Winter foot wear at home.....

Elephant or mouse? They barely fit, but don't they look cool?

Big hands.........!

I can be a big help in the kitchen with these.......if only Mom let me....

Vacation in Japan Part 7

Part 7 : Back to Tokyo

Our last day in Tokyo, we had lunch at Toranosuke Restuarant, on the 29th floor of Shinjuku NS Building at Nishi Shinjuku. It has a nice interior decor, a fantastic view of the business district of Tokyo Shinjuku district and the food scrumptious . Absolute delight!!!

Vacation in Japan Part 6

Part 6 : Kamakura

Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine 鶴岡八幡宮 at Kamakura 鎌倉

Chasing pigeons

61 Steps to the main shrine hall at Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine

Path to the main hall of Jomyo-ji 浄妙寺

At the Honden 本堂 (the main hall) of Jomyo-Ji

Busy browsing around the Kisen-an 喜泉庵の庭

A (rare) moment of quiet contemplation at Kisen-an rock garden

A Buddha statue nestled in the garden at Hokoku-ji 報国寺

Too tall for this ishidoro (stone lantern)

The honden (main hall) of Hokoku-ji

The famous bamboo garden of Hokoku-ji

Humbling experience beneath the Daibatsu 大仏 (Great Buddha)

Measuring 13.35 metres tall and weighing 93 tons, the Daibatsu is made of bronze and located within Kotoku-in 高徳院

Vacation in Japan Part 5

Part 5 : Tokyo

The Replica of the Statue of Liberty at Odaiba お台場

Went shopping at Aqua City, Odaiba

Posing with a friendly japanese dog

With dad at a traditional Japanese restaurant, Odaiba

Test driving the new Toyota models at Megaweb Palette Town, Odaiba

Mom and Dad at Venus Fort Palette Town, Odaiba

The Meiji-jingu 明治神宮 at Yoyogi

Barrels of sake donated by patrons and worshippers at Meiji Shrine

Throng congesting Takeshita-dori 竹下通り pedestrian mall at Harajuku

Spectacular architecture of Prada Epicenter Aoyama プラダ青山 at Omotesando 表参道 by Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron

Vacation in Japan Part 4

Part 4 : Tokyo - Hakone

Senso-ji 金龍山浅草寺 Asakusa

Outside Nijubashi 皇居二重橋, yonder lies the Fushimi Yagura 伏見櫓 Imperial watchtower. The Imperial Palace is off limits except for New Year's Day and the Emperor's birthday.

Enjoying the shade at Wadakura Fountain Park 和田倉噴水公園

.....and time to fill the stomach......

.....not forgeting playtime in the park of the Outer Garden of the Imperial Palace

Remnant of the stone base of the Edo Castle in the East Garden of the Imperial Palace 東御苑

Fujiya Hotel in Hakone

Koi pond

Wishes and prayers on wooden plaques (or ema 絵馬) by patrons of the Hakone Shrine

At the summit of Mount Komagatake 駒ヶ岳 looking down on Lake Ashi 芦ノ湖

Mount Fuji 5th Station, about 2,000 metres above sea level

Melting snow at Mount Fuji

Vacation in Japan Part 3

Part 3 : Kyoto - Temples and Palaces

Sanjusangendo 三十三間堂

Kiyomizu-dera 音羽山清水寺 (with my eyes wide shut!)

Eating deck overlooking the forest at a Japanese restaurant in Kiyomizu Temple

Glorious food - soba, udon and silky tofu

A stone stele at Kiyomizu Temple

Green moss-covered grounds of Ginkaku-ji 銀閣寺

Ginkaku-ji's Silver Pavilion under renovation, what a let-down!!!

How do I wash my hands in this giant tsubuki?

Shopping street outside Ginkaku-ji

The golden plated Kinkaku-ji 金閣寺

The Kyoto Imperial Palace enclosure 京都御所

Shishinden 紫宸殿 Hall for State Ceremonies, containing the Throne called takamikura 高御座

In front of the Seiryoden 清涼殿

Oike-niwa 御池庭 garden and pond

Having ramen for lunch near Nishiki Market 錦市場