JAPAN!!! Part 1

The big day came that we've been planning on for awhile!  Once we found out that Clark was going to Japan on his mission, I've wanted to go soon after he got back. We were thinking of going 2024, but I wasn't sure what would be happening that summer.  This summer just worked out, and I'm so glad we went!  It was awesome!  We didn't want to pick him, but rather go back with him not as a missionary. We got our tickets out of Charlottesville. It was actually cheaper to fly from Charlottesville than Dulles or BWI. First flight was to Dulles though! 

Then on to Houston for the 13 hour flight.  We thought that we might miss the connection in Houston, but we made it. 

There were some fun meals on the flight.  Hard to sleep though...

AND.....we're in Japan!  Clark was able to figure our where to go to our hotel.  Thankfully he had the map and directions saved to his phone because the airport wifi was not working or not even available.  We arrived Saturday late afternoon. 

We had about a 1/3 mile walk to the hotel from the subway.  We all brought a backpack and a suitcase.  Elden just brought a backpack. 

Tokyo!

We were in a small hotel and it was great! Sadly the booking site in the US was wrong...we could only have two people per room, so we needed 3 rooms.  I only had booked 2.  Thankfully they had an extra room, but it was an extra $700ish.  

I love all the free stuff they had available in the lobby. 

I rented a pocket wifi, or a wifi hotspot.  This company said they would deliver it to our hotel and they did!  

Shelf hot dogs haha.....

A fun kid/parent bike.  It was so hot in Japan.  Clark warned us, and it was true.  100 degrees about every day. 

We loved the different signs.

Tokyo is the largest city in the world and I had no clue what to do there.  So I thought of one thing....see the lights of the city at night.  Plus we weren't in Tokyo long. We got there Saturday afternoon and left Monday afternoon. 

We went to the Skytree, the tallest building in Tokyo.  We stopped at a couple stores.  Then we found our way to the top of the Skytree to check out the city. 

Loved seeing people all over in tradition dress.  I think it's their way of dressing up for the evening--so fun. 

I asked if I could get their picture. 

Wow, just wow!  So incredible. 

And watch your fingers so they don't get hurt!

A section of glass floor. 

We bought some little bread/pastry bird things.  They were okay.  Like dry twinkies. 

The Japanese love English.  I love their interpretations, haha. 

And who doesn't want a good fettuccine gummy candy?!

That night for dinner we stopped at a fast food place that was yummy. I couldn't do the raw egg though. Clark did.

More interesting snacks. Fishies and almond slivers. 

We bought some food and snacks for Sunday. 

These little beef bites were yummy.

We rode the train to a station where Clark's first Japan mission president picked us up--President Halvorson.  It was so nice of him as the station was about 35 or so minutes from the church building. Clark Japan mission trainer was Kodai Matsumoto.  Kodai and President Halvorson are in the same ward!  Crazy! That was so fun to meet both of them and to meet Kodai's mom and Sister Halvorson too.

These plant were right up against the church parking lot.  Not sure what they are...

Saw these while driving. 

That evening and maybe afternoon, we walked around a little. It was so hot out like Clark had warned us.  100 degrees!  

Mini shrimps. 

About 7pm we were dropping like flies...jet lag caught up to us.  Shanna went to bed at 7:30 and then rest of us tried to stay up till 8:00...most of us did.  I think we went to bed about 9:00?  We did a night walk while Shanna slept at the hotel. 

More daytime city views.

These lines are everywhere for vision impaired persons. 

The next morning we walked around, went to a couple shops. and a Honda museum. 

Here was our hotspot unit. 

We also grabbed lunch at a little restaurant Clark found of us.  We had to go up what felt like back passage ways to get there.  But it was classic and delicious!

Gotta love the English.

We love snacks on vacation...not a good idea in Japan though when I guess you're expected to eat everything on your plate!

The Honda Museum!

We then went to the train station to go to a town near Mt. Fugi, Fujikakguchiko. We didn't plan very well with the train lines and had to wait a little while before we could get on a train, but we made it there that night!

We stayed at a dated hotel, Plaza Inn.  Just a block or two from the train station.  We walked over to the 7-11 for dinner and also walked to a grocery store to get food for the next day for the hike. 7-11's are everywhere in Japan.  They are little food stores.  Also Lawson is big there too. We went there several times. 

HUGE APPLES!

Tomorrow is Mt. Fuji!