More Yokohama

After a 20 minute train ride from Yokosuka we headed down to the Subway station to get to the city

Big buildings

Really neat old dry dock that they have turned into restaurants and stores

The Landmark Tower just in front of the dry dock. I believe this is the tallest building in Japan.

The kids heading down to check things out

Hard Rock and a funky work of art

Cool Architecture

Japan has several of these ferris wheels. Not only are they HUGE but they serve as a very accurate clock.

More cool buildings

Heading over to the rides

More buildings

We let the kids pick 1 ride. Eli and Moriah picked this log ride

More ferris wheel

Gideon is on that crazy roller coaster that goes underground

Zeke being envious of that kids treat

Thomas is in Japan too

I know you were missing these!

Cool elevators

In the big mall. You could spend a week in here and not see everything. This Godiva had a little river running around it.

I told you they take Christmas seriously here

The biggest and most beautiful tree I have ever seen

At this point it started pouring rain. So, we ducked into this nifty museum.

The kids got to practice there Japanese with this little robot

Joe got to design/build an airplane

Then he got to fly it. The destination chosen for us was Lyon, France.

He flew and made a successful landing

He got a cool printout of his creation too.

Testing out the electric powered car

Don't know what this was

This little Japanese girl followed Naomi everywhere

Moriah made some new friends. One American. The other two Japanese. This game required teamwork so it was pretty funny to see them giggling and screaming and instructing in the two VERY different languages.

After the museum it was still poring so we headed back to the Mall/Subway station and looked around some more

And peeked out to see the ferris wheel one more time

Riding down a cool glass elevator

Tired and ready to head home.

Christmas Lights

Before I came to Japan I was unaware of what a big deal Christmas was here. So, for those of you who did not know either, Christmas is a big deal in Japan. We headed out Friday night to see the lights at Kurihama Flower world.

Here we are starting out after our 7 minute bus ride.

A stop in the Supermarket/Mall along the way

Almost there

Moriah desired a picture in front of this funny heart. I forgot to tell her to give me the sign of peace.

My goofballs

Zeke was desirous of being on the train not getting his picture taken by it!

Pretty

Ready to head back home after a little drink

Next up.......More Yokohama pics. If I can fit it in. We are heading home soon.....6 days!

Zushi and Yokohama

The following travels were more to familiarize ourselves with our surroundings than anything else but we had some fun along the way.

Our first stop after our usual bus/train rides was near Zushi a beach town about 20 minutes from Yokosuka. Supposedly the beaches rival Hawaii but we didn't make it there. We stopped at Ikego a Navy housing area.

Here we are having a little picnic and playtime there.

After checking out Ikego we decided to head to Yokohama

We had no idea what we were doing

Somehow we figured it out and made it to this remarkable park. I think it is called Negishi Forest Park.

The kids did a lot of rolling down hills and running free

A lovely pond with the biggest koi I have ever seen

The camera did not really capture it. They were HUGE.

Pretty trees

Up the hill is the Negishi Navy housing annex it is built on an old horse racing track. The emporer banned racing in the 40's. The U.S. soon after leased the land from the Japanese and built a bunch of military housing there. They are slowly returning the land to the Japanese. About 300 homes still remain and the entire development should be gone in about 10 to 15 years. These pictures are of the old abandoned grand stand.

We checked things out in the housing area and then headed back to Yokohama station to walk around(it was getting late and we were getting tired). I have never seen anything like it. Once again pictures don't really capture the size of things. Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan. I have never been to New York or Paris but am certain that this place would rival them both. The station is a HUGE shopping mall. Way bigger than any mall I have ever stepped foot into. We didn't buy anything. Just looked around.

Trying to capture the sea of humanity

It was a good and informative day.

Now that we know better how to get there we will try and make another trip to see more of the city. We'll keep you posted.

Daddy Time

Saturday Naomi had a little fever. Poor baby. She is cutting a few teeth.

We decided as a result that it would be best to keep her home. We also decided that Zeke needed his nap and put him down. That left the big kids who were anxious to do something as we have only a few more Saturday's here. This was the place they decided on. It is called Kurihama Flower Park. The nicest thing about it is that it is only a bus ride away. No train. Oh, and the park is free(bonus). The bummer is that the flowers aren't in bloom right now. I sent Kent with the camera and these are the pics he came back with.

The flower fields all ready and planted:

The funniest part of the park(in my mind)

Yes. That is Godzilla

And Godzilla is a slide!

There were lots of fun toys

"Look no hands"

Good times

Chomping at the bit..........

Look what I found tucked away in a bedroom corner in this huge house.

Not only had Moriah set up this tea party but she put Naomi in a little dress and hair bow to join her in the festivities. I think Naomi only succeeded in spilling things but hey it's a start!

Sunday Walk

We started a typical morning getting ready for church and then began the usual hassle of getting from point A to point B. Walking to the bus stop. Taking the bus to the station. Getting on the train. Getting off the train. And then walking. Oh, about 2 miles. Yesterday we decided to go to church on base and had a lovely time of worship. We were soooo grateful. After church Kent took us to brunch at the Officer's Club. It was lovely and delicious. However, we ate WAY too much so we decided a walk was in order. Here we are heading off base on our way to Mikasa Park.

Along the roughly mile long walk is this really nifty manmade river

It just keeps going. Eli and Gideon had leaf and stick races all the way. I think the leaves usually won.

The funny sign at the entrance to the actual park.

The Battleship Mikasa

Lovely gardens

All of the plaques were in Japanese so I have no idea who this is. Anyone?

These two played beautifully all day

Gideon checking out the fire power

The ship was out of commission by World War II but we bombed it anyway. They have since just cemented it into place here and you can take a tour. If you wish to pay for it.

Kent bringing up the rear. Letting Zeke "discover" along the way

Naomi missed the park sights entirely

Zeke REALLY wanted to be on that train. Instead he just gazed longingly.

That is Tokyo in the distance

Lovely fountain

Again

Loved the multi-colored stones here

More cool fountains

I love it when these guys get along. I think that was some stick racing going on.

Time to head home. But, couldn't pass up a shot of this amazing wisteria covered arch.

I want one!

I am sorry to announce.................

That my baby isn't acting very much like a baby anymore. Look how she greeted me when I went to get her up from her nap. Sigh.