That last week in Japan, before winter came full on cold.

We got to take the local trains a number of times this trip. 

I couldn't help but photograph the umbrellas available to be borrowed. I admit, I wonder how much longer this could be a serv

 

Fall colors in Hokkaido. TAKI no SUZURAN KOEN, Taka found. 

A restaurant recommended, and it was cool!

"Okushiba-Baa-chan" Grandma Okushiba Soup Curry  

I loved their sign saying "cash desk" and...

Their "toilet" arrow was pretty adorable too! 

Speaking of English is Japan: how about this one for you:  

"Hair Relax Arty" and also on the menu is a "Hair Spa"

En route to a game, Taka figured out trains so we could make a stop in Shizuoka to meet dear, amazing woman Jayne. In Japan with Jayne all these years, made life always feel better. We only had a couple hours to catch up, but nonstop back and forth talking...was most special!



Back with Ischin's family. At the park, I caught up with him and Halle, and with me there, Ischin could better focus on his reading as I played with Halle.

At Cafe Ocean for Ischin's pizza, Halle got to wear some of their Halloween decor:

And Izakaya-janai, micro-brewing buddy Craig, we got to catch up. Halle wasn't sure about him, white faced and Japanese coming perfectly out of his mouth, but she took to him soon enough! He's all good with kids too!

Another pizzeria day with dear Hiromi and Kahori.

Another evening at KOHAZAMA, which used to be our favorite Izakaya. Meeting Minako Inagaki there. The owners were due to close their shop come end of 2017. I'd had a feeling... that maybe that could happen, so was so grateful to catch the owners one last time. I'd been meaning to give them a photo of Zen with the Master who always said of himself: "I was born to cook!" 

"All you can eat" for 80 minutes at 1,600 yen, it's a little like this:

Traditional Japanese cooked foods. It's tough to stop eating! With Anita and Kahori. HATOYA. Another favorite restaurant : )

We took a nice little walk afterwards to see the location, a short distance away, of the new New Age Connection English Conversation School, Anita now runs. SO excited to see it, only from the outside for now.