Mt Takatori Hike

We went with a group of people to church and did the Mt. Takatori Hike.  I've done this hike once before with the kids but it was pretty good I didn't mind doing it again.  It seemed to be a pretty good length for us.  Not too long that we can't make it, but long enough that we got a little tired.  Especially going up all the stairs.

Everywhere I turn in Japan seems to have a nice view.

Check out Mt. Fugi.

A nice view and a giant Buddah. 

On our way back we headed up the observation tower.  It had a really great 360 degree view.

It sure has been cold here in Japan but we aren't letting that stop us from getting outside.  I'm not used to all this sunshine in the winter.  I'm used to a cold and wet winter.  Here it is cold and very very dry.  

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Jinmuji Temple Hike

We went with a few ladies in the ward on a hike in Jinmuji.  This felt like our first real hike in Japan.  We've done lots of walking and a few trips uphill to parks that felt like hikes, but this was our first hike just for the sake of hiking. 

The kids did really well even though they were getting tired and bored of hiking.  I thought it was really pretty.  I love woodsy type hikes.  There were some great views and even a temple to check out.

Then it felt like this huge rock climbing wall came out of nowhere.  

A little more hiking and we saw a giant buddah.

The weather was perfect for a hike.

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LogHouse

I joined a hiking group, Hike it Baby Yokosuka.  I thought it would help me get out and see different areas and make new friends at the same time.  Boy was I right.  Sometimes they don't actually hike but get together at a park and play.  They took us to this really amazing log house play area near Yokohama.  I think it was about an hour by train with different stops and switches, so I'm glad I could just follow them around and not worry about how to get there.

It was so cool.  When we first walked in I thought Tucker might be too big to play in it, but I was wrong.  It goes up several levels and even has a full level underneath.  There was so much to climb and play on and also little games set up everywhere like, bean bags, tick tac toe, or basketball hoops.

Tucker even held Calista for a minute in this room geared more toward younger children.  At one point most of the parents in our group were in this room talking.  Then the worker at the loghouse came up and asked us to watch our kids at least some of the time.  At first I felt bad like maybe they were being crazy.  Bob went to go check on them and so did the other parents.  The strange thing was that all the kids were being nice and quiet.  Then I noticed the other Japanese parents were actually playing with their kids the whole time.  I guess it was frowned upon to just let them run around alone.

Can you find Penelope?

One cool thing about this place... It was totally free.  I can hardly believe it.  Who pays for the upkeep and employees?

Afterward we ate lunch at the outdoor park next door.

Penelope had a butterfly land on her leg.  I've seen tons of butterflies around here.  Actually a few kids had the butterfly land on them but I got a picture of Penelope and I can't remember who else it landed on anymore.

The train ride home.

And the walk back to base.

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Franklin Falls Hike

Franklin Falls is one of our all time favorite hikes.  I only wish it were longer!  It is a nice one mile hike in the woods, and this time it seemed much shorter than last time.  We went with family on the way home from the reunion.

Its the biggest waterfall I've been up close to.

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Lake Lenore Caves Hike

On the way to the reunion we stopped a little hike.  I think it was about a mile each way, perfect for stretching our legs after a few hours driving.  

It was hot and sunny with little shade cover.  When I read cave hike I was hoping for more like Ape Caves, which is one long tunnel type cave.

Instead it was a hike with a few small shallow cutout type caves in the wall.  Non of them went very far.

We had fun exploring.  Tucker found what he thought looked like a rock nest and wanted to pose for a picture in it.

The landscape around us was pretty!  Not at all what I'm used to, and I honestly prefer much more trees.  But it was different and nice.

The highlight of the hike was on the way back when Scarlett found money.  She was in the lead and all the sudden bent down and excitedly said she found a dollar.  I took a look at that was excited too because what she found wasn't exactly a dollar.

There was no one around so we let her keep it.  She was so nice and used it to buy us all ice cream!

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