More Adventures With Family

Mike took off on Monday, and, with Tuesday being a Japanese holiday (Fall Equinox), we strung together a four day weekend. On Monday, with the kids in school, we took a day trip to the Arashiyama area of Kyoto, a favorite spot of ours. We checked out Tenryuji Temple and its peaceful gardens.

Afterwards, we walked through the bamboo forrest to Nonomiya Shrine, and wandered though the many cute shops of this town, sampling tskemono (pickled vegetables) and senbe (rice crackers) and sweet pototo delicacies.

We even made it back in time for some of us to catch the end of Jacob's soccer practice!

On Tuesday, we took a day trip into Kobe, and took the Shin Kobe Ropeway up to the Nunobiki Herb Garden. It was a beautiful day, and this was a perfect spot to enjoy it.

After that we wandered around Kitano, had lunch at a great shabu shabu restaurant near Sannomiya, took a peak at the nearby Ikuta Shrine, and did a quick shop at Tokyu Hands and some other boutiques. After picking up the kids, there was coloring time with Lauren and baseball with Jacob.

It was a really full day!