Japan, in brief

What we discovered in Japan is that extended travel as a parent is a completely different thing.

When we were dating, we took a 10 day road trip up the coast. Slept in our car, tent camped along the way, biked the 18 mile drive outside Santa Barbara. We stopped anywhere and everywhere that looked dreamy and magical. When we were Newlyweds, we flew off on a 17 day European Adventure. No responsibility, no care in the world. We eagerly woke up to explore cafes and walk 30k steps. We did as much as we could (including an unlimited gelato festival TWICE) and returned tired each night, yet ready for the next day.

Enter Japan where the mantra was please just let me be in bed as long as I want in the morning with a quiet cup of coffee and perhaps something to read.

We observed our pathetic get-out-of-the-door-around-noon selves, joking that we didn't need to go to Japan to make that happen.

But we DID go to Japan and what a dreamy country it is! We were drawn to it for the obvious reasons - sushi, Ramen, Hello Kitty - but walked away knowing it for all the not-so-obvious reasons. The culture is one that forever remains with me. Gracious, service-oriented, kind, quiet. Bows to strangers; the cleanest streets I have ever seen. The 7-11's where you can buy a full gourmet meal and mochi on the side. The Japanese Moms looking effortlessly chic in dresses and stockings toting two children on their bike and one on their back. Markets lined with fresh fish being served up on rice and rows of squid samples that we passed down. The train stations where people file in line and DO NOT CUT, as a social norm. Such a culture I have never seen before, nor do I expect to see again.

One of my favorite days involved renting bikes in Kyoto and exploring shrines and villages in the surrounding area. It was a perfect 75 degrees. We stopped for beers and meat buns. We had a full view of the mountains encapsulating this idyllic city. Wafts of noodles floated through our path as tiny streets appearing as alleyways gave way to bike lanes. Days of these kind don't come along too often and will remain one of the happiest memories of our lifetime.

There is also the kimonos, the onsen (spa) culture, the tea, the kaiseiki, the miso soup for breakfast, the high speed Shinkansen train, the fact that Ben was a full foot taller than most people... but those are memories harder to put into words and easier to experience in entirety when there.

Here's a few photos from our trip.

That Shrine Life. It's a thing. Tokyo, Day One.

Sashimi lunch bowls at a locals spot where we had to point to pictures to order.

Train Station food was some of our favorite! Gourmet, fresh, delicious. Also - the trains there are very fast.

My biker babe.

We discovered the joy of eating with a bib the last day. Didn't realize how much slurping noodles gets on your clothes!

And of course, all was made possible by Grandma Mickey who has an inseparable bond with our little Jack.