Miurakaigan Cherry Blossoms and Strawberry Picking

This Sunday we went out for a family outing to see the recent blooming cherry blossoms and to go strawberry picking in Miurakaigan. We took the Keikyu trains from our home for about a 30 minute ride to Miurakaigan. We went cherry blossom viewing and strawberry picking last year, but missed the prime time to visit by a week too late. This year the blossoms were much fuller, and despite the strawberry green house not being open today, the Japanese farm owners kindly let us in to pick and eat strawberries for thirty minutes. I love Japanese kindness! It's the kids who get us in; the elderly Japanese dote on this family of three children (which is a very large family here in Japan)!

How most of our adventures here in Japan start. 

Special cherry blossom enhancement to Keikyu train sign. 

Japan is the land of pampered dogs. I had to snap a shot of this fluffy pup.

Typical Japanese lunch on the go. Udon noodles with seaweed (nori) and green scallions. 

Trying tio "fish" like her brothers.

Miurakaigan Lake

The popular greenhouse strawberry "U-picks" here in Japan. 

How most of our adventures come to a close here in Japan.  James and I joke that we take adventures to ride the trains, while the Japanese natives take the trains to go on adventures. 

And We're Off To Japan!

Waiting at the terminal for the plane. 

Thomas was relieved to be picked up after customs. 

We got our own private van because we have a dog. No pets allowed on the Yokosuka Navy shuttle bus from Yokota, Air Force base. 

When your young toddler wants to play with her passport after a ten hour flight, you let her do so supervised. C was a bit cranky after being put back in her car seat on our two hour drive to Yokosuka. 

Japanese toll road and sign. 

A picture of Tokyo Bay as we drove on past. 

Happy New Years and EMP

Happy New Years all! We celebrated yesterday with the kids around 3 PM, it was 2014 already in several parts of the world, by sharing the rest of Cora's baptism cake, drinking sparkling cider watching a short Charlie Brown show and pulling confetti fireworks. A big hit for the boys. Cora enjoyed the cake and took chocolate flakes from her brothers once she had ate most of hers. Ha.

James and I got a babysitter and went to our neighbors Battle of the Desserts for New Years. We were home a little after 9 PM. We rang in the New Year, but on east coast time. Oh dear, we are getting old. Here are some pictures of us today visiting Experience Music Project (EMP the Paul Allen Music Museum downtown Seattle) and then us in the Seattle Center fountain area. 

Happy New Years to you all from us!