Travelog for: Josie

You can see Tokyo subway route map.
It is like a maze.
Then We went to the Kabuki-za theater.
Kabuki is a part of traditional Japanese classical culture.
We saw ladies wearing Kimono, Kimono is Japanese traditional dress, it is worn during formal events.
It was a good day!
See you.

Hello, mom!
Today, April 14th is my toy voyagers friend Rachel's birthday!
We had a surprise birth day party for Rachel.
Look! We made cute cup cake for her.
We sang me the happy birthday song.
Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear little sheep Rachel
Happy Birthday Rachel!!!
We glad that she liked it.  It was a really fun time.

It is sunny good day.
We went to the "Ootawa, Tsutsuji no oka(azalea's hills) park".
50,000 azaleas have been planted here, pink and white, red flowers very beautiful, so visitors can enjoy the flowers.
Many Bee had greeted us. They loves honey too much.
Actually, It seems azalea's honey is sweet when my host tasted the azalea's honey in childhood.

I will prepare for Betty Bear's trip today.
We repaired  Betty's red tag. It was easy for us.
My host bought her some candies.
We are a little sad to say goodbye to her.
Hope we can meet together sometime.

Hi mom,
We came to Umikaze(It is meaning "sea breeze") park by bicycle because it is a lovely day.
It was five minutes until the park.
Here is very crowded on sunday. Many people visited the park, and enjoyed a barbecue and fishing.
We're playing in the playground equipment.
I found funny clock tower. Let me see...It is eight twenty five in the morning.
You can see a view of the Tokyo Bay. A small island in Tokyo Bay has been called "Saru-shima(It is meaning "Monkeys Island")".
But monkeys do not live on the island now.
A big love and many kisses on Mother's Day!
Josie

I will introduce you to some of vending machine in Japan.
You can see various drinks.
Lactic acid bacteria beverage, coffee, cocoa, cafe au lait, tea, green tea, cola, plum juice, mineral water, soup and more. cold or hot, Cans or paper cups or plastic bottles.

Mom, Are you interested in FIFA World Cup 2014?
Usually my host has not interested in football.
However, She has interested in World Cup and stamps.
She showed us to FIFA World Cup stamp sheets, it was issued today at Japan post office.

My toy friend Aura went back to her home in Finland today.
We are a little sad to say goodbye to her.
Hope we can meet together sometime, somewhere.

Hi mom, It is sunny and bright.
We went to Verny park by bicycle, humming to song.
It takes 20 minutes to go to this park by my host's bicycle.
The name of the park called Verny is origin of name from French engineer Verny.
He gave us any support to built a lighthouse and Yokosuka Port facilities in 1865-1867. So this park is built French-style.

Mom, Do you know "Haiku" ?
Haiku is Japanese three-line poetry structured in the set form of 5-7-5 syllables.
Including a seasonal word in it.
It is said that haiku is the world's shortest literature.
One Haiku is written for stone where we are sitting.
Shiki Masaoka(1867-1902) wrote ​​this Haiku, he is one of  great modern Haiku poet.
It is impression of Yokosuka port  when he visited the Yokosuka in 1888.
Haiku has been one of the most important traditional literary forms in Japan.
A contemplative poetry, nature, color, seasons, contrast and surprises.
It has developed as a verse that expresses deep feeling for nature including human beings.
This follows the traditional Japanese idea that people is a part of the natural world.

Many rose are blooming so beautifully at the best now. Pink roses, red and yellow, white roses.
That is a very smells sweet.
My host bought us matcha latte, I drank latte sitting on the bench.
We continued our tour of the park, I found historic gate.
See you!

We decided make a Ramen for lunch.
Ramen is a Japanese noodle and soup dish which originated in China.
Everything looks good.
I’m want to have the Shin-Ramen! It is from Korea, so very spicy Ramen!
This Ramen is too hot for me.
Put a block of dried Ramen into boiled water and boil it with vegetables and meat or sausage and seaweed and bean sprouts for a few minutes.
Add the accompanying soup powder and stir.
It was delicious!

It is a pity that the weather is bad.
We came to Yuigahama beach in Kamakura.
You can see Pacific ocean.
Many people enjoying surfing. Riding waves is so cool!
It's such a beautiful sport to watch when we're walking down beaches.
We must be careful with Hawks.
If I was kidnapped to Hawks,  I may not see you any more.
I heard we could take a lot of Sakuragai(beautiful pink color shellfish) in this beach. But I couldn't found that.
There is a monument of Sakuragai's song.

After we saw the ocean, I walked Komachi street in Kamakura.
I saw burger shop and sandwiches shop, Japanese post box(old type), sewing goods shop "SWANY"(Flowers in the garden of this shop was beautiful), Japanese sweets shop and Studio Ghibli shop.
Mom, My host bought me "Kamakura-yaki".
I would say they are like Japanese pancake(green tea flavor) or muffin with bean paste of black sesami seeds inside.
Delicious!

We went to Anyoin Temple (Kamakura, Kanagawa), Important Cultural Property.
It has been said Masako Hojo(1157 - 1225) built this temple for her husband.
Her husband was a founder and supreme authority of Kamakura shogunate.
A story I heard was, Masako bought a good dream from her young sister.
How to buy a dream, Masako gave her what she want.
Tradition has it that so good things will happen when you bought a good dream from somebody.
Actually, She managed to make a brilliant marriage.
Anyoin is Masako's Buddhist name.

We came to Ankokuronji.
Ankokuronji is one of several temples of the Nichiren sect of Japanese Buddhism of Kamakura in 1253.
Tourists did not visit much here.
Fresh green garden here is beautiful, wonderful sculptures of the temple.

When we visit Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shirine, I could see Japanese style wedding.
Called "Sho" is one of the musical instrument that is played at the shrine.
You can see "Ema(wooden votive tablet)", it was written one's  wishes on Ema(form of ginkgo).
We had a break with drink water of Cassis flavor.
Flavor water(infused water) now has been very popular in Japan.
Day trip of us is the end here.
Gokigenyou(Have a nice day!)