Snow on Nikko Mountains Japan April 10th 2012

 Teresa has decided today she will take me to Nikko Mountains for our last road trip in Japan.  The view from the car of the magnificent Nikko Mountains is so beautiful.  The Nikko Mountains are  mesmerizing as we kept driving towards them. Japan has many mesmerizing views because of the huge amount of nature that is so well preserved.  As we started up the mountain I can not tell you how many countless switchbacks we went around to get to  Lake Chūzenji.  This is a scenic lake in Nikkō National Park in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It was created 20,000 years ago when Mount Nantai (2484 m) erupted and blocked the river.  No matter what time of the year you come to Nikko Mountains you will always find the natural beauty of nature at its finest.  Even though it's spring in Utsunomiya Japan here on the mountain there is still snow covered hills and mountains.

 The Adonis coffee shop is located right on Lake Chūzenji. There were only 2 parking spots but since it was early we made one of the spots ours.  The coffee house has been remodeled from the last time I was here.  The deck is much larger, but the view is still as spectacular as the first time I was here.  So glad Teresa and Valerie are here to share the beauty with me.

 The coffee house is nice and cozy and warm as the wind around here was a tad bit cool.  The huge set of windows in the back of coffee house made for a spectacular view of the Nikko Mountains.  I love Nikko and all the beauty it holds no matter what season I visit.

Each of us has ordered a cup of specialty coffee and is enjoying each other's company.  I am anxious to go see the restaurant called Le Michel in Nikko City.  The owner is a friend of Teresa's, whom she met through a guy we both worked with at one time.   

 We have arrived at Le Michel's French restaurant in Nikko City. This restaurant is one of the best places I have eaten in Japan.  It should be famous, but it seems to me that the ones who do know about this place only tell their closest friends.  I could find nothing on the internet about this wonderful place, but so glad that now I know.  It's a place everyone must eat at and enjoy the soba-made crepe sandwiches and soba crepe pastry.  YUMMO......telephone:  0288-53-4659 

 The owner, Asami Yoshiko, will greet you with a very big welcome smile and seat you at a table where there is always a good view. 

Shopping in Nikko City, Japan

Mito Kairakuen Gardens in Japan March 26, 2012

Today I finally get to meet Valarie and her son Kencho.  The minute we arrived at their home they were both waiting outside for us.  We introduced ourselves and right away I knew we were going to become great long time friends.  Kencho is 7 years old and became my friend immediately. During our ride we sorta let Sally (name of Teresa's GPS) try to get us to Mito Kairakuen but she did not know that there was a new highway that had been put in.  We tried to follow her but Teresa said we are turning around and going back we had already been taken 20 minutes out of our way.  We stopped and Teresa found out where to get on the new highway.  We should arrive in about 15 more minutes at our destination.  We parked and when we got out the weather was getting very cold and looked like rain.  We went ahead and found a bench to enjoy the lunch that Valarie had made.  Yummo she can pack a great picnic lunch. :-)  We all stood there freezing but refused to give up and leave because of the weather. 

At the entrance to Kairakuen is a statue of Nariaki Tokugawa, who gave the gardens to everyone to enjoy.  Kairakuen is one of the 3 most famous parks in Japan.

Senba Lake lay ahead of us as we set off to view the beauty of the park.  There was a place on the water to rent paddle boats.  Many people were out in these boats today.  There were also some ducks to feed, and Kencho seemed to enjoy them a lot.

I can literally smell the fragrant plum blossoms. I'm so excited to cross the water and view the 100 different types of plum trees, a cedar forest, bamboo trees, cherry blossoms, azaleas, and camellia trees.  When we started crossing the bridge, a few men were enjoying the sunshine and playing checkers. What a great thing to be doing in this beautiful place.

  

The view from the bridge was so nice.

We also got a look at some of what was in store for us to see on the other side.  Wow is all I can say, the beauty of the pink and white plum blossoms about takes my breath away with its beauty.



























































The minute we got to the other side the aroma was pretty strong of the sweet smell of plum trees. I got very excited and anxious to see this huge display of plum trees, and was curious to see what was in store for me.  
Several vendors were selling all kinds of things, including food and items that promoted the park.

We walked through some of the gardens and took many pictures of the trees and their beauty and blossoms.  Several trees are very old, as there were crutches to help their branches from breaking.

Going to go get tickets to enter the Kobuntei 3-story wooden building. It is made up of the main house and a one-story annex, the nobility's private quarters. The word Kobun is another name for the Japanese Plum, which originated from China. During our walk to Kobuntei, I stopped and got my picture taken with a group portraying Nariaki and some Japanese ladies.

 

I took lots of pictures of the trees in bloom before reaching the Kobuntei home.  

 Teresa chan standing among the plum and cherry blossom trees.

 We have purchased our tickets and are removing our shoes to enter this beautiful home.

I am going to post a lot of the rooms within the house because they are beautiful, and I want to share the details that went into the building of this home.

 

 

 Kencho is a very good little boy. :-)

We are now going to where the bamboo trees are located.  I love bamboo and all the items the Japanese make with the wood. We stopped and shopped at one small shop that was on our way to see the bamboo trees.  

 Kencho liked playing on the roots of the big cedar trees. If I didn't think I would trip and fall, I would have joined him.





 We have reached the destination of the bamboo trees in the park.  I am so impressed with how many there are and how tall they are.


Posing for a picture in front of the bamboo trees with my great friends Teresa, Valarie, and Kencho.  I am having such a wonderful time with my new friends.

IT started to look like it was going to rain, so we started out towards the exit gates.  It started to rain hard, so all of us ducked into one of the little shops.  

 When it stopped raining, the sun came back out, and we walked to the bridge to cross over the water.  As we were crossing, a big, beautiful swan was swimming downstream.  

 Before we got to the car we saw a black swan and one swan sitting on her nest. He was being very protective of her.

 

Kencho was promised we would go to the park before we left, so we walked across the street and let Kencho play.  He had a great time, and so did we.  Thank you, Teresa, for showing us this wonderful place.  Valarie and Kencho I truly value our friendship; you are wonderful people.

 I am now back at Kazue's house and Shushumo's house.  What wonderful, loving people they are.  Shushumo had brought home a bottle of Japanese wine, and together we ate dinner, then talked and drank our bottle of wine.  I am loving my stay with them both.  I am so lucky to have made such wonderful friends.