Today, I am leaving from Tokyo's Narita Airport to return to the United States. I have to admit I wish I had more time to spend here. Mr. & Mrs. Tsugawa (my friend Hiroko's parents) were wonderful hosts, and they spent a lot of time making sure my visit in Japan was an experience that I will not soon forget.
My home base was the Tsugawa residence in Kawasaki, Japan, which is situated just outside of Tokyo. While in Kawasaki, I particularly enjoyed Kawasaki Daishi, which was the site of an impressive pagoda, and an extensive display of bonzai trees. I wish I could read Japanese better, so I could have understood more of the writings posted over the trees. It appeared that there was a story behind each one.
I was happy that I had some time to get to see some of Japan's countryside on this trip. I took a train to Nikko with the Tsugawa family where we spent a few days exploring the temple in the mountains and the surrounding area. The food at the guest house was amazing. Each time food was served, there were roughly a dozen small plates of new and interesting dishes, each of which was as colorful as a work of art. The cooking was so exotic that it was impossible to predict what a particular dish would taste like based on its appearance, and each entree and appetizer was delicious and exciting.
