Destination: Japan

Photos: Kayaking

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 | By abcarlson | Photo Gallery

Tiptoeing through the...lotus flowers?

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 | By abcarlson | Views [2577] | Comments [1]

Megumi and I took a trip to the Southern Botanical Gardens here on Okinawa last Wednesday.  Neither of us had been there before and we were lured there by promised of the lotus flowers in bloom. This lovely surfing cow greeted us on the way in.... Read more >

Photos: Southeast Botanical Gardens

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 | By abcarlson | Photo Gallery

Climbing Fuji-san : The Way Down

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 | By abcarlson | Views [1041]

To pick up where we left off: and just when our exhausted legs, knees, feet, and well, you get the point- thought they couldn't go any farther, we got to climb all the way back down.  Due to a trail being closed because of snow, we climbed part of ... Read more >

Climbing Fuji-san : The Way Up

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 | By abcarlson | Views [1261]

Our bus arrived at Fuji-san at 5 o'clock in the morning.  We piled off the bus, stowed our additional gear in lockers, bought our ultra-cool walking sticks and started our climb. Here's a view from the parking lot.  The sunrise was gorgeous, ... Read more >

Photos: Fuji-san

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 | By abcarlson | Photo Gallery

Cruisin' Tokyo

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 | By abcarlson | Views [1233]

After walking around Asakusa a bit and getting the obligatory photo taken with the Asahi Beer headquarters building: (check out the "foam" on that giant mug of beer!), we set out for another adventure. Wait, what's that you say?  You've ... Read more >

Asakusa and the Tomitas

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 | By abcarlson | Views [939] | Comments [3]

We met up with the Tomita family in Asakusa our third day in Tokyo.  This was Brandon's (and Iori's) first time to Asakusa and our first time to meet Sakurako's hubby, Nobuhiko. This is the famous Kaminarimon Gate.  Everyone stops to get their ... Read more >

Nakano

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 | By abcarlson | Views [814]

I'd like to take a moment to pay homage to the area of Nakano in Tokyo.  It houses a covered alley of small stores that is attached to a multi-level shopping plaza.  It is in this multi-level shopping plaza that our Tours+ guide, Chris (he was the ... Read more >

Photos: Asakusa

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 | By abcarlson | Photo Gallery

Konnichiwa, Reiko!

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 | By abcarlson | Views [1602] | Comments [2]

I hadn't seen Reiko since my last solo trip to Tokyo in 2005.  She hadn't even met Brandon yet.  Needless to say, she and I were both quite excited to see each other again!  We met up for dinner and drinks at a yakitori bar in Shibuya. They had an ... Read more >

Exploring Shibuya

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 | By abcarlson | Views [844]

On our trip to Tokyo last week, we made plans to meet up with Reiko (my first Japanese exchange student - and her family was my first Japanese host family) in Shibuya for dinner and drinks.  Brandon and I spent the morning exploring Akihabara and then ... Read more >

Photos: Tokyo Part 1

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 | By abcarlson | Photo Gallery

On the Express Way, to your...wild boar?

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 | By abcarlson | Views [1139]

Okinawa has one major expressway, running from Nago to below Naha.  We've heard all sorts of amazing stories about how it cuts down travel time and that it has practically mythical speed limit of *gasp* 80 KPH (to put that into perpective, that's only ... Read more >

Photos: Express Way

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 | By abcarlson | Photo Gallery