Tateishi Park

Tateishi Park is a very popular place to watch the sunset. There were tripods galore already set up at 15:30 to get pictures of a sunset that wasn't to happen until at least 16:30. We toyed with the idea of waiting around, but it was cold and common sense won out.

That stone, Mt. Fuji and that tree out there provide a great shot.

Those flowers are me being artsy.

This vending machine dispenses the large sizes of drinks. They were about 350-yen a piece.

Restaurant Don. It shares a parking lot with Tateishi Park.

Kinubari Yama 衣張山

The clear winter skies and the lack of foliage make Kinubari Yama 衣張山 a perfect hike for Fuji viewing. This was my second time hiking it, but my first time taking the correct trails.

It took a little adjustment in Photoshop, but I was trying to make the moon a little more visual next to Fuji san.

There are three designated viewing spots on the trail. The whole trail is beautiful too. There are many, many caves along the trail.

There are times on the trail where the drop off on either side is very, very steep.

That sign directs you to the top of Kinubari to the left.

You can kind of see Fuji san through those weeds. This is at the highest view point on Mt. Kinubari.

I used my Garmin GPS and this is the trail. The trail continues on, but I had to turn back due to time constraints.

My round trip was 2.63 miles.

Fun fact you should know.

The Japanese word for "sexual predator" is Chikan.  

Could be embarrassing when ordering dinner in Tokyo.

Seijin no Hi - Coming of Age Day

My friend Katie and I made a trip into Kamakura today to help kimono-clad 20 year olds celebrate Seijin no Hi, or Coming of Age Day.

It is apparently a very popular holiday. Someone, okay it was me, decided it would be better to drive there, so we spent much of the time stuck in traffic. All of these photos are courtesy of Katie, but taken with my camera.

All of these photos were taken at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu.

Smokemifyougottem - You're an adult now!

Oonoyama Park

This park has several play areas ideal for climbers. There is a typical play area for the smaller areas, and there are the areas like that below. One thing you can't see in that photo below is the super-fast rollerslide that hugs the side of the hill. It's also quite long.
This park is kind of between downtown Naha and the airport. It's behind the treehouse restaurant. This is also the park where they start and finish the Naha Marathon. We always went here when we rode the Monorail. There is a Monorail stop at the park.

Down there is a pretty pond with some Okinawan Shisa statues that reflect in the pond.

Yaejima Park

Yaejima park was my introduction into Okinawa's parks.
See that slide?!? We called it a drop slide. I don't know what official name is, but you slide your bum off the edge and hold onto the bar above your head. You hang there and, when you are ready, let go! You drop and kind of free-fall about three meters until you re-attach your bum to the slide.

I first saw this rollerslide from Rt. 23 right outside of Kadena... near Gate 2. This park is on the Okinawa Marathon route. I guess I had better things to do than actually run the race... like scope out parks :)

There are three parts to this park. The rollerslide is up front, along with the Gate Ball field. The drop slide is just a little farther back and then there is this part above. I forgot to get a picture of the little kid's area, but it is a fun area with climbing and little slides.

This must be why Okinawans live so long! Those women swinging are probably pushing 80!

This is the Gate Ball field. Every morning you can find elderly Okinawans playing a Croquet-like game they call Gate Ball. This is a familiar site at almost every park on the island.

The Pirate Ship at Araha Beach

I think the original name of the British ship that crashed into the Okinawan shore was the Indian Oak. This park is a tribute to that.