The Mums (Carol and Susan) in Japan


After a few months of planning our mothers finally arrived for their holiday. It felt like half their luggage was gifts. Magazines, chocolates, spices and wine, we did very well.

(Photos by everyone involved)

Day 0 - 7pm in Nagoya


Susan (Pam's mum) pushing all their luggage


Carol (Michael's mum) followed soon after.

It was a long trip. Melbourne to Sydney. Overnight in Sydney then to Cairns and finally to Nagoya. But they made it and it was good to see them.


Day 1 - Around Nagoya

We took the subway into Nagoya. In Nagoya we explored Nagoya's Castle, ate lunch at Towers in Nagoya Station, browsed around at Noritake Porcelain and had afternoon tea and cake in the new Midland square shopping complex.

After getting home they also had time to go with Pam to check out Japan's amazing $2 shops and to peruse some supermarkets ( They are at the supermarket as I write this, I am not the best shopper).


Visiting Nagoya Castle


First time getting hot coffee in a can.


Some people just relaxed while other checked out the gardens


Trying to get the best picture of the castle.


The huge 14 story Nagoya Castle( with lots of little people in front). The castle was rebuilt after being destroyed in WW2. It is still pretty impressive and since they have rebuilt it with a lift inside it, is much less work than it would have been if we had to climb it with just the stairs.


Watching a 3D Movie (in Japanese) about the castle. A little weird but a bit of fun.


Checking out the Noritake Porcelain. We looked at the museum, the gallery for how they make porcelain and unsurprisingly, we browsed the shop.


Free tissues on the street. You don't just get a pamphlet when a shop advertising something, you get tissues too.


Bargain!

Well that was it for day one. The market tomorrow....

Day 2 - Osu Kannon and Sakae


Taking the train in to town. Another day in Nagoya. Today was to be a contrast between the bargains of Osu Kannon and the opulence of the downtown department stores.


Shopping at the Osu Kannon Temple antiques market ( a Buddhist temple in central Nagoya). The market is open twice a month and was worth a visit.


Still shopping at the Osu Kannon Temple antiques market.


The steps of Osu Kannon temple,.


Both Susan and Carol purchased a seal book. A helpful monk from the temple drew a Goshuin in their books . A goushuin is a seal or record of the temple visit.( See Chris's Japan page for more info). His calligraphy was beautiful.


This is the Goshuin from Osu Kannon. They collected a number of stamps from kyoto and Nara over the following days.


Close to Osu Kannon is a large shopping arcade. Turning at the small shrine and wandering up the second arcade we found an Alice in Wonderland themed restaurant.


The door to Alice's world was a little small


We ordered tea and scones. Thank you. ...... except me, I had the tiniest little sandwiches.


Feeling like the queen



Crossing from bargains to the department stores of Sakae. Things would be different here.


Downstairs in the huge Matsuzakaya Department store is at "Food World". In Food world you can indulge in the Japanese experience of purchasing gifts. There are staff everywhere tending their spectacularly presented food. Food world is one of my favorite places in Nagoya.

You can purchase gift boxes of pasta, chocolates, meat, tea, fruit, ice cream and cakes.The photo above is from one of the fruit shops, If you can not convert yen, this melon and cherry set is worth.... $420. It is a pretty impressive melon.


Some of the staff posing for a photo at the Godiva stand


Walking through Sakae you can see so many bikes, all parked on the street. It is very different to Melbourne.


Nagoya TV tower and coffee to end the day shopping.

Time to go home and for me to rest. As usual everyone else is out still. Carol is at Mass and Susan and Pam are shopping at Daiei.

So the end to another busy day.




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