Random Japan

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Since it has been a while since I have written a journal, I thought I better put up some photos (ok Katie?). These are random photos of the last month in Shizuoka and some of our random nights!

Lemon Shop Shopping

This is one of my favourite shops because everything is only 100 yen, and it's not crappy stuff (well not all of it), but its cheap enough to go crazy, if not just for a laugh...like note paper that says "Mom Milk is maternal affection" and stationery holders that say "unison - I will enjoy your space combining various items."

Our Neighbourhood

As you can see from the photos there are green tea hedges everywhere!
The tunnel Amy discovered is only wide enough for one car. We were very curious to see what was on the other side, so last week we drove through it. It was over a kilometre long and on the other side was....another world!!!!!! Nah, but we were hoping it was something exciting. It just led to an open area, with some dams, more green tea hedges and another tunnel. We went through that too, but then got a bit lost so drove back home the long way.

Shopping is so much fun in Japan

Supermarkets that sell whole sharks, Funny pyjama shops, upgrading to trolleys at the lemon shop instead of baskets, seeing green tea spaghetti and wondering what can't be made with green tea and inventing shopping games at strange hours of the night!

Making our own Pottery

On Sunday Amy and I drove to Mariko to make some pottery at the arts centre. (Oma - you would have loved it!) It was a lot of fun and our teacher, Tomoko, did her best speaking english to us. We made Japanese rice bowls, and in a couple of months we can go and pick them up!
On the way home we stopped at the small village of Utsunoya to see the cute street and 'rows of houses'.

Check out Amy's blog for more photos of Japan and the funny Japanese Batman's first appearance! Link to Amy's Blog

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Photos

Amy and I shopping at our favourite shop!
The Lemon Shop a.k.a. 100 Yen shop. I think we should nickname our house the Lemon Shop as just about everything in it is from there!!!

A mysterious tunnel Amy found when she went walking

Matching - Amy and a torii gate
just around the corner from where we live

Our Mansion
Underneath is a bike/scooter shop, hairdresser, Kumon tutoring school and karaoke bar.

Our Neighborhood
From here you can see the area we live in is kind of like a valley, with hills on three sides. The city center is straight ahead, bout a 20 min drive.

More green tea hedges
I'm not sure if the palm trees really go!

We still haven't found anything to repalce our carseat chairs...
But who could blame us when the selection looks like this??

Ok don't laugh!
Well actually, we only tried these one-piece pyjamas on for a laugh anyway! We didn't buy them but they are kinda cute!

Men shopping for g-strings together?
They took their time, trying them on and everything! (ok I made that last bit up!)

Tough competition!
We went bowling and Amy got 3 strikes! My best effort was a couple of spares. (but I did get one strike last time)

Pachinko Machines
Pachinko is like the Japanese equivalent of pokies (although there are plenty of them too). Pachinko machines are a gambling version of pinball and are literally EVERYWHERE!!

Another crazy carpark
The only place the car looked like it could be stored was up...and that's exactly what happened, the car rotated (ready for exiting) then was taken up!
This is at Shimizu Port where we went to see The DaVinci Code-loved it!

You're the one that I want...ooo, ooo, oooh, honey!
Any chance to reenact a Grease moment!

To add to my collection of What The
Sometimes I wonder why they bother with the translations!!!

Comments

[Ktv]

??? How Did you Know....?
Now how did you ever know that was me...? plus how can you blame me... i get bored at work most times and get excited when you promise more photos and then dont deliver!! Love the photos... dont be so slack next time hey.... p.s whats happening with europe...? and other thoughts..?