First weekend in Japan

My first week in Japan has been pretty adventurous. Although I'm not allowed to drive yet, I've got plenty of friends and trains who are willing to get me around! Their train system is pretty good, fairly clean and has LOTS of options for places to go.

My first few photos are from my original temp lodging on the base. I've since moved in with a friend and his wife, who happen to live in the same neighborhood that my permanent house (for this tour) is located in.












The second group of photos were from my first weekend touring Yokosuka. We went to a store that was much like Home Depot, funny it's called Homes, ate lunch at a Korean BBQ restaurant (you cook your own food on a grill over hot coals at your table) and then we ate dinner at this great restaurant that I like to call the "Hawaiian Hut."












The third group of photos is from touring Yokohama. We went to a place called Sankeien Gardens. This place was BEAUTIFUL!! I experienced my first Japanese Tea Ceremony, which is a HUGE deal and is taken very seriously.












From the Gardens we went to Chinatown, which is apparently one of the largest Chinatown's outside of China itself. Talk about sensory overload!!! We had to park the car on a car elevator... drive it into a cage, get out and watch it fly up somewhere in this massive tower! It was here, in Chinatown, that I had my first REAL Ramen noodle experience. Boy are they better than what comes in those cup o' soups or packages! We also traveled to a large park down by the water where they were having a "sports day." We arrived towards the end of the celebration and basically came upon a large group of people dancing. We finished the day with a trip to a Sushi Coveyor restaurant. The sushi comes around on a conveyor belt and you just take what you want. Then you put the plates into the chute when your done and it counts it all up for you. If they dont put out what you want, you simply order it from the computer screen above your table and it gets sent out. Crazy technology!!! The best part is it was only 100 Yen per plate, which is just under $1! They had all kinds of strange options, but it was definitely an experience I wouldn't want to miss!




















I'll do my best to keep this updated and keep the pictures coming! Hope you all enjoy!