After nashi, we play

Last year I had so much fun going on an adventure to pick Asian pears with a friend and our kids.  The city sponsored tour included picking pears, going to a park, and a quick stop to buy cakes.  It sounds so simple, but I talked about it again and again. 

When it was time to sign up for the excursion again, I excited signed up again.  This time my friend couldn't go, but she sent her husband and son and I wrangled my husband into joining us.  I was excited to recreate the day, especially visiting the same park.  This was where I learned that my son loves ninja parks (better known as athletic parks by other people).

It wasn't until I got home that my husband informed me we were headed to a different park after picking Asian pears, known as nashi in Japanese.  I was more than a bit disappointed. 

When the big day rolled around, I didn't mind the change in plans.  I was just excited to spend the day with my boys.  My husband has been working a lot lately, so the special day together was very needed.

After picking our nashi, we headed to Tochigi Wanpaku Park.  The huge park has a variety of things to see and do. 

A fun entrance that comes to life when people walk through it!

We started with lunch in the lawn.  Luckily we found some shade to sit in because it was quite warm.  Something else that was looking for a bit of shade was a huge praying mantis.  It sat on my son's head for some time as he ate.  This made my son super happy to have a bug-friend hang out with him, especially since he released the praying mantis just this morning.

Once we finished our food, we wandered over to a maze.  The boys ran ahead, racing to find the way through the maze to the playground on the other side.  The kids climbed and slid and flew on the various equipment. 

We decided to explore a bit more and headed over to see a train engine.

I was impressed with the many play areas strewn about the premises.  So many things for the kids to explore and play on!

Everyone in the group received tickets to enter the Mysterious Ship.  We had no idea what to expect, but we were happy to use the tickets since it was already paid for.  Inside the ship shaped building was a variety of optical illusions and activities for children.  The boys ran from room to room exploring and testing everything. 

Soon we found ourselves headed to Banana Park - an indoor play area with lots of space for running, climbing, and hands-on energy expulsion.  My son loved the 2 story pink dinosaur that he could climb inside, slide down its tail, and go up and down spiral nets inside it's legs.  There was also a ball pit and water lily obstacle for the kids to play in.  The boys went crazy running around and zooming faster than I even knew possible.

Overall, I was impressed with this park.  It was a lovely place with many things to do.  It did not capture my heart like Gunma Children's Land, but it was still a great place to spend the day with my family and friends.

A friend came to the door

While exiting our house a couple of days ago, a friend appeared.  In fact, it flew right into the door!  A small brown kamakiri, or praying mantis, came for a visit. 

My son immediately ran inside and grabbed his bug viewing box.  He was so excited to watch this critter up close for an extended period of time.

After a bit of research, we decided that our new friend was a kokamakiri, a small (typically 36-63mm or 1.4-2.5in) brown praying mantis.

This little mantis likes to eat grasshoppers, crickets, butterflies, and other small bugs.  Since "acquiring" the praying mantis, my son and I have been bug hunting on a daily basis.  Collecting jumping mystery black bugs and even a little blue butterfly today. 

I told him he could keep it for a few days to study it and watch it closely.  Soon it will be time to release it back into nature.  But in the meantime, it's pretty fun to watch.

Pop-up doughnuts

I often see popup shops at train stations - especially the big ones like Shinjuku and Ikebukuro.  The popup shops bring change and interest to an otherwise monotonous train commute for many.  For me, they provide a bit of interest and something different.

We transferred trains at Ikebukuro while taking our friends to the airport.  As we went from the Yurakucho Line to the Yamanote Line my son spotted a popup with cute doughnuts.  Of course they were cute doughnuts, so we had to get a couple. 

One thing I like about doughnuts in Japan is their simplicity.  They aren't tooth-achingly sweet.  They are just the right level of sweetness to satiate any craving without sending anyone over the edge.

One last day

The day guests leave is always hard.  This day was especially hard because after knowing my friend for the past 14 years, her visit brought us closer than we've ever been. 

We started the day with walking my son to school.  As we walked, we discussed how wonderful this visit has been and how much we have enjoyed the journey of our friendship.  Suddenly we were tearing up.  I fought off the tears, not wanting to get emotional before dropping off my son.  But, honestly, I should have just let it flow.  It felt so good to realize the importance of really bonding with people.

Afterwards, we went shopping and wandered around the park.  She loved seeing our beloved Hikarigaoka Park and I loved showing it to her.  (Her husband took some quiet time at the house while we had some time with just the two of us.)

Way too soon it was time to pick up my son from school.  All four of us headed to my favorite local ramen restaurant.  It was a wonderful last place to enjoy before they headed back to the states. 

All too soon it was time to head to the airport.  We dragged our feet getting them to security.  I admittedly find airports absurdly entertaining.  The shops have fun things to peruse and my son loves to watch the airplanes.  Of course, they can be extremely tedious as well, but when we're not the people traveling they are super fun.

I didn't want to say goodbye.  I never do.  When we left our friends at security, this time both my son and I let the tears fall.  We had such a great time showing our friends around, but even more, we enjoyed deepening our friendship.

A second viewing

I don't often return to the same museum again and again.  But when it leaves me breathless and I can't stop thinking about it, I make sure to head back for another round.  So when my friends were planning their trip and asked for suggestions of things to do in Tokyo, I immediately piped up with "go to TeamLab Borderless!"  I knew this immersive art exhibit would be right up her alley.

My friend popped on line and purchased tickets for her, her husband, me, and my son immediately.  Tickets used to be for a specific entrance time, but the rules have changed and now they are just for a certain day.  We arrived right at noon to find a long line wrapped around the building.  In true Tokyo style (they certainly seem to love lines here), we found ourselves waiting for 40 minutes to get in the door.

The wait time passed quickly since we were standing in the shade and had plenty to chat about.  My son danced around a bit, excited to get inside.

My friends had peeked at the website when buying tickets, but resisted looking at too many pictures before our activity.  They wanted to get the full shock value from each part of the museum.  So, from the moment she and her husband walked into the exhibit, they were in awe.  Although it is dark inside, I watched her face light up each time we entered a new area.  The wonderment of each room was palpable. 

Although I had been through it all, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment.  It is such a spectacle to be seen. 

I am really glad we took the time to enjoy the tea room once again.  My friends were very impressed with the blooming tea.  The tea room is located on the second floor, which is also the location of the Athletics Forest.  My son loves the second floor.  He is able to get some of his energy out as he traverses the crazy floor, which raises and falls in almost mountain-like hills, as well go down slides, climb across obstacles, and play in the balloon room.  But he also likes expressing his artistic side by coloring a sea creature.  The staff then scan the picture and it dances around the room!  (There are actually two rooms to do this.  Once is under the sea and the other is more forest themed.)

Climbing through this maze was super fun!

After 3 and a half hours, we finally left TeamLab Borderless.  We were all enamored with the experience.  It is unlike anything else I have ever experienced.