5-year Japan Tour

I did not update this post for so long. I will try to do if I have little time.

Our Japan Tours

Welcome to Tokyo Disneyland
A happiest place on earth

This post is always on top because I update the date every time I made a post. You can click the link if you wanna read my write ups and can see photos too during our tours here in Japan. Thanks for viewing. You might like to read this Japan Travel Information and Tips. It helps in your trip here in Japan.

October 2009- We went to Nagatoro River Boat and Grape picking. View it here

October 13, 2008- Ben Sports Day and my wedding Anniversary for 7th year.

October 10, 2008 - My friend's hubby Tom Gamblin was involved in a car crash and his life was taken. It is sad for Thess that he was gone but there is a new life in her womb that needs to take care with. We pray for you Thess and family.

October 6, 2008. October Social for SRF/PSNS Spouse Club Yokosuka.

September 30, 2008. Ben and Mary's Moments

September 28, 2008. We will be having a dinner with Rumi and her friend Yuko at the sushi restaurant at Miura.

September 27, 2008. It was a parents night out and we left the kids to the CDC at the base. Look some information here.

September 14, 2008. First ITT tours we did. Brunch at New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo. After the brunch, we went to Fukagawa Edo Museum and Kiyosume Japanese Garden.

September 4, 2008. The day Ben's starts school.

September 1, 2008. Benjamin's birthday and his party. I was stopped by the police due to talking on the phone while driving.

July 18-Aug 7, 2008. We were there in the Philippines.

July 18, 2008. The day where the last days of Ben's school. The day we left for the Philippines.

June 5, 2008 It is Sumo Day

May 13, 2008. Benjamin's Spring Picnic Field Trip at New Enoshima Aquarium. This is a littleplace but they have an extra ordinary dolphin show.

April 2008: What are we doing this month?

April 18, 2008. Benjamin come home happy from school.
April 17, 2008. Christy was inviting us to bake cookies and cake to her house read more.......
April 9, 2008, Benjamin's first day at school and he is so cute on his uniform. Few photos during the entrance ceremony at Seika Kindergarten School.

April 6-8, 2008, Our Two-day visit in Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea. Meet Mickey Mouse at Toontown

April 7, 2008. Day 2. Tokyo Disneyland. I will share the photos and this is at the entrance of the park and they have different main street. It is covered by a roof. This is the beautiful view of the castle before the rain hit. Here are more snapshots and so we are wearing our ponchos..

April 6, 2008. We spent our day traveling to Tokyo and Disney Sea Resorts. This was our photos when we travel to get to Mickey Mouse. You can also read our trip report here. Here's our photos at Disney Sea at the Mysterious Island and so the photos at Mermaid Lagoon. Brian did found a Hidden Mickey at Mira Costa Hotel. Can you find the Hidden Mickey in the photos? Brian and Ben was in line to ride in 20,000 leagues while Mary and I went to the baby center. Benjamin was scared of the dark and does not want to ride. I heard that there is a coming show at the Mediterranean harbor-the Legend of Mythica Show so I waited there until Mary slept. Brian and Benjamin went to the hotel. We were at Venice, you can see the canal.

March 2008: What we up to?

March 27, 2008, We finally attended our church service in Yokohama. It took us 2 hours to get there. View the photos I took here.

March 26, 2008. We have a cherryblossoms viewing inside the Naval base in Yokosuka Japan.

February 2008. What we are doing here in Japan. We just got here.
February 21, 2008. First Day of our new HOME and we run some problems the propane heaters was not working. We don't heat to keep us warm and we could not cook food. Stove was powered by gas.

February 20, 2008. The day we move in into our new home. Tips, let them take all the packing materials and card board boxes. It is hard to get rid off of all the cardboards.. read for more here.

February 18, 2008. It is Holiday and we visited to Tom Murphy's house.

February 17, 2008. Today is Sunday and plan to visit to Kamakura. Read more write ups here on how to get to Hase, Kamakura where the big Budhha in Japan. Photos here.

Wednesday 02-13-2008- Quiet Day but it is windy in the outside today. It is a bad day for Brian, I hope he found his wallet. Maybe his wallet lost.

Tuesday - 02/12/2008

Monday -02/11/2008 Brian finally got our P.O box Address. If you wanna send letters to us or care package then use this address:
Brian, Betty, Benjamin and Mary Skelly
PSC 473 Box 11-160
FPO/AP 96349-0011.

Saturday - 02/09/2008

4th Day at AOB Class - 02/08/2008

Sunday - 02/10/2008. Pls look the narrow streets in Japan.

3rd Day at AOB Class - 02/07/2008 - We went for a house hunting and we ate crepes at Crepes House. Look at our photos.

2nd Day at AOB Class -02/06/2008

AOB Class -02/05/2008

First Monday in Japan - 02/04/2008 We are pretty busy today and trying to get an ID.

Weather in Yokosuka -02/03/2008

We Skip Church -02/02/2008

Life at Navy Lodge- 02/01-20/2008

First day in Japan- 02/01/2008

The day we left in Japan- 1/31/2008, Just read my write ups.

For our fellow PCS'ng here in Japan- Info for Kids train fare

The train here is very on time. I only once experience that it was late because there might be something happened. I honestly dont understand what the guy saying lol. They had an announcement.

Kids is half off of adult fare. I suggest it is very easy for us to travel if we use suica or pasmo card. You just swipe it off on the entrance booth. You can recharge your card to any ticket machine. If you like to acquire a card then bring an ID to your son or a passport. Go to the window outside Yokosuka chuo station- they will only issue pasmo card. FYI, Keikyu line use pasmo card and JR line use suica.

We got Ben a card and it is very easy for us to travel by train. Mary got jealous since she can get her own card next year when she will be 6.

Trip to Kidzania Tokyo

The Kidzania is located near at Toyosu train station. It is so easy to get there.


SCHEDULE:
12:30 – Meet at main gate for an immediate 12:40 departure to Yokosuka Chuo
Take the train TO Kidzania. Please bring yen for the train. If your child requires a ticket, they are usually half of the published fare rounded to the nearest 10 yen.
PLEASE MEET AT MAIN GATE @ 12:30 so we can walk to the Yokosuka Chuo. We will leave the main gate (by ATMs) @ 12:40p prompt.
PLEASE eat lunch before coming!!
School gets out at 10:45a that day so there should be plenty of time between school and our trip!
If your child wants to bring something to entertain herself on the train that is okay, but please know that you are responsible for it. At least one parent is coming from every family so that works out.

There is an 8 minute walk (according to website) to Kidzania. Plan on eating an early dinner. The kids won't want to stop what they are doing to eat, but any job that they work at Kidzania that involves food they can eat the product of their work so there might be small snacks at Kidzania in that respect. I will need to pick up the tickets there before hand.
Our shift is from 4-9pm. The girls will be exhausted when it is over!!

RETURN TRIP HOME – BUS!! I am having the Yokosuka ITT bus pick us up (since I do not want to navigate home with exhausted children on the train and the tolls are crazy high to get there). This fee is included in our cookie $$. I told the bus to leave Yokosuka @ 7:15pm, and I was told pending any traffic delays or accidents, they will be there @ 9pm to drive us home!! Yeah! I imagine that by the time we get to the bus and the bus driver starts driving, we will be home around 10:30pm. I plan on asking him to drop us off at the main gate (inside) where I imagine most of our cars will be. After the 9pm end time, we need to hurry back to the bus because we are charged by the hour!! If we take too long, it will end up costing us more!!

SUMMARY:
Bring yen/Pasmo/Suica for train ride TO Kidzania
Bring sack dinner (adults and kids) for early dinner (plan on eating around 3:30p)
Bring something to do on train ride… :) I imagine that they will crash in the bus on the way home!
Adults only – camera
Adults – you can walk around with your child (but you cannot participate in their "job"). I have been told that there is an adult lounge upstairs that you can view Kidzania and relax too. Another adult who went in the past said to bring a book! :)

Climbing Mt Fuji Japan by myself (Betty)

I was so excited to climb Mt Fuji and could not do it with my husband. I am sure he will be complaining. So, I decided to sign up by myself at the MWR tour, a night climb just to watch the sunrise in the summit.

But first I like you to watch this video clip. It was really funny. I made video as well for my own climb.



Sunday at 3:20AM, I wake up and finished for my last packing. Brian took me to Fleet Recreation Center at 4:45 and then said goodbye to him and the kids. We boarded to bus after few minutes I got there. I'd met few ladies there that climbing up by themselves as well. I met Jane, Ingrid and Sonya. At 5:07, we were finally off. I sit next to Sonya at the bus and were talking for a bit and then tried to get some sleep at least for the 3 hour-ride of the bus.

First, we stop by at Ashigara Parking Area where we were taking a leak and bought few things needed for the trip. Then another stop at the Shrine. This Shrine has the trail to go up to Mt Fuji but I heard, it took a day or maybe more to climb up at the 5th station. When we got there, they are preparing for the fire festival on August 26. This is one of the big festival in Japan where lots of people flocking from different corner in Japan and some tourist as well. Just to see a mile of fire lit started from the shrine and dunno the exact road they are using but I know it is started at the shrine

Flying to Iwakuni, Japan

Today is February 22, 2010, we flew to Iwakuni Air Force Base for one reason. We will catch the plane bound to Seattle the next day. We left here in the house around 7am by driving head to Yokota Air base. We got there on time before the roll call which is so good. The plane arrived and few people got out. We dont have any problem to get on on the plane. When we arrive in Iwakuni AFB, Brian checked in for the next day flight, just to keep us up ahead to everyone. The lady was so helpful, we found out that our paperworks need to be reinstated our destination and so we are elligible to fly the next day for Seattle. Brian called his office and straigthened everything, we are so lucky the people working in the office did not left it yet or else we will be doomed (AGAIN).

After that, we went ahead and checked in at the visitors quarters. We thought the building that we were stopping for the checking in is the building where we are going to sleep. Oh, I am wrong. We rode a taxi to get to the visitors quarters and dropped all our bags, we are the second floor. Bringing 3 suitcases, no fun at all.


This is their visitor quarters. The place is cozy, we have two twin size bed with full kitchen. Oh big refrigerator. I will say American refrigerator since I am using Japanese ref which is so small hehehe.
I asked Brian that we are going to pick up a few bottled water at the store. Their Exchange store are much better in Yokosuka and it might be in yokota. It is just like a small mall the way they displayed their items, it is a two storey store. It is not crowded. We picked up also a headphones and a splitter for my ipod to keep the children entertain while we are on the plane.


This is a Japanese hangar for the fighter plane back in WW II.... they preserved it but it was closed when we got there.

This is their exchange store, it is like a little mall..

Christmas Day and Winter Illumination

One of the finest structure in Japan. This is my best shot I took the Tokyo Tower.

We are staying two years now in Japan but never been there. I took this photo while we were in Raponggi Hills Mall last December 25, 2009 as we were looking for Winter Illumination. We got to the mall early and we were staying there until dusk.



We are really in Raponggi. Now, I am wondering the pubs and bars that they are talking about. But this place is packed with people.



This is the Winter Illumination is Japan. But watch for more....



As we were waiting, this is what we get. Did you see the spider? I love it. Pretty darn big.


They had stage shows, singers sing Merry Christmas songs. It was fun though, remembered the old days. Oh they sing both in Nihonggo and English songs.



This is one of their spectacular display. The light is illuminated in the water. I think Samsung is the main sponsor for the lights since they are also handing bracelet light thing for the kids...and oh...for everybody

Toys R Us in Japan

Japan Toys R Us is located in Yokohama in Road 16. To get there, need

The place where we live in Japan

Spent our weekends in Fuji

We just had fun in our visit to Fuji.

We went to Fuji Safari Park and you can see my photo shoots here

Thanksgiving Day at New Sanno Hotel tokyo

My late post. Photos were taken during our Thanksgiving Dinner at New Sanno Hotel. We did not cook in the house but instead we went off.
The place were packed and crowded. We were planning to hit Tokyo Tower and as usual we put on hold again. Because when we got to the hotel, we could not get a parking and we were waiting for a little bit. Oh, I got to drive from Nobi to Tokyo. I was extremely scared and woint do it again LOL.

The food was delicious but I wont do it again. I don't like the crowds.

Turris Garden Little Park

Turris Garden Nobi Japan

This is the condo/mansion where we live. Situated in Nobi and it is 25 minutes away from yokosuka base.I might post the pictures inside in our unit. It is a combination of American and Japanese style unit.

Nagatoro Riverboat Ride and Grape Picking

We had this tour last October 3, 2009 and I did not posted photos. So here it is...

A little peep in the outside, I think we were in Yokohama on this. The sun was trying to get out from the dark clouds.


This is how Japanese harvested their rice, I think they harvest it by hand. Their rice farm is not that big and using machines like harvester is not reasonable. I find it expensive.


We were heading to the vineyard. Look down below, Brian could not even stand up. This vineyard is design for little people. This was our first stop of this tour, eating fresh grapes at Mikado Grape Farm. They have green and purple grapes.




After we ate grapes, we had a stop over in this museum, they called it festival hall. The float was built and painted it by hand. Japanese are very artistics with regards on this matter.

You can look up of what we did as we are looking up a restaurant. Click LINK HERE . There are more photos that I uploaded while we were walking around the Nagatoro station.
After that, we head to the Nagatoro train station. They parked the bus and we got off and look for lunch. This place is a small place and it seemed no Japanese here speaks english. Our tour guide tried to accomodate us. We ended up in a Japanese restaurant of course.

Japanese Style Restaurant in Nagatoro Japan

Brian and I always love to try new things, new food and all that. But exploring here in Japan is pretty much different. We did not explore much here because of only one reason. We cant read Japanese writings and most of their food have seashells or pork.

Benjamin and Mary outside the restaurant, it says, soba udon

The waitress gave us the menu, of course in Japanese writings. We can read the tempura and soba udon hahaha. We ordered that and ouch! there is pride shrimp in it. Well, we were hungry and put the shrimp on the side.


This is sweet pride soba noodles as an appetizers, it was good though. After we ate, Brian bought a bag and take it home.



Here we are, sitting a Japanese style....





The food was delicious, you can actually choose the food as hot and or cold soba. We ordered hot though by saying "hotto" hehehe

I made a separate post though as we are eating in a restaurant.