in that hot summer heat. Before this trip, I knew they would complain about heat or walking, so I told them we can eat ice cream often in Japan because it’s hot. I think now they miss the ice cream weather considering it’s pretty cool here. 🙂 And yes, my kids love ofuro! Even on hot days, they never skip taking a bath. 🙂
Thank you for the pictures of your trip to Japan. My son is in Okayama, and this made me feel a little closer to him! You have a lovely family!
Hi Nancy! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed this post. Hope you can visit him soon. 🙂 Thank you for your kind words!
Oh, how cute are they with your grandparents. So glad that kids get to spend time with their grandparents, it’s precious.
I remember my boy with heely’s in India some 7 yrs ago, every body would stand and stare and he loved all the attention he was getting and didn’t mind falling like crazy a couple of times too:), nice memories.
Thanks for sharing the pics and hey pictures in any form are very valuable.
Wonderful and nice photos! Even is summer, my family had a great trips in Japan as well ^_^ Looking forward to your vol.2!!!
Love the commentary and the pictures, Nami! Thanks for sharing them with us…makes me want to go to Japan even more! haha.
Thanks for sharing your photos!
Unless I’m taking a trip specifically for photography, I’m so over lugging a DSLR and a bunch of lenses around. Camera phones have gotten a lot better, and for snapshots are totally fine, IMO. Anyway, great pictures! You sure look like you had a wonderful time. Thanks so much for sharing with us.
Very cool! I am glad that y’all had a great time and the kids enjoyed spending time in their other homeland with their grandparents. My family and I intend to go to Brazil next summer. My girls are already excited and anxious to see their Grandma.
Natsukashi! I love your recipes and you blog. Thanks!
Thank you so much for your kind words Kris! Thanks for following my blog! xo 🙂
Love that you did all the photos via the iphone. Sounds like it was a much easier way to go and still enjoy your trip! Love seeing Japan through your eyes and can’t wait to see the rest of your adventures!
Wonderful pictures, Nami! Thanks for sharing. I went to Japan when I was 3, but don’t remember it at all. I would love to go back. I hope you enjoyed all of the delicious food!