Nagoya Castle

Another full day with the parents!  We started off at the Nagoya JR Towers, which is the worlds largest train station by square footage and is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year.

Kerri and Mom enjoy the pretty flowers in honor of the station's anniversary.

Mom and Dad are on the train to see some traditional Japanese cultural stuff today!

I ride trains all of the time, but I wanted to get in on the picture action!!

Mom and Kerri at the approach to the Atsuta Shrine.

Mom watches as Dad cleans himself as a Shinto ritual and prepares to approach the shrine.

Dad and Mom threw their yen and pray to the Shinto spirits. 

Mom is probably praying for better food for the rest of the week, and Dad is probably praying to not bump his head on the low doorways!

Some times if they are really nice to me, I let them take breaks in the subway station.  I try not to push them to the brink!

Let's go check out the Nagoya Castle! 

Nagoya's unofficial symbol is the golden dolphins perched on top of the roof of the castle!

P.S. Can you guess who is playing peek-a-boo in the pic below?

Not to the castle yet.  This is one of the original turrets guarding the castle. 

The castle and most of the grounds were destroyed during WWII, but we got to go in this turret built in 1612!

Dad and Mom on the castle grounds.  Cherry blossoms make a beautiful backdrop!

The rebuilt Nagoya Castle! 

The building is 9 amazing stories of glory and history!  See the golden dolphins?!

This is the actual size of the golden dolphins on the roof!  They are HUGE!! 

The records indicate that the dolphins were removed and melted down three times in the past 400 years due to wars and economic crisis when there was a need for precious metals!  But many years later once the city could afford to rebuild, they would put them back up!

There were deer in the moat around the castle! 

We were so excited about it you would have never guessed that we see deer quite often in America or that we were just at the zoo yesterday to see way more exotic animals!

Even without water this moat is crazy deep, and I'm pretty sure no one is getting in to attack the castle!

View of the cherry blossoms and Nagoya.

Dad and Kerri

Leaving the castle grounds.  Another turret is on the corner of the grounds.

View of the castle from outside the gates!

Dad and Kerri enjoy a beer at the foreigner bar. 

(Mom just enjoyed her Western-style food for dinner!  Maybe all of that praying to the Shinto spirits actually worked...)

Higashiyama Zoo

This has been a busy week with my first visitors to Japan!  Mom and Dad arrived on Saturday, and we've been on the go ever since. 

First stop was the Higashiyama Zoo. 

It's a great place for viewing the ever-popular sakura (cherry blossoms).  Many people say the week they are in bloom is the best week in Japan, so Mom and Dad timed their trip perfectly!

Since it was Easter Sunday, I like to think that this was the Easter bunny :)

Fun with the giraffees.

Moving on to a silly turtle exhibit... If the Japanese didn't think Americans were freak shows before, they do now!!

A line up of kangaroos.  We couldn't see any joeys in the pouches :(  But they were still cute.

A koala bear!

View of the Higashiyama Pond from the Sky Tower.  The paddle boats down below were helicopters, swans, and other cool characters!

These are some random riding toys scattered around the zoo.  You hop on, put in 100 yen, and then steer it around it runs out of juice!  LOL.

Moving on to a different part of Nagoya -- Sakae with the floating pond and TV tower.

The whole family at Central Park.

Mom and Dad enjoy the park.

Cherry blossoms!

Mom and Kerri look like they are at one with nature.  Do not be fooled... we are still indoors-type people!

Dad and Kerri in the park.

Yummy Easter Dinner

Their first Japanese restaurant experience: Yamachan for chicken wings and other treats on a stick.

Mom and Dad look really thrilled to be sitting on the floor eating dinner.

At least they enjoyed the Japanese soda ramune.  You have to pop the top and then push a marble in it in order to start pouring.

Flower Arrangement Lesson

I am told that there are 3 things that every Japanese woman must learn:

1. How to dress in a Kimono

2. How to host a proper Tea Ceremony

3. How to make Flower Arrangements

I started with number 3. I attended a class tonight with some other ladies from work on to how to make a St. Valentine's Day flower arrangement.

Yuri and her work in progress.

My completed arrangement!! Even with the language barrier, I still can get things done! I started with only a heart-shaped box and moist foam inside!

KG shows off her masterpiece.

The lesson is finished! The 5 ladies were the students, and the 2 men were the teachers.

They host these classes quite often around holidays. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the Christmas one and the New Year one, but I look forward to joining again in the future. This is one hobby that is a good speed for me!

Continuing with the Valentine's Day theme, I was invited (by one of the girls who thinks I'm a vegetable hater) to a FREE sneak preview of the American film "Valentine's Day" on Tuesday night! The only catch is I have to get out of work on time... How sweet would it be if I can see an American film in Japan before it's even out in theaters in the USA?! Keep your fingers crossed for me.