akanekke 35%

9/27/11

Japan trip / to Kusu

We left Hita to go to Kusu, where Matt spent few years teaching.

This is where he used to live, and what used to be his car!
Still there~

Very green map!

Beautiful little city.
This is part of what it used to be castle town, Jokamachi

They did wonderful job keeping the old building in shape

Matt waited 2 months to get his hair cut at "Hair Nakashima"

Since Hair Nakashima was located in part of Jokamachi, they kept store look to classic Jokamachi look! Nice!

Then we went to "Mishima onsen" hot spring

When I got out of the Onsen, Milk was ready for me.
(Drinking Milk after getting out of hot spring is must!)

We had dinner at "Kintaro" where Matt said they have the best Chicken Nanban...
and they were great!

Oh, this is for Jiro-san. Sapporo QC. done.

Toriten once again!~
Yuzu Kosho was must have condiments in Oita!

Fun time Karaoke with English club people~

Thanks Nakashima sans for letting us stay~
Matt had little tears when the train left...

9/26/11

Japan Trip / To Hita

Woke up, and left for Hita.
We stopped at Yufuin, another beautiful town.

They were making Baumkuchen

AFter long long drive, (Thank you for driving us The Setoguchi family!)
We were in Hita.
This is Matt's one of favorite place to have karaage.
Oharaya!

Had lunch,

Then visited chi-chan's family music shop, Uno gakki,
where we found this cute little guy.
This little guy, "Chopp" was saved by chi-chan when he was little kitten.

And this beautiful girl, "Marble" raised Chopp.
Photo of Marble breast feeding Chopp was in the local news paper...
How cute. makes me cry~

Chi chan took us to Mamedamachi.
One of Jyokamachi. (Used to be castle town)

Filled with cute stores.
I see bunch of Zaku's head from Gundum

Nice building. What used to be dentist!

Anpan break

Went Matt's favorite cafe in Hita, Alaskan cafe ←(facebook link）

latte with home made chocolate.
(art done by matt...)

Owner has Kayak down from Somewhere is Alaska (I forgot) down to somewhere in Seattle.
Full of talented guy! This lip was made by him. it talks to us.
Check out his other works from someone else's blog! here

for dinner, I had my first Toriten!

Next morning, we did little more walking.
Matt blending in with nature...

This giant rope is replaced every year. and Luci, owner for Oharaya worked on it little before we arrived there!

Big

One hundred Sixty some stairs to get up

Then went to Whisky museum.
These are all owner's personal collection.
He said he has been collecting ever since 7th grade!

Nice bar on the side!

Thanks everyone in Hita for taking care of us!

Japan trip / Off to Kumamoto~

From Fukuoka, we took kousoku bus to Kumamoto.
Stopped by Matt's favorite bread store, Trandor.
sticker says "please eat by end of the day"
Thanks. No problem!

From the city...

To the country side! yeah!

Got to friends' place, met with my parents.
I forgot what this manju was called, but it's kumamoto's old sweet.
It has sweet potato in it, instead of usual sweet paste.
Yum!