Japan: Day One

We flew to Japan on Saturday morning. We had to get up early and take the bus from our apartment building. Luckily, the bus leaves from right outside our front door!

Hearty travelers ready for adventure!

At the airport, we happened upon this giant stuffed bear.  Shana, Teddy and Bunny needed to get a little cuddle in before our flight.

That afternoon, we arrived at the airport near Osaka and traveled by train to Himeji.

At the Himeji Rail Station.

Himeji Castle is still under construction, as it has been for many years.  The restoration is almost complete but we decided to still travel to see the castle.  This is the best preserved castle in Japan.

The street grates on the road to Himeji Castle.  They look like beautiful cranes in the sky.  Himeji Castle is supposed to look like a soaring crane so this has become a symbol of the city.

Before we even walked through the gate, a sweet class of Japanese school children and their teacher stopped us to practice their English.  They asked us cute questions about ourselves, including whether we like to dance.  Michael happened upon a chatty little boy who didn't want to stop his conversation for the photo!

Outside the castle gates, Shana got the chance to dress up like a castle guard.  She was the only brave one in the group!

In front of a picture of Himeji Castle, with the real castle in the background.  Shana loved the little dumpling castle in the front of the picture!  This is supposed to depict the princess of the castle, but we thought it looked more like a dumpling with a castle on it's head!

Family photo in front of the castle, which is still under construction.

We got to explore inside the castle walls.  This is Teddy being silly (as usual) as we walk through the length of the castle walls.

Up close to the main part of the castle.  We weren't able to go into the main castle.

Beautiful and ornate caps on the roof of the castle gates.

Teddy being adorable beside a small gate on the castle wall.

Examples of uniforms worn by guards in the castle.  We loved the emperors headdress which looks like giant cow horns.

The Russell being silly in front of some fake stuffed guards outside the castle.

We loved that there were tons of cats on the grounds of the castle.  We thought this one looked like Monty.  On the side next to him was a cat that looked like Gennie.  Very sweet!

Viewing the castle from afar.

On the way out of the castle, the boys decided that they also wanted to dress up like guards in the castle.  Teddy was a little shy but he had a great time.  Check out Michael's headdress!

Ripley wanted to get in on the action.  He looks like a tiny samurai warrior.

Teddy loved to dress up too!

After seeing the castle, we took a train to Kyoto.  Shana and Ripley had a great ride together!

We heard that this was the last night of the lantern/light festival at a temple right near our townhouse.  As the sun was setting, we talked down the road and found this amazing floral exhibit which got more and more brilliant as the sun set.

One of the lanterns on the roadway.

A beautiful bridge at the festival.

Lights inside bamboo stalks.

A light sculpture at the festival.

Two women in kimonos at the festival.  You can't tell, but they are both on their smart phones!

My favorite picture from the evening.  The orange gate as the sun is setting.