Kenji World

"You drove for two hours down here just to go to this waterpark for several hours?"--This is the impression that a Japanese lady at Kenji World was giving me when I was "talking" to her.

Yes, today, because it is Alex's birthday (but that's going to be another post) and because we have been planning it for half a year, we went to Kenji World, an inside waterpark in Morioka.

I was counting on Japanese schools still being in session...but I was mistaken. The place was CROWDED. In Ukrainian, we say, "There is even no room for an apple to fall down".

The entrace fee was $21 for adults and $13 for kids older than four years old. But guess what it didn't include--the use of the beach chairs--the ones to lounge on while watching your kids play in the wavepool. It's a good thing we brought beach towels to put on the cement floor, otherwise,I think, we'd have to pay $10-$20 for just one.

Can you spot Robert?:)

Also, if you ever go, bring your own floating devices for kids. Way cheaper than buying a $20 floating ring (we bought ours the night before at Homac for $4).

So,to describe the waterpark for you, it was not huge by any means. Nothing like the Dells in Wisconsin, or even like Grand Rios in MN. There is a wavepool there (half of Morioka was gathered there, I swear), small kiddie area with rock slide, lazy river and five different fast slides. Two of the slides, you didn't have to bring a tube on, but on the rest, you did. We were VERY lucky that Alex was tall enough to go on those slides. You have to be at least 120 cm or 47 inches tall.

Later I told Robert that I am sure Alex was the tallest five-year old there today:)

Here is our birthday boy.

We are getting to be really good at understanding Japanese signs:)

The kids had a blast. The slides were not terrifying and not very long. The best park was the Katya and Alex were allowed to just carry the tube up the stairs themselves and then slide down without us.

Mark didn't have as much of a variety of things to do as Katya and Alex, so it was a bit more challenging with him. He absolutely loves being in the water though, so he still enjoyed this trip VERY much. Possibly when he is three, we'll go back to Kenji World again.

Mark was wiped out. He fell asleep with his cereal bar still in his hand:)

I think we will take a break from day trips for the next...umm....10 days:). Stay tuned.

P.S. We were the only Americans there today, so I could spot my kids anywhere, even with wet hair.