We’re coming to the end of Thanksgiving Weekend in Japan. Although it has been very different from what we were used to in the US, it has been a good weekend.
We started with a quiet Thanksgiving day. We miss the big dinners with all the family. Here, it was just the two of us spending a quiet day at home. No big turkey and dressing meal, either…but we did go to our favorite sushi restaurant, and had a very tasty Thanksgiving sushi dinner!
Black Friday was also uneventful. We did do some shopping, trying to replace a DVD player that we brought from the US that has now worn out. Unfortunately, it’s very hard to find a “region free” DVD player that will actually play our US DVDs. No luck, so we’ll have to buy one on the next trip to the US.
Saturday, we visited one of our favorite hiking spots, Mt. Takao, about an hour’s train ride from Tamachi station. An associate from work went with us to hike up the mountain. And, we found, a multitude of Japanese residents also had the same idea – the station at Takaosanguchi was packed with people.
Fortunately, most wanted to take the tram to the top of the mountain, and we found the hiking trail not so busy. It was a very nice hike, with a clear view of Mt. Fuji at the top.
Sunday we started the day with a 4-mile run. We intended to run over the Rainbow Bridge, but found when we got to the bridge that the path didn’t open for another hour. Undaunted, we changed our route and had a nice run through the neighborhood around our apartment. Later, we visited Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, a garden in the Bunkyo ward of Tokyo that we hadn’t visited before. Must have been a good choice, as the line to get in was rather long. However, after a few minutes wait, we found a beautiful garden.
Many Momiji trees – Japanese maples. Momiji viewing is a popular activity here in the fall. Vibrant colors this time of year. Also ducks, herons…a wonderful garden in the middle of the city.
Our afternoon ended with some craft beer, and ramen noodles at our favorite ramen shop in Shibuya.
All in all, it was a different kind of Thanksgiving weekend compared to what we would have done in the US. But it was one we found very rewarding.
Four Years in Japan ... and now Three Years in London 