JAPAN
JULY 27th - AUGUST 4th, 2008
Flew to Nagoya from Sydney via Cairns, full of excitement and anticipation about being back in Japan!!
Stayed at a hotel at Nagoya airport. Somehow they managed to fit two beds inside this room!
Caught the train into Nagoya the next morning before waiting for an hour for our express train to Matsumoto.
Aidan took the opportunity for a little nap!
After settling into our hotel in Matsumoto, we headed straight to Matsumoto castle. This is one of the 3 oldest castles in Japan (over 500 years old!), one of the few that has never burned down. The moat around the castle was full of huge carp and also some swans. The castle was amazing, the steps inside were so steep!!
Next to the castle was the Matsumoto City Museum. Some very interesting things to see.
On the sidewalk on the way back to the hotel, was a water bubbler, but not quite what we are used to seeing!
We had dinner at the hotel tonight, and amazingly at the table next to us was Mrs.Sugahara. She was Aidan's very first piano teacher when we first visited Japan in 2005. It feels like 'home', as if we have never left!
First day of the Suzuki Summer School in Matsumoto. Introduction for the international students, Aidan with a new friend, and the opening concert.
Dinner that evening. Aidan loved his quail egg yakatori and his ramen noodles!
Photos from the Suzuki convention.
Visit to Suzuki's house in Matsumoto.
Typical Japanese houses and streets.
Crab, sashimi and some sort of fish soup thing!
Photos from the second day of the convention and concert.
Visit to a temple in Matsumoto.
Final day and Aidan drinks his hot green tea drink. Aidan's group with their gift, and the final concert.
A final afternoon tea with Mrs.Sugohara.
On the train ride from Matsumoto back to Nagoya, we couldn't get a seat so Aidan had a nap on the floor.
Stayed at the Nagoya Hilton. First night we got some takeaway sushi. Nic couldn't believe the size of the salad bowl at the breakfast buffet.
In Nagoya, we met up with Aidan's friend Gaku who we met at a Sydney convention in Jan 2007. Visited Nagoya castle, lunch in Nagoya tower and the science museum. It was a very hot day.
Temple in Nagoya and Aidan keeping himself occupied reading whilst Mum shops.
Time to head home!
