Nippon

So, I am finally getting around to posting pictures from our awesome trip to Japan. It was hard to narrow it down because we took over 300 photos. So, here are some of the few good ones!

The Great Buddha of Kamakura

Some random Buddha statue on a bridge in Takayama

It was a bit rainy in Takayama, so Sean bought an umbrella from a street vendor.

So did Kent...isn't his cute!!

"The Iron Chef" who sold us some good peanut brittle type treat.

I was a little worried about the food, but I actually quite enjoyed most everything we tried.

A temple in Takayama

The Japanese are very clever with their limited space. This is a parking lot. Basically, you drive your car into a little cage and it is rotated around like a ferris wheel. Then to take it off, they back it onto this large rotating disc and spin it so you don't have to back out into traffic. It gives a whole new definition to the term "stacked parking!" LA could take a few tips!

The Nagoya Castle--we were able to see this castle and the surrounding grounds from our room on the 44th floor of the hotel. It is amazing how it just sticks out from the busy city around it. There are several moats and watch towers on the grounds. Really cool.

A replica of the "golden dolphin" that is a protector of the castle.

We still aren't sure what this little person was?? But you could buy little souveneirs of it all over.

We woke up early to go to the fish market for the auction--check out the size of this fish head!! (Sean's foot is there for a reference!!) Holy CatFish, Batman!! (Or Tuna?!)

This little guy was some company's mascot. Their motto is
"Make a Fresh!"
(I am still not sure what that means....)

We took the Japan Rail train everywhere. I loved it.
**Notice the ladies who go in to clean before and after each trip. Japan is such a clean place.

We had to at least try McDonalds in Japan! It was about the same as here. But the drinks were smaller. No 64 ouncers!! Let's face it: American portion sizes are a bit extreme!

Sean is always up for trying something interesting. He dug the Mega Teriyaki--too bad it's a Japanese exclusive.Sean is a little taller than your average Japanese man.

Annie D.---this is for you! I even saved you the wrapper. Not bad, not great either.

Kent loved speaking Japanese with the locals--especially the kids. The seemed to like him too!


Nope...this is not Paris. The Tokyo Tower seems to resemble some other tower in France. Amazing view from the top--we could see Tokyo Disney!

This is the view from one of the sides of the tower.

There is some crazy fashion in Tokyo!

Couldn't resist a picture with these signs...

This trip was made possible by the letters K and S (Kent & Shauni). We are pretty dang lucky to have such awesome parents/in-laws to take us to see things we never would have seen otherwise. We had such a great time and will never forget it!