Japan - Tokyo, Hot Spring

Tokyo, Japan Day 88 (April 28)



We arrive around 8PM, and take the slow and cheaper train into Tokyo, which take 1.5 hours. We meet Vana’s cousin Dong Li and her husband Jia Yunjian at Tokyo Station. In Chinese tradition, we call them Jie Jie and Ge Ge, for sister and brother. It’s about 1AM when we arrive at the station near their home. They take us for some tasty Chinese Dan Dan noodles. Coming from the Philippines, every bite is like a slice of heaven.

Ge Ge and Jie Jie met at Nanjing (Nanking) University in China, and now live in Japan. They both work at Hitachi, but in different divisions. Jie Jie works on Financial Software System, and Ge Ge works on Signal Processing for mobile phone communications. Kevin and Ge Ge studied the same material in Grad school, but Ge Ge holds a PhD, which is required for mobile phone communication work, which is now so complicated.

The May Holiday in Japan is this week, so Jie Jie and Ge Ge have time to hang out with us.

Vana's cousin-in-law Jia Yunjian (middle), Vana's cousin Han Dongli (right). Vana: I'm SO happy to see them, it's been years!

Dan Dan noodles & Dumpling...finally, some tasty food!

Tokyo, Japan Day 89 (April 29)

In the morning, Ge Ge rents a car, and we drive into the country side outside of Toyko. We visit a park, which is famous for their purple, pink, and white flowers. We have perfect California weather; dry, sunny and 70 degrees.

cheery blossom

Purple, Pink, and White springtime dreamin

Team Tokyo

Park in the valley

Gate and stairway

We stay at a Japanese Rokan style hotel, with hot springs onsite. The Rokan hotel has completely empty rooms, with paper walls and sliding doors. The staff brings cushions and blankets when you are ready to sleep. It’s a great opportunity to clear the fog out of your brain, and refresh yourself in a spring time dream.

When we arrive, we strip down, and throw all our clothes and baggage into the closet. We then change in to Yukata, and head for a dip in the hot springs. The staff sets up dinner on the floor of our room. In the hotel, there is no need for such worldly things like shoes or clothes. This is great, because after almost three months on the road, our worldly things are getting pretty funky.

arriving our hotel in Chichibu city

Vana serving hot tea

Watch your head, ready to strip down

Jie Jie helping us with Yukata

waist line adjustment

Japanese sisters from China

Getting ready for a dip in the hot springs while staff prepared dinner for us

Japanese Soba noodle

fresh sushi, tempera, and a lots of goodies

After dinner, we watched staff making bed for us

Diving into bed

Salmon for breakfast?! Hmm...

Cook your own egg and ham

Breakfast area

CLICK HERE to see more flower park pictures.
CLICK HERE to see more hot spring pictures.