We finally made it back to Japan! Emi got to meet the entire family and we all got to meet the newest addition, Rihito! Congratulations Mei & Shogo!
The trip started out in Matsumoto. We visited the world's largest wasabi farm. It was wasabi as far as the eye could see!
Raft trip
Giant wasabi (and wasabi ice cream!)
The wasabi was planted in a river bed so there's always clean mountain spring water running through. The black you see here shades the plants. It just kept going and going!
Matsumoto Alps Park
Buddies
Maya scaled the mountain to get to the slide...
while Emi and I cheated and took the path
We went on this swing about 200 times. It was about 100 degrees. These kids made me work!
The park had a series of slides that went through the woods. It was pretty sweet.
Baachan and Emi scaling the nets
Cooling down (look at how high we are!)
Irresistible
Coupe Cafe
Nagamichi and Kyoko own an adorable cafe/bar called Coupe Cafe. It's so indescribably delicious! And they play the Beatles 24/7!! If you're ever in Tokyo you need to go.
The menu mastermind - Kyoko!!!
The best mushroom crostini ever made
Genius!
Turtle melon pan and sausage bread
Mei and Rihito joined us
I wanted to eat everything in this case
Sneaky baby
Baachan and the adorable Rihito!
Full and happy
Back at Mei's - cousins!
One afternoon we visited The Sky Tree. We were 450m up. For the Americans, that's almost FIVE football fields long. I kept praying for no earthquakes!
I thought, wouldn't it be torture if they had glass you could stand on? And then we found it! It was equal parts terrifying and amazing.
Back home that evening all the cousins met for a family dinner.
Emi loves Rihito!
We bought some fireworks.
Shin
The gang's all here
The next day we went to the hot springs and safari park at Mt. Fuji (first time!).
We rented a private 4 Runner to take us through what would be probably one of the coolest experiences of our lives.
Under no circumstances do you open your windows or get out of your car. And they mean it.
First stop: Bears! If you take those buses you're given a set of crazy long tongs and raw meat to feed the carnivores. CRAZY!
The girls are in awe
We went right through this alley of lions. seriously.
Note one male and many, many ladies.
Baby elephant!
We even got to feed the giraffes!!
Feeding the ram. When Maya was out of food, it was so mad that it literally rammed our truck!
Feeding the ram. When Maya was out of food, it was so mad that it literally rammed our truck!
Baachan, Jiichan and the girls
Next we went to the most amazing park nestled into the woods.
Thank you Yumibas for the unforgettable trip! We'll see you soon! xoxo
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