Mi Family Trip

I totally forgot to write this in mi update…Like mi sister and I would say Ooooopppies!!!! I am going to leave the little details out like getting JR pass, finding the station, walking to places, knee problems, etc.

Mommy, Alyssa, and Chris arrived in Narita on March 15th @ around 5, but I didn’t meet them until around 7-ish at Tokyo station. Then we went to our hotel in Kamata to check-in for the night. We decided to have dinner at a place close by that was Japanese food. I asked the front desk and they said it was around the corner and they served excellent Japanese food with an Akita prefecture touch! It was nice, except the whole menu was in KANJI!!! I tried mi best!

Kyoto, Nara, Osaka:





We went to Kyoto the next day, March 16th, by shinkansen (bullet train). We were able to see Mt. Fuji and mi family was able to experience the whole bullet train experience. It takes about 2.5-ish hours to get from Tokyo to Kyoto by Hikari train. Once we arrived in Kyoto, we found our hotel and waited to check in. After checking in we walked around the area to look at little temples and the best temple in the area…Starbucks! We ate dinner at a Korean BBQ place, in which I helped a group of Norwegians order their food. It was funny how it always seems like the Japanese throw foreigners in the corner. I guess we are either 1. loud, 2. they just don’t want to deal with us!, or 3. they don’t want to scare the other customers because if they knew there were foreigners in the building they might leave!!! OH NO!!! ~scary foreigners~ I also helped the poor little waitress from these scary foreigners. I felt really good about myself even though it doesn’t seem like a lot, but I was happy I was able to help. Then we spent 2 hours in a karaoke room, in which mi hermana and I had a fun time being STARS!!





The next day we headed to Nara to see the Big Buddha and of course the DEER! The deer were really friendly like always and Chris seemed to really like the deer. I think if he could he would’ve taken one home. Buddha was happy to see us. I love Buddha. After saying goodbye to Buddha we ate some Japanese food at a near by restaurant. Then we headed to see some Japanese traditional gardens. It was nice, but since it was in late March everything wasn’t blooming yet. The cherry blossoms were thinking about blooming at this time, but not fully bloomed. Went back to Kyoto. I am not quite sure what we did after this????






Instead of traveling to Osaka, we decided to stay in Kyoto and see the sights. We went to the Kyoto station and we decided to go to Kiyomizudera first. We got off the bus and I went the wrong way, but fixed it later. ← Oooopppies!!! Anyways, we went the back way to the temple. We went through a cemetery, which is different then Western Style cemeteries. It was an interesting scenery and very hilly! We got to the temple and did the normal thing, take tons of pictures etc. After temple viewing we had to walk down the wonderful street of goodies. We all got some yummy ice cream. I got green tea, Alyssa got vanilla, and Mommy and Chris got sakura (kind of a cherry flavor) ice cream. Bought some souvenirs then decided to head towards the next temple, Kinkakuji (the golden pavilion). We took the bus, in which took about 45 minutes to get there because it was on the opposite side of town. We got to sit down at least! We got to the pavilion and took pictures and had a nice time. By the time we were done it was time to think about dinner, so we took a taxi to the Korean BBQ place again. This time we were placed in the opposite corner plus there was no one there! Then we had a nice relaxing time at the hotel.




March 19th, was a very rainy day and we decided to head towards Osaka. We got there we went to Osaka castle, made mi fam try some tako-yaki, in which we gave the rest to a homeless guy. Afterwards, headed towards Dontonburi for some lunch. We ate at Bikuri Donkey and ate some hamburger steak because mi fam loves meat. Then we headed towards to the Umeda skybuilding to see the city. It was a pretty view, but since it was windy the outdoor roof garden was closed. Then we headed back to Kyoto. We hung around the station and ate dinner at a pasta place there.




March 20th, checked out of the hotel and went to the station. We went to the Fukushimi Inari shrine, known for all the millions of gates. Seen in Memoirs of a Geisha. We took some pictures, but didn’t have that much time to stay there because we needed to take a shinkansen back to Tokyo and check-in our hotel at 4. So, Mommy and Chris went a little bit and took their pics. Then Alyssa and I stole the camera and ran through the gates taking pictures. It was really fun!!! We got check-in at the hotel in Kamata and decided to call it a day! Oh…~Mommy had a wonderful hair day~

Tokyo:







In the morning, we went to Asakusa, bought some souvenirs, ate some snacks, and took lots of pictures. Then we went to the Imperial palace and ate dinner in Tokyo station at a Tenpura place. Mommy finally ate tuna sashimi (raw fish thinly sliced). She really didn’t like it, but it just melted in your mouth…SUPER GOOD. Once it got dark we took the train to Akihabara, took pictures, and hung out in Yodobashi Camera. I LOVE YODOBASHI CAMERA!!!







The day before the last day, Alyssa, Mommy, and I went to Kamakura to see another one of mi Buddha friends. After hanging out with him, we went to Tokyo station area to get a yummy Hawaiian hamburger, which is where we met up with Jiin様! Yummy Hamburger!!!! We got one to go, so Chris could have some lunch. We rested at the hotel until the evening where we went to Tokyo Tower. By the time, we got back everything was closed and people were tired. The only option for dinner was McDonalds that is what we have been eating this whole trip because someone was unwilling to try ramen, sushi, etc. Not going to tell you who it is!!! :P !!!



@ the end of everyday we all went through our pictures. We called it Picture night. It was fun looking at what we did during the day like we accomplished something.

Last day, We checked out of our hotel and headed towards Tokyo Station. I got them their Narita express tickets and we say our goodbyes. I was really happy they came, but I am glad I am going home soon. Less than 4 months!!! That whole vacation I was the translator…lots of pressure, but it wasn’t sooooo bad, but I am use to having another speaker or at least knows a little to help or just have support! But overall, it was a fun family trip and we need to do it more often. International Family Trips are FUN!!!

^_^