Sorry for the delay, but here is the third and final installment of our Japan trip. In this section, I'd like to cover the primary reason for our trip: time with family. Sumie's parents had recently moved from New York back to Tokyo and the kids had missed them. And Marichan had yet to meet them! After all our adventures, we spent our final few days relatively quietly. Marichan hung out with her Obachan...
...Kuri was attached to the couch (note the foot) to keep him from bouncing up and down on the floors (an annoying the family below)...
...and Mimi, well, she was delving into the dark world of Swedish crime drama.
During naps for the younger kids or errands, Mimi and I liked to visit the shrine in Shinagawa. It had great views (and a playground).
It also had some cherry blossoms still in bloom.
As Mimi wrote in her report for school (yes, she had to miss some school days for us to pull this trip off despite going over the spring break), her favorite part of the trip was playing with her cousins, particularly Asuka.
Hand-in-hand wherever they went...
...the two were inseparable. They even decided to wear their matching Kidzania wallets when out on the town.
One night, Uncle Shu loaded all the kids (as well as Sumie and I) into his wagon and we headed over to Tokyo station to see the "character street," which is filled with toys. We got a great view of Tokyo Tower along the way.
On one of our last days, we got to hang out with 3 of Sumie's college friends. Sadly, I don't have any pictures from this as juggling three kids at a party is a bit nuts. After that party, we got to have dinner with one of Sumie's high school friends, Rie. Somehow, the kids were remarkably well behaved, despite us sitting down to eat around 8pm.
Mimi and I ran off on our last day to visit Akihabara - Tokyo's Electronics town. We stopped off at Yodobashi Camera. I had told Mimi about this store. "It's like 5 Costcos combined into a large building that only sells electronics."
I love this store because they have an amazing headphone selection. At least 200 headphones are on display - with prices ranging from 10 dollars to 2000 dollars - and they can all be tested out. I selected an excellent pair of inexpensive JVC headphones in black (folding, for travel) and Mimi picked up the neon orange version.
She was quite excited about them.
And even Kuri, who didn't get a pair of headphones that day, got into the spirit.
We had a very special evening our last night. Shortly before we arrived in Japan, Aunt Kayo and Uncle Shu welcomed their fourth child to the world. We went over to their house, with Ojichan and Obachan, for a celebratory dinner. I was on baby duty for a while with Marichan...
...and later, thanks to my recent practice, had a chance to hang out with Fumikachan as well.
But both babies had their favorites in Ojichan and Obachan.
Toward the end of the night, we gathered around to share a cake...
...and take a family picture.
It was a really memorable evening. Sumie and I hope we'll be able to host the family (perhaps everyone the next time around) at our home here in California sometime soon.
Our final morning, we finished packing and waited for the Limousine bus with Obachan and, of course, the family sheltie, Harry. Mimi and Kuri waved frantically out the window as the bus pulled away.
At the airport we prepared for our flight with a meal at Fujiya. Mimi and Kuri took the obligatory picture with Pekochan...
...and by the time the plane reached cruising altitude, both were sound asleep (for a little while).
Our 2016 trip to Japan was a tremendously special one. We look forward to our next journey across the Pacific, which Marichan will be able to play with her cousins, perhaps share some words with her grandparents, and stare in wonder while her brother and sister go nuts at Disneyland.
