Christmas 2012

My first Christmas in Japan is wrapping up and it has been wonderful! My parents traveled from the US to spend it with me and I have been showing them around and celebrating the holidays with them and many of the new friends I have made here.

Each year, I design my own Christmas Card, but over the last couple years I have mailed fewer and fewer out due to my being so last minute! This year, I had planned to be proactive and started working on my 2012 Christmas card in January...little did I know that the year would throw me a big curve ball and I wouldn't finish it until Christmas Eve! This year is an all E-card year that I am sharing here and on FB with my friends and family around the globe. Hopefully I can get fully settled in 2013 and be ready to send out a Christmas card in December 2013!

Huis Ten Bosch

When I look out the windows of my living room, I have an amazing view of Omura Bay and a Dutch themed amusement park called Huis Ten Bosch. I finally had the chance to visit and signed up for an annual pass (it was only 4000 yen(about$50) since I live in the "neighborhood", other people have to pay 10,000 yen(about $120)). The park puts up about 10 million Christmas lights and the day I went was the opening night. At night I can sit on my couch and see all the lights of the park, but they are just spectacular up close!

The entrance

The mascot is a tulip

There is a large tower you can ride the elevator up to the top of. They have a great rendition of a van Gogh painting done in flowers.

My apartment building is on the hill. Of the two taller buildings farthest up the hill, mine is the one of the right.

Anyone for pizza with french fries on it?

How about a grass of wine to go with your pizza?

Nestled in a large clog

I got very excited for the light up parade! I can hear the audio of it from my apartment 3 times a day...now if only I knew Japanese and understood what was going on.

I was a little let down when the parade was 2 (yes TWO!) floats long...I guess I have seen a few too many Disney parades and should have lowered my expectations

The ferris wheel and christmas lights

More lights

Grand Sumo Tournament

In November, I was able to go to a day of the Grand Sumo Tournament. Our seats were in the nosebleed section, but it was a great experience!

Colored flags outside the arena

I made a new friend!

The sumo ring. I was surprised by how quickly most of the matches go.

The listing of all the Sumo wrestlers.

This fella was in the final match for the overall grand champion. There was one more day of the tournament following when I went...I never found out if he won.

5 minutes from home...

About a 5 minute drive from my home is a large park called Saikai and two bridges. This area is known for the natural whirlpools that occur here and there is a viewing platform below one of the bridges. On Thanksgiving morning, I decided to make a quick stop to check things out and was rewarded by some amazing views.

The three tall structures are said to be the antennas that sent out the radio signal that began the attack on Pearl Harbor.