The Japanese "Bucket" List

Before leaving for Japan we received a postcard from Karen. There was nothing on it but a list of things she wanted to do with us in Japan, plus instructions to bring the postcard with us so that she could remember what she'd written. The movie on the plane happened to be 'The Bucket List' and so that name was appropriated by us for Karen's list. The list is as follows, in postcard order, illustrated by appropriate photos to prove we just about did it all...

TODAIJI IN NARA

The Great Buddha

SHIKA SEMBEI IN NARA

Unwary tourists being terrorised by tame deer while offering food

KIYOMIZU DERA IN KYOTO

One of Kyoto's oldest and most famous temples

KINKAKUJI

The Golden Pavillion - we saw it in the rain


FUSHIMI INARI

Zillions of vermillion torii gates. Awesome!

GINKAKUJI
Our one failure - we didn't make this one

TERAMACHI

A huge pedestrian mall in Kyoto. It was early in the morning when this photo was taken, which is why there is no one else around!

YAKINIKU AT GYNKAKU

Cook your own food, barbeque style

OKONOMIYAKI

Pancakes of a sort; these are being cooked in Hiroshima where Okonomiyaki is famous

RAMEN

The real McCoy - seafood ramen in Sapporo

IZAKAYA

A Japanese pub experience with some of Karen's friends

KARAOKE

The one Japanese experience I'm not in a hurry to repeat...

DINNER WITH A JAPANESE FRIEND

Beautifully presented food, traditional surroundings, very Japanese. Delicious!

PURIKURA

Sticker fun!

HAKKODA-SAN

At the top of the ropeway up Mt Hakkoda. Couldn't see a thing!

TOWADA/OIRASE

Lake Towada - reminiscent of Taupo

In front of Choshi Otaki waterfall in the Oirase Gorge.

SHINGO

Those of you who thought Jesus was buried in the Middle East are WRONG!

Here's his grave in northern Japan.

SHOWA DAIBUTSU

This is the largest outdoor Buddha in Japan but it only dates back 20 or so years.

It's on the outskirts of Aomori.

ASPAM AND NEBUTA

The ASPAM building is Aomori's tourist centre.

This is a Nebuta float from a previous year. The festival is held early August each year.

HOTATE AT LGP

LGP stands for Little Green Place, one of Karen's favourite restaurants.

MEET KOTO

Morning tea at Karen's apartment with Koto and her kids

HIROSAKI-JO

Hirosaki's beautiful castle


NEPUTA-MURA

Displays of Hirosaki's version of Nebuta (giant fans), trying out a taiko drum (that's me in the blue), traditional shamisen music, crafts such as weaving, pottery, wooden toys and lacquerware.



KAITENZUSHI-KANTARO

In other words, Sushi train. Lots of raw fish.

MOS BURGER

Japan's version of McDonalds?

HANBAAGU

(No photos available)

QUADRILLE/ZILCH

Lunch at Zilch, coffee at Quadrille, a couple of favourite hangouts.

Winter Wonderland

Despite the fact that it's currently mid-winter and there has been some very inclement weather of late, we all got a surprise yesterday when a heavy hail storm left our neighbourhood looking like a winter wonderland. It was as though snow had fallen. Take a look...


The ice hung around for most of the day yesterday; it was cold, miserable and gloomy, but the winter wonderland made it special. Today the sun is out, the ice is gone, and it's business as usual.