Momiji Walks

I've been a bit useless on my blog recently, mostly because I'd run out of space in my picasa album, and I had to delete all the photos I didn't need before I could upload any more. But I finally got round to doing that, so now I can spam you all with our gorgeous autumn leaves photos!

We've been hiking a lot recently, making the most of our last bit of time in Japan, and admiring the beautiful colours of autumn. It really was beautiful around here from the end of October until the middle of November. Unfortunately, last weekend we had a really windy couple of days, and all the leaves disappeared overnight. Now, it's cold and wintery, but these photos really bring back the lovely weather of autumn!

View from Mount Izumi, over towards our house

John bullying small children!

It was a little early for the lovely colours just yet, but I love how the colours change as you get down the mountain.

I went on an early morning hike up the mountain behind our house, and although it was a bit hazy, the hills around were gorgeous.

This amazing tree and adorable little shrine are hidden away in someone's back garden!

Japanese maples are the most beautiful trees ever!

Our apartment is snuggled up in these beautiful hills

I've been to this reservoir in Spring and Summer, and we went back to enjoy the autumn leaves around its shores. There were so many beautiful trees, and John was saying continuously "I think autumn is my favourite season in Japan, I love autumn"! 

The trees that are all colours at once are the best!

We found a lovely little riverside spot near our house that I wish we'd found earlier!

This was after the wind storm that blew most of the leaves off, but these ones retained a few!

This amazing tree is in a tiny little children's park, next to our supermarket. It still has some leaves, and is continuing to make me happy every day!

Mount Banzan

I've been meaning to post about Mount Banzan, a gorgeous walk up a mountain (well, more of a hill really, but I'm from East Anglia so it's a mountain to me!) near our house ever since John and I first hiked it in the middle of August. But then my parents' visit got in the way, and we walked it for a second time before I'd written about the first!

It is a lovely walk, with nice views across Sendai, and should be gorgeous once the leaves finally start changing colour (a few are going round the edges but they're not properly changing yet). It would make a lovely easy day hike coming from Sendai, and for us, living a short bike ride away, we were back home in time for a late lunch!

To get there, take any Senzan line train from Sendai station, and get off at Rikuzenochiai (about 20 minutes), and head south out of the station and follow the map below.

I've recently worked out how to do this, so here is a screen shot from my phone showing where the start of the hike is. 

And here's a photo of the steps up at the start, with the ubiquitous bear warning sign

All of us heading up! The stairs don't go all the way up, but the path remains very easy to follow

There's a small shrine at the top...

...but it's suffered a bit of (earthquake?) damage

A slightly hazy view over Sendai

With a cheeky spider!

View towards Taihaku, south west Sendai

If you keep following the ridge, you get views across the other way, over Ochiai, the town we live in. Our apartment is the one furtherest back in the middle, nestled amongst the trees

John heading down (don't you love his ridiculous head gear?!)

Whole family heading downwards, looking forward to their lunch

(the observant amoungst you might have realised that John is wearing different clothes...he didn't get changed, these photos are just a combination from each time we climbed up :))

Oh yeah, slightly problem...at the bottom, at the moment, this is what greets you! The first time we went there was a bridge across which I assume they'll rebuild, but for the time being, as Dad is so aptly demonstrating, you can easily climb round the edge!

Once you're out, turn right and head back along the main road, and turn left down the first main-ish road. Then you're right back at the station! 

Bike Ride in the Sun

For the last couple of weeks, for the most part the weather has been gorgeous. Hot and sunny and lovely. We've been out and about in it quite a bit (largely because it's turned our apartment into a sauna). Last week, one day was so especially gorgeous that despite the fact I had work in the evening, we decided to make the most of it. Photos below ^-^

PS - British people, just so you don't hate me, the weather has now turned and is cold and there's rain forecast. You've apparently stolen our sun. And you should all read this, because it's hilarious.

Biking out of our town towards Sendai, view along the river

I'd passed this intriguing staircase before, but never had time to go up it, but I'm glad we did this time.

At the top is a lovely temple, surrounded by buddha statues and trees.

There is apparently a rabbit theme to this temple. There was only Japanese info, so I have no idea why, but the only info I can find about Buddhist rabbits is to do with the rabbit in the moon, so perhaps it has something to do with that?

Rabbits on the roof

One of the many lovely statues. 

From Buddhism to Shinto...we stopped off at Osaki Hachimangu Shrine

And tanabata had already started. Doesn't the paper look lovely?

Everyone's wishes for the next year. I haven't written mine yet, but I will.

Our bikes, with the Sendai skyline.

I would love to live on the top floor on the apartment block in the centre of this photo.

After some shopping, we headed to Tsutsujigaoka part for some sunbathing, reading and people (and dog) watching.

I had to go to work then for a few hours, so I surrendered the camera to John, who took this photo of a ridiculous car park...

...but also this lovely photo of his bike ride home.

We wanted to go for sushi for dinner, but by the time I'd biked the 15km back from school it was 10pm and the restaurant was closed. So we bought half price sashimi and pizza, and curled up in bed, and ate and watched Once Upon a Time, our current TV show obsession! 

It was a lovely, lovely day, and as soon as the sun comes back out, we're planning to have many many more!

My Month: Bits and Bobs and Being Outside

Onigiri. I've been making these a lot recently. Yum.

Storytime at school

Gyoza, ready for the pan. I've been having a dumpling phase recently too!

We went out with our friend Shoko and some of her friends last week. It was 90 minutes of all you can eat BBQ meat and all you can drink. Yum!

We went for a bike ride. The countryside is gorgeous.

I have no idea why there was a random church in the middle of nowhere!

Hirosegawa River

Rice and water everywhere!

Pretty flowers

Firefighter drain cover, mark 1.

Cool firefighter drain cover, mark 2.

A battery vending machine