Kyoto and Brian's Visit

We are so lucky to have had Brian here for the past two weeks. I feel like part of the reason I haven't blogged in a while is that normal life kicked in, I stopped staring wide-eyed out the window everywhere we went, and it was hard to remember all the things that blew my mind when we first got here. It's crazy, but I think that's how the brain works - we adjust, adapt, and then carve out functionality for ourselves. It's amazing, really, but it's also a little sad not to be awestruck all the time.

Well, having Brian here has brought back so much of that and made things new and fun. We are so similar in the things that amuse us and make us laugh - he ended up buying so many of the same souvenirs that I did even when we weren't together. It was great being able to point out funny or different things and remember how it felt the first few weeks. 

We have done a few outings and day trips, but our main event was our weekend trip to Kyoto. 

It was our first: 

1. time using Airbnb
2. experience being/sleeping in a Japanese house
3. time driving for more than an hour in Japan 

and many, many more. Overall, Kyoto was really cool. It was a bit early for the fall colors, but it was such a fascinating place with truly all the elements of a more traditional Japanese experience. Our apartment was a three minute walk from Kinkaku-ji, a super famous Zen Buddhist temple. The accommodations were large by Japanese standards, but were a little on the tight side for 6 people. The host was awesome - she gave us toys for the kids and fun gifts from the 100  yen store and a bottle of wine (which we politely declined). It had some fun elements, like heated floors and a TV in the wall of the bathroom by the tub. The kitchen was tiny and the storage options were limited, so it was difficult to imagine a family living there, but I'm sure they do fine! 

I didn't get any pictures, but Luke took this one of bathtime with Japanese cartoons. Seriously, the girls stayed in there for hours.

And then June took all the these. She's totally obsessed with using my phone to take 100 pictures at a time and it's my fun job to pick out the gems. 

Okay, on to the good stuff. We woke up bright and early and walked to Kinkaju-ji. It was a beautiful, crisp morning with rain on the forecast but none in sight. 

It really was stunning. Some sights are a bit underwhelming after all the build-up, but this was so beautiful and peaceful, even with the crowds. 

And then June took some pictures of Brian...

And Ivy took an instagram worthy shot of her feet...

And this cute one of June.

We walked all around the little pond, through the little gardens and few wishing wells, to a stand selling prayer candles. 

You might not be able to read on the boxes, but some of the different candles represent prayers for "be in safe and sound," "family in safety," one's heart desire," "schoolwork accomplishment," "a got of marriage," and "do a brisk business." 

The girls each took a candle and added theirs to the rest. It was a really beautiful "ceremony," with the scent of incense wafting through the cool air. 

Brian tried his luck at a fortune, which was pretty all encompassing.

We then headed over to Fushimi-inari Taisha. It is a Shinto shrine that is famous for the thousands of torii gates that cover the paths leading up the mountain behind the shrine. 

The walk up to the shrine was awesome - tons of food stands and shops that looked so fun. Maybe if we were on a more spiritual journey, it would have been offensive. But as commercialized tourists, we loved it :)

William is so done with my agenda.

Ivy found and petted the world's nastiest feral cat. All the Japanese people were taking pictures of her, so I did too.

On the way down, we got a little grapefruit juice

and some "potato tornadoes"

and a QUAIL with the HEAD still on.

The less said about the quail, the better. Needless to say, Japanese people must not mind eating tiny bone splinters in their game birds. I can't say the same for myself. Our dinner that night was awesome yakiniku (charcoal grill at each table with raw meat and vegetables) and was delicious. You win some, you lose some. 

It was a great trip and an awesome experience to assimilate more into a Japanese lifestyle, which we definitely don't get living on post. I'm ashamed to admit how relieved I was to go to our commissary (American grocery store) on base when I got home. As a parting note, the rest stops off the expressway were incredible. So. Many. Stalls. 

With this fancy screen to tell you where the open stalls were, which ones had the changing tables, baby holders, which were "Japanese style" (ie. glorified hole in the floor" and how not to get lost in this massive facility. Surprisingly, the Japanese style ones were often occupied. I suppose the older generations prefer to squat. The "western style" stalls featured full pod-style rooms with no awkward eye contact through the door cracks, heated seats, bidets, and all the things I have come to know and love about bathrooming in Japan. 

My in-law's come about a week after Brian leaves and we are so thrilled to have them! My girls call Luke's mom their "hot chocolate grandma" because of her seemingly endless supply pouring from her Cocoa-motion machine. Who wouldn't be excited to see their hot chocolate grandma?! 

After they leave, we don't have any visitors until March. So if you get the itch to come, come. I can promise you weird and wonderful food, quirkiness galore, and the best bathroom experience of your life.