Friday, June 7, 2013

Lunch!

Tempura to start, then Udon noodles with mushrooms for S., Oyakodon for me (a rice dish with chicken and egg--literally translated: "Parent and Child").

Hakone Outdoor Museum Sculpture Garden
















Another Shinkansen Video (Two Parts)




Trains? Again? Okay!


Thursday, June 6, 2013

Hot and Humid in Osaka...Please Don't Spare the A/C!


Train Movies! Much Shouting and Rejoicing By My Nephew!

The video clip of my iPhone is short and hard to see, but my map App has our speed (using GPS). Our Shinkansen was going 178-181 MPH.

Even More Trains! My Nephew Does Backflips!










Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Hiroshima - Peace Park and Atomic Dome



Aioi Bridge (Center) and Atomic Dome (Right).  Aioi Bridge is a T-shaped bridge and was the aiming point for the atomic bomb due to its distinctive shape when viewed from the air.



Osaka at Night

Naoshima Island

We just got back from an overnight visit to Naoshima Island--a Japanese island in the inland sea just off the coast of the Okayama Prefecture. In addition to being very beautiful, there are world-class art museums that house a well-curated selection of modern art, and which are architecturally significant structures in their own right. Photos of the art in the museums isn't permitted, but we did photograph the outdoor sculpture and art installations. FYI, the yellow pumpkin is a bit of a celebrity on the island, as you will see....