Japan day 10 karuizawa

 

 

after spending all his money on the ninja shoes, he convinced his obachan to buy him a ninja suit!  he decided to wear it on our way to karuizawa, a mountain town about 2 and 1/2 hours from Tokyo. 

we stopped at a rest area and were fairly impressed with the fact that you could get yakisoba from a vending machine!  they also have small restaurants and very nice bathrooms in the rest stops.

puppy, satoru-san's 15yr papillion came with us. 

view from the deck. we were definitely in the mountains!  we took the old road into town which has 184 curves (all labelled) - crazy, twisty turny ride up - Kaitlyn and I managed without incident though we were both a bit green.  a brief break on a drive through the town then up many more twisty turny roads into the mountain where the houses are all built into the hillside.  74 steps up to satoru-san's house from the very narrow road below.

tony and I went back into town with satoru-san to stock up on groceries.  had to take this picture - the golden arches!  it was nice and rainy and cool our first day there. 

on the way into town, we stopped at this special restaurant - they sell a famous rice bowl.  tony, kiwako and satoru-san all got one.  we played some cards, watched movies and read some books.