Japan

Shrines in Sendai

OG

12 Oct 2016 • 4 min read

I'm so glad they make the train station signs so easy to understand. No guess work needed.

We spent a few days in Sendai, a large city most people outside of Japan have probably never heard of (I definitely hadn't). But it's a great base for visiting temples in the area and a happening place in its own right although we never made it much further than a 5 block radius around the train station. Since that's generally where all the action happens in any Japanese town though, you really don't need to venture much further. (Seriously, if you want the best food, hotels, stores - just head to the JR station.)

Anyway, here are some more pictures from our days:

SmallPaw got to dress up as a Japanese princess to take some pictures. She was upset that she couldn't go outside with the kimono (or really do anything besides pose for the pictures) but that's the life of a supermodel...

BabyPaw cheered her right up, as usual.

Come on SmallPaw, I know a great ice cream place around here.

By chance we wandered past a large building with lots of buses in front and colorful posters outside. We had no idea what it was but it looked interesting so we bought tickets and ended up hearing a shamisen performance and saw the workshop where they build the nebuta lanterns. (Lanterns of various sizes that are paraded around town once a year.)

Shamisen concert. Like dueling banjos with an Asian touch.

Giant 'nebuta' lantern (you can walk inside).

During the parade they also play drums. Very loud drums. And they scream while they play them. (Probably because they're so loud.) SmallPaw got to try them.

I thought she was going to run away and cover her ears but she banged those drums like a pro. (And they really were VERY loud.)

We spent a day in Yamadera, eating soba noodles and climbing mountains.

See all those little temples and shrines hidden in the mountain?

SmallPaw was very intrigued by all the ropes and gongs but we would not let her play with them. Much to her despair.

No wonder they built temples up here. What a view...

The kids' first okonomiyaki dinner. Total success.

Kids patiently waiting for their okonomiyaki to be ready. And the chef to take their picture. Probably for his Facebook page or something.

Another day we went to Hiraizumi for more temples. This time we rented bikes to see a bit more of the area and make it easier for the kids (and us) to get around.

Dangerous and unsuccessful family selfie attempt. SmallPaw's hair is the only part of her that made it into the picture.

Uhm, bears? Let's go a bit faster kids...

All the buildings that used to stand here were destroyed a long time ago but the park around the ruins is so peaceful and gorgeous, no temples needed.

Doesn't that thatched roof look like it's made of velvet?

One night we went to an Izakaya where unfortunately very little English was spoken. But we remembered that "Omakase" means something along the lines of 'whatever the chef would like to make us' and we ended up having an excellent dinner full of interesting plates. (Seaweed pizza was a huge hit.)

Ice cubes - excellent for keeping babies busy in bars.

Oh and in case you're wondering what a Japanese-style hotel room looks like, here's a somewhat crappy picture with an obviously non-Japanese baby napping on the futon: