Yokohama Ramen Factory

We spent a few hours touring the Yokohama Ramen Factory. We thought it was going to be a tour of how ramen was made and a kind of behind the scene tour. We were wrong. It was basically a big courtyard with different ramen shops where you could go and taste different types of ramen noodles. A friend of ours told us to eat small bowls so we could taste different ramens, but we just couldn't figure out how to order the small bowls of ramen out of the vending machines. So we walked around and around deciding which shop looked best to try first until we all agreed and started there. After one large bowl of ramen that's all we could manage, that and dessert of course. They had a gift shop of course and some cute little games that you could play downstairs in this open courtyard. Some interesting things to look at. It was set up like you were outside and were walking along a street looking in. We had fun. Eating ramen...

Playing games...
Some other cool pics at the ramen factory...

Outside the ramen factory on our way back to the train...

Sapporo Snow Festival

In the beginning of February we flew to Sapporo. It is on Japan's most Northern Island of Hokkaido. We went to their annual snow and ice festival. It happens once a year. They make all of these sculptures out of ice and snow. It was the only time the kids have seen snow this year. They had been missing snow since we left Connecticut.

It was cold when we arrived. It was a definite change in temperature from our island. We were there for 3 days. When we woke up the second morning we woke up to snow and it didn't stop snowing the rest of the time we were there. I think it actually kept snowing for the next 2 or 3 days straight. The kids definitely got their fill of snow.

Here they are waiting to get on the plane. See the cool Pokemon plane in the back? Kyle got a mini version on the way back for behaving. Yes, we had to bribe him but it worked.

When we landed in Hokkaido, the first place the bus took us was to a town called Otaru. They are known for making hand blown glass and music boxes. The town runs along a canal. It is also home to the world's largest and second ever steam clock. Here's Megan in front of the beautiful canal that was lightly dusted with snow.

Here's a picture of us standing in front of a heart sculpture on the canal.
Cool picture of some local Japanese men blowing pieces of glass.

Having fun just walking around Otaru.

After we toured Otaru we checked into our hotel quickly then off to dinner at the Sapporo Beer Gardens for an all you can eat dinner and playing in the snow afterwards.
Look how smoky it got once everyone start cooking their meals...
Playtime...
The next morning we woke up to the snow, got all our snow gear on and headed out to look at all the snow sculptures. It went on and on and on for about 10 blocks or so. They were amazing they were so detailed. Here are some of our favorites.

Here they are at night...

On the next day, which was our last day, we went to the Tsu-Dome. It had 4 slides made out of the ice and snow. The kids had fun, however the lines were very long so we only got to go down each one once. We did get to ride on a raft pulled by a snowmobile which was fun too.

Wall-E

A Trip to Costco

In January we went to Costco with our Cousin Rich who was in Japan working on the Yokosuka Naval Base where we live. Megan got a new camera for Christmas and had fun taking pictures with Rich. It is quite an experience out in town going to Costco or the grocery store. It is a different experience than in the states, one you just have to experience. The food has a more local flavor. The produce is just amazing, it is so green and fresh looking. It looks nothing like you buy at the commissary or in the grocery stores back in the states. It looks like they give it some kind of steroids. I've never seen carrots so big in my life. Here are the pictures Megan captured.

Megan, Kyle and Cousin Rich...

Fresh vegetables, look how huge they are...

Fresh sushi anyone?

Seafood pizza, not your typical Costco pizza.