Posts Tagged ‘Japan trip 2019’

Japan trip 2019

Monday, June 24th, 2019

We went to Japan again this year. Naoko and Zen were there for nearly three weeks, I was there for only 1.5 weeks as I didn’t have much leave time (and I had a big business trip to Australia in early June). This year we did a few day trips, to Osaka, Ako and Kyoto, and I also met up in Himeji with my ex-boss, Emmanuel Daniel of The Asian Banker, which was great fun. Here are the pics from the trip!! Click on the pics to see larger versions.

(Note – I went to the gym today, after four weeks away, two of which were spent in Japan not exercising, chilling out, drinking beer, eating what I want… I found that I’d gained: 0.00 kilograms!!)

Naoko & Zen at the family home in Himeji.
Zen Naoko

At Naoko’s brother’s house, with his niece’s pet snake.
Peter

My wife’s niece and her baby snake – yikes!!
Peter Nanaka

At Naoko’s brother’s house with Naoko’s niece and great-nephew!
Nanaka Yousei

With Zen, my father-in-law, and his friend from Nepal at the Nepali restaurant.
Hiroshi Zen

Lovely curry and cheese nan at my father-in-law’s friend’s Nepali restaurant in Himeji
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With Emmanuel Daniel in front of Himeji Castle.
Peter Emmanuel Daniel

Peter Emmanuel Daniel

Emmanuel Daniel in Himeji Castle.
Emmanuel Daniel

Himeji castle
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Behind Himeji Castle.
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Himeji castle area at sunset.
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Naoko in front of her parents’ house at sunset.
Naoko

At Minatoya okonomiyaki restaurant in Ako.
Peter Naoko Zen PNZ

Hanging out with our old friend Trevor at Minato-ya in Ako.
Trevor Naoko Zen

A picture taken of us 16 years ago at Minato-ya in Ako that we found hanging on the walls there still!
Peter Naoko Zen

Posing with our picture of 16 years ago at Minato-ya in Ako.
Peter Naoko Zen

With Trevor and Kayo at Minato-ya in Ako.
Trevor Kayo Peter Naoko Zen PNZ

Frying up some okonomiyaki at Minatoya in Ako.
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Hanging out with our pal Trevor at Ako Misaki.
Trevor Peter Naoko Zen

Peter Naoko Zen

Peter Naoko Zen

Oishi shrine in Ako.
Naoko Zen

Zen meets Daikoku-ten at the Oishi Shrine in Ako.
Zen

Yebisu-san statue at Oishi Shrine in Ako.
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Tsutenkaku in south Osaka.
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The best kebab sandwich I’ve ever had in my life!! With Jason & Matt in Osaka.
Jason Peter Matt

Getting ready to enter Jigokudani in Osaka!
Grant Jason Cliff Mark Matt

Maid (mei-do) bar in Jigokudani in Kyoto. Great food, lovely karaoke, great prices!
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In Osaka’s jigokudani with my posse having a great time.
Grant Jason Cliff Mark Matt Ross

An illuminated gin & tonic in Jigokudani in Osaka.
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With my friends Jason (who I know from living in Nishinomiya) & Grant (who I know from living in Ako) in Osaka.
Jason Peter Grant

The entrance at the Fujino ranch in Himeji.
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Big family Father’s Day dinner at the Fujino home in Himeji.
Yaeko Zen Yuuta Haruka Nanaka Yumiko

Daichi wearing my hat at the Father’s Day family gathering – makes him look like Jiggen Daisuke from Lupin Sansei!!
Peter Daichi

Me and my brother-in-law.
Peter Masayuki

My father-in-law with his great-grandson.
Hiroshi Yousei

Dinner, big Father’s Day family gathering.
Masayuki Daichi Naoko Hiroshi

Haruka Nanaka

My father-in-law trying on my hat at the big Father’s Day family gathering.
Haruka Nanaka Naoko Masayuki

Heading out for our bicycle tour along the Ichikawa river to North Himeji.
Peter Naoko Zen PNZ

Naoko Zen

A reinforced rapid along the Ichikawa River in North Himeji.
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Beautiful roses at the North Himeji rose garden (bala-in).
Peter flower

Peter Naoko flower

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Zen & Naoko in front of a beautiful rose bush at the North Himeji rose garden (bala-in).
Naoko Zen

Getting ready for some monjayaki and okonomiyaki in Himeji.

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A nice meal of monjayaki with Naoko’s mom.
Peter Naoko Zen Yaeko PNZ

Fushimi Inari Taisha in Fushimi town, a part of Kyoto. The front gate was not so crowded when we entered around 8:00 AM.
Naoko Zen

 

Fushimi Inari Taisha.

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Naoko Zen

Naoko Zen

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Naoko

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Peter Naoko Zen

Naoko Zen

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View of Kyoto from Fushimi Inari Taisha.
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Fushimi Inari Taisha.
Naoko Zen

Naoko Zen

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Naoko

Naoko Zen

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This shrine with a tree growing through the entrance… wow!
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Fushimi Inari Taisha.
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Daruma statue at Fushimi Inari Taisha.
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Fushimi Inari Taisha front gate – now much more crowded.
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Interesting eel complex in Uji, near Kyoto.
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Statue of Murasaki Shikibu in Uji, near Kyoto, where a large part of her Tale Of Genji is set.
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Uji bridge, supposedly the oldest in the world.
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On the Uji bridge over the Kamogawa in Uji, near Kyoto.
Peter Naoko Zen

The Kamogawa from Uji bridge in Uji, near Kyoto.
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Drinking tea next to the Uji bridge in Uji, near Kyoto.
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Zen’s ocha soba in Uji.
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An old tea house in Uji, near Kyoto.
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Strange “watch out for running kids” sign in Uji, near Kyoto.
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Beautiful wisteria structure in front of Byodoin in Kyoto.
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Byodoin, the building that can be seen on one side of a Japanese 10 yen coin.
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Byodoin in Kyoto – a group of elderly setting up for a group photo, and a group of students heading to do the same.
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Family portrait in front of Byodoin in Uji, near Kyoto.
Peter Naoko Zen

Another Nepalese restaurant! This one in Kyoto, near Tofukuji.
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Tofukuji in Kyoto
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Tofukuji pond.
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Buddhist altar in Tofukuji in Kyoto.
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Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto
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View of Kyoto from Kiyomizu-dera.
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Hydrangea at Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto.
Peter Naoko

View of Gion from Kiyomizu-dera.
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View of Kiyomizu-dera.
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Taking in the waters at Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto.
Naoko Zen

Naoko Zen

Naoko Zen

Jizo-sama in Kyoto.
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Yae no ume in Kyoto!!
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Kyoto, and the world’s most demure Starbucks!

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Heading down a shady trail to Yasaka-jinja in Kyoto.
Naoko Zen

Naoko Zen

Funky modern architecture in Kyoto.
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Gion-kaku tower in Kyoto.
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Yasaka-jinja in Kyoto
Naoko Zen

Leaving Yasaka-jinja in Kyoto
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Kamogawa in Kyoto
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The Kamogawa near Ponto-cho in Kyoto.
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Naoko & Zen chilling on the banks of the Kamogawa, Ponto-cho restaurants seen behind them.
Naoko Zen

With Naoko & Zen & my mother-in-law at the Nagahama Ramen shop in Himeji.
Peter Naoko Zen Yaeko PNZ

Zen, my brother-in-law and me on our last (full) day in Japan)
Zen Haruhito Peter

View of Himeji from Tegarai-yama on our last (full) day in Japan. A bullet train is passing.
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View of Himeji from Tegarai-yama on our last (full) day in Japan. Himeji Castle can be seen in the distance.
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With Zen on Tegarai-yama on our last (full) day in Japan.
Peter Zen

Dinner at the Fujino ranch in Himeji on our last (full) day in Japan.
Zen Yaeko Hiroshi

I found this old picture from 1996, celebrating Naoko & my engagement. That’s Daichi sitting on my father-in-law’s lap.
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Four generations of the family, including Naoko, her nephew, her mother and grandmother. This picture was probably also from 1996.
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An old picture of Naoko’s grandmother’s chrysanthemum exhibition. This may have been 1999 or so.
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And now for the best part… the food!
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Food

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Food

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