On Monday they explored the area around my apartment, Tokuma, whilst I was at school and went out for dinner with Ikuko to Doma Doma that night. On Tuesday we all went to Hakuba for the afternoon hoping to go for a ride in the gondola to the top of the mountain but it was too windy so we had cake in a cafe at the bottom instead and took pictures.
On Wednesday Inga and Ronnie went to Matsumoto castle whilst I was at school. Their pictures from the castle are really beautiful as the sakura was in full bloom all around.
I introduced them to the delights of Japanese parfait at the Italian near my house that night.....how do Japanese people stay so slender??!
Towards the end of the second week they were begining to get their bearings and Ronnie had picked up the rules of the road (bow in the car, don't run over pedestrians, beware of the cliff edge etc) so they drove up to Togakushi for the afternoon. I was quiet impressed that they found the area as they had no map and only very vague directions from my house. Togakushi is a ski resort, hiking area and soble noodle town abdut 30km outside Nagano city. It was a shame I had to work as there is a good hike there up to a temple, but unfortunately I couldn't find any English maps or guides before they left.
Thursday night we had a traditional evening at Ikukos parents house in Yoshi. Lots of sake, tempura, soba and Japanese - English translation via Ikuko! Ikukos father brought out some of their family heirlooms to show us that are over 300 years old. Apparently they only make an appearance once a year so we were lucky to be able to see them.
The last day......was spent with a lay in then last minute shopping in Nagano city. For our farewell meal we had a Mos Burger that night and went to bed early for the chuo taxi arriving early hours the next morning.
It was soooooo nice having Inga and Ronnie visit me in Japan and rather than cure home sickness it reminded how much I miss everyone back home.....Saturday morning was so sad saying good bye. I hope they had a good experience in Japan and got a chance to see the life that I have been living here.
Towards the end of the second week they were begining to get their bearings and Ronnie had picked up the rules of the road (bow in the car, don't run over pedestrians, beware of the cliff edge etc) so they drove up to Togakushi for the afternoon. I was quiet impressed that they found the area as they had no map and only very vague directions from my house. Togakushi is a ski resort, hiking area and soble noodle town abdut 30km outside Nagano city. It was a shame I had to work as there is a good hike there up to a temple, but unfortunately I couldn't find any English maps or guides before they left.
Thursday night we had a traditional evening at Ikukos parents house in Yoshi. Lots of sake, tempura, soba and Japanese - English translation via Ikuko! Ikukos father brought out some of their family heirlooms to show us that are over 300 years old. Apparently they only make an appearance once a year so we were lucky to be able to see them.
The last day......was spent with a lay in then last minute shopping in Nagano city. For our farewell meal we had a Mos Burger that night and went to bed early for the chuo taxi arriving early hours the next morning.
It was soooooo nice having Inga and Ronnie visit me in Japan and rather than cure home sickness it reminded how much I miss everyone back home.....Saturday morning was so sad saying good bye. I hope they had a good experience in Japan and got a chance to see the life that I have been living here.
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