Tag Archives: Fuji-san

Going on a Safari

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Today we got into the Audi Airline and flew to Africa for a safari at Kilimanjaro. At least it almost felt like that, but we only went to the Fuji Safari Park at Fuji-san.



It was a beautiful day with clear blue sky, or piikan as a Japanese friend (Mash-san) taught me it is called in “real” Japanese. We arrived quite early at the Fuji Safari Park and while I parked the car, Chie bought all the tickets needed to enter by car and by Jungle Bus.



The best part of the day though was meeting with Leo, a 2 months old baby lion. He was the warmest, cutest thing I have seen in a very long time. The idea about just keep holding him and run away with him popped up in my head many times during the short time I could hold him. It is really difficult to understand that something so small (only 4 kg) and cute will soon grow up to something as powerful and quite dangerous as a full-grown lion.



After meeting with Leo the day at the Fuji Safari Park was over. We drove back towards Tokyo. But we made a short stop at the Gotemba Premium Outlet. Where we walked around for a while. I found a T-Fal water boiler for the office and The North Face Gore-Tex pants for snowboarding. Both things I have been looking for. The North Face pants was a real bargain, on top of the Outlet price was a 20% rebate. So it ended at 33000 JPY, or around 2700 SEK.



It was a long, exciting and very fun day. It ended at Ochanokosaisai, a local restaurant just around the corner from where we live 🙂

New Year’s Day

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It has been a tradition now for quite some time that Chie and I take a walk to the shrine not far from Chie’s mother’s home in Tokorozawa. Since Coco was born he has joined us.

This year was no exception. We all walked, enjoying the crisp air and the sunshine.



At the shrine we bought tigers for the three of us. As you may recall from last year the tigers bring protection from evil and illness during the new year. And so far it has worked.




Many people had come to the shrine to wish something for the new year and to add tigers for protection. I think that not many Japanese people are particularly religious, so they do not come to pray but rather to ask for health, wealth good grades, or whatever they need at the moment.

I kind of like the tigers because they are cute and it is a nice walk. Also they shrine is peaceful and has a nice garden with a lot of nice statues and trees.



On our way home we could get a nice view of Fuji-san as well. What a perfect way to start the new year!



At home again, we rested. And for dinner we had what is traditional Japanese New Year’s Day food. In old times the stores were closed for 4 days or so. This meant fresh food could not be bought during this time. So preserved food was bought and eaten during New Year.