Shaved Ice

Summers in Japan = shaved ice!

Just one bowl and it cools you down & it's fun to make with your kids!

Not to mention...very cheap!

You can get a shaved ice machine for about 800 Yen and the syrup, condensed milk for cheap too.

So far Sota and I have been eating it everyday!

We bought ours at the neighborhood supermarket but there were a few sites that sold them with free shipping.

If you're a family with a kid, a shaved ice machine is a must have!

Make your own photo album

kaito is almost 1 so I made a photo album for him

There are so many sites that create photobooks
but Photoback has good taste and is really simple

There are 3 types starting from 1890 Yen
This one is BUNKO - 72pages
Many different layouts and you can write words too

It was so hard to chose photos to use from the 1000's we take
but it will become a great keepsake

One is so we can enjoy looking at it and touch it all we want

and the other (still in it's plastic)
is a present for when kaito turns 20

Yippee!!!!

Congratulations Japan!!!!
for qualifying into the last 16 in the WORLD CUP!!!

What an exciting match!


↓future soccer player?? (LOL)↓

Todoroki Ryokuchi

Todoroki Ryokuchi is a park in Kawasaki near Tamagawa River.

The park has several sports facitlies like the athletic staduim, a pond for fishing, a museum, tennis courts, pool and etc.!!There's also alot of nature which makes it a great place to play for kids!

kaito, who can now walk, was loving the parks obstacle course. It a place the whole family can enjoy, with slides that little kids can enjoy and slides that even adult would get a thrill out of.



During the summer, it might get a little too hot so you can rest at the museum. (Free entry)
The museum has a nursing room so you can even bring the little one.

The best way to get there would be by car but if you go by train, you'll need to take a bus from Musashi Kosugi St. or it'll take 10 mins. by foot.

http://www.city.kawasaki.jp/30/30kokan/home/todoryo.htm
(Japanese site only)

Baby Swimming

We recently joined a baby swimming school and it's been great for the both of us.

CENTRAL SPORTS baby course is for kids 6 months to 3 years old and requires mommies (or daddies) to participate. The 45 minute lesson is basically for the kids to get used to the water so it's a very fun class. There's 3 lessons each week and you can go to all 3 or depending on the week, you can chose when u want to go.

Ever since Sota started swimming lesson, he's been taking longer naps, digesting much faster and seems to be loving it. As for the mommies, it's not a hard workout at all but you feel great afterwards.

Until June 30th, CENTRAL SPORTS is having a campaign and giving free trials so if you're interested perhaps call for a free trial.
http://www.central.co.jp/campaign/kids_school201005.html
(Japanese site only)

Nogeyama Zoo

Yokohama-shi's Nogeyama Zoo is free of charge!

Unlike the huge zoo's that have alot of animals, it's a very peaceful zoo.

It's nice cause the animals are very close. Right by the entrance is the lesser panda which you can almost touch.

kaito was scared by the ostrich's face coming so close. There's also a touching zoo with chickens, hamsters, chicks and mice.

kaito enjoyed watching the fluffy chicks but seemed a little frightened by the mice.

You can get to the zoo by walking 15 mins. from Sakuragicho St.

The zoo doesn't have a parking area so if you go by car, parking by the coin parking near the library is best.

After the zoo, you can even stop by at Landmark Tower or Red Brick Warehouse.

http://www.nogeyama-zoo.org/guidance/foreign/pdf/english.pdf

PEACE TOKYO

PEACE TOKYO is a cafe along the Tamagawa River. The best seat for families is the terrace where there's a stream right in front of the cafe. Mommies can lunch while the kids play in the stream or run around on the grass.
But don't forget hats and sunblock cause you'll be sitting in the sun.

PEACE is only open for a limited time, April til November.

I recommend the Mussels in white wine...along with the baguette.

Today, we also tried the four cheese pizza and ragu fettuccine.

It was kaito's first time to play in the river & he loved it.

This is a great Tokyo spot to enjoy good food & nature with your kids!

PEACE TOKYO

http://peacetokyo.com/indexpc.html

(Japanese site only)

Happy Birthday!!

Kaito & Sota's good friend Zenkichi turns 2 this weekend so

we threw him a little surprise party!

Happy 2nd Birthday Zenkichi!!!


BTW, Zenkichi's blog is...

http://zenkichitachikawafamily.blogspot.com/