Chrysanthemum Festival at Hirosaki castle 弘前城

I can't believe we have been in Japan for almost 4 months now!  Time has flown by so quckly.  As proof, this post is one month overdue, as the chrysanthemum festiveal in Hirosaki was sometime in early November (I think).  Better late than never.  Anyway, we took our first family day trip to Hirosaki, about 3 hours away.  The drive was beautiful as we traveled first through several scattered rural villages and then straight through the mountains -- literally.  I didn't count, but there were at least five tunnels of significant length, including one that was about 2 miles long.  With all the earthquakes, I couldn't help but wonder how these tunnels survive. 

So we arrived in Hirosaki to enjoy the chrysanthemums, which for such a long name is a rather simple looking flower.  I'll get into that later though.  I know you're checking out this post for the pictures, so without further achoo, I mean adoo, here you are:

Katya with Mt.Iwasaki-mura of the Shirakami mountains in the background (yes, a volcano). 

Alex decided to check out the view too, although I don't know how much he saw through the coin-operated binoculars because we didn't put any money in.

At first glance this is just a picture of Katya and Alex at the bottom of some stairs, but with that assumption dear friends and family, you would be quite wrong. It is in fact a shot of Alex falling down the stairs.  No easy feat snapping this shot I assure you.

Don't worry, he's okay.

After Alex's harrowing escape from injury, I attempted to comfort him (as well as distract him and Katya from interrupting Lyana who was trying to get baby Mark to fall asleep in the stroller) by checking out the local wildlife.  Here in Japan there are black ladybugs with red spots, and the kids are really fascinated by these bewildering backward beetles.

Here is a Alex runing toward me, practically tears, because he just accidentally squashed that ladybug in his hand.

Yeaaaaa!  They have seesaws in Japan!!  Real teeter-totters.   From Utah to Minnesota to Florida, the litigation fairies have removed practically every teeter-totter from every playground in America.  But here in this glorious country where parents are held responsible for their own children's mistakes (instead of the guy who painted the see-saw aqua-marine).

Besides flowers that can't be pronounced, Hirosaki is famous for apples.  So part of the celebration was a display of different apple-related artwork, such as this painted apple barrel.  They are also famous for their "apple pies" which are not much more than a whole, cored apple wrapped up in dough and baked.

Alex and Mark hanging out in another apple barrel.

Okay, so I guess it's time to show a some chrysanthemum creations.  Here are a few "statues" covered in flowers (note the samurais' pants and armor).  Due to a chyrysanthemum shortage, the two statues to your left had to be clothed in standard children's attire as an alternative.

Behind the picture-perfect family in this photo is the Hirosaki castle (constructed in 1611 by the local Tsugaru clan) and a chrysanthemum boat in the moat. Try saying chrysanthemums three times fast.  I can barely say it once.

Mark made a new friend.

Those are all apples by the way.

I don't think the pandas are actually made from chrysanthemums, chrysanthemums, chrysanthemums, but those are chrysanthemums, chrysanthemums, chrysanthemums in the pots.

Ever seen chrysanthemum + shrubbery elephants?

Me neither.

Free train ride.  Not as fast as the bullet train, but still fun.  When I sat down in front of Alex (I barely fit) the conductor who sat on the black seat in the back told me not to turn around to take pictures of the kids behind me, apparently to prevent the train from tipping over.

After touring the gardens, we purchased tasty ice cream cones from this grandmotherly street vendor for 100 yen each (about $1).  These carts can be found all over the place. 

Finally, the best picture of all.  Here is the sweet, and brave, woman who ventured halfway around the globe with me.  Here, standing at the entrance to the Hirosaki castle gardens.

Till next time I make the time to write another post,

Robert