Japan Diaries: Day 2

Day 2 December 20, 2014

Rengakan Illumination


It's raining hard today and I'm losing hope that we would go anywhere with this weather. I was hoping that it would only be snowflakes that are falling from the skies and not raindrops and mushy ice.

Lucky for me,  Mr. Toshi drove me around Eiraku Dam. There is a walking course around this place and this is where he usually takes long walks with his wife. However, since it was still raining, I was not able to go out of the car. I will just memorize the way of going to the dam and revisit it when the weather is more pleasurable. 

Raining and snowing... weird mix.

Mr. Toshi and I talked about golf on our way back home. He wanted us to try his favorite sport /recreational activity so we dropped by at his residence to get his golf clubs and also invite my wife to come along and try it out too.

Let's play golf at New Airport Green Club!

Let's check the playing field, shall we?

I got tutored by the master...

Ella too...

...but not my wife because she is a pro.

After getting the golf bags, we headed to New Airport Green Club to practice our skills in hitting a golf ball. Mr. Toshi also taught us the correct posture and other basic details on how to play the sport... Dozens of golf balls later, my wife and I decided that we had enough (muscle cramps!!!).  My baby daughter did a few tries too.
Rengakan Illumination 2014

Someone enjoyed her first illumination night.

All along, we thought that we were going back home but we were up for another surprise. We headed to Rengakan in Kumatori to attend the Rengakan Illumination. It was the first time that we experienced such kind of event. The Japanese in some way treat illumination events like how we do in fiestas in the Philippines. We had fun listening to musical numbers done by students and of course trying out Japanese food bought in the food trucks parked in the venue. 
Ai Chan Restaurant

The owner and cook made us some Osaka-style okonomiyaki

We ended our day 2 tour by eating dinner (again) at Ai Chan Restaurant.  It is where we tried out the local yakisoba and okonomiyaki. When we got home, Mr. Toshi's other daughter Akiko, and her family were already there waiting to meet us. Mr. Toshi informed us that we would be joining Akiko's family tomorrow on a trip to Suita City which is also in Osaka Prefecture. Way to start our 3rd-day plan. 
Location: Kumatori, Sennan District, Osaka, Japan

Comments

  1. Poorna BanerjeeFebruary 7, 2018 at 4:13 PM

    I have never really golfed, but your enthusiasm is infectious! I loved reading the post and seeing the photos.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownFebruary 7, 2018 at 11:25 PM

    Looks like a fantastic trip and everyone enjoyed themselves. I can’t wsit to travel abroad and experience different cultures!

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownFebruary 8, 2018 at 1:58 AM

    Wow a great location to play golf!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Viaje ni BreeFebruary 8, 2018 at 7:11 AM

    Cheers to your Japan trip! I've always wanted to visit Japan. It's my dream country. Thank you for sharing about the illumination night as well. It looks like an awesome event.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Southern Simple BlessedFebruary 8, 2018 at 9:59 AM

    Wow!! That sounds like a great time. Love the photo of your daughter! 💖

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousFebruary 8, 2018 at 7:25 PM

    Would love to try out okonomiyaki. Heard they sound delicious! Glad you and your family had a fun trip to Japan :)

    Ellen | www.zyrakuma.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioFebruary 9, 2018 at 9:37 AM

      You should try out the authentic okonomiyaki. Tastes great.

      Delete
  7. Lilian WadeFebruary 8, 2018 at 10:16 PM

    Looks like you had a great trip in Japan. I haven't had the pleasure of visiting there.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nikki G.February 9, 2018 at 11:13 AM

    I had always hoped that my husband would have been stationed in Japan, but that never happened. No outside-the-states travel for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioFebruary 10, 2018 at 9:28 AM

      Awwww. Don't lose hope. =) You can ask your husband to treat you on a date in Japan with his bonus instead. Hahaha.

      Delete
  9. NehaFebruary 14, 2018 at 4:43 PM

    Looks like it was a lovely day for the lovely family. Your trip to Japan is inspiring me also to plan one soon. It is indeed a very beautiful country.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioFebruary 15, 2018 at 7:09 AM

      Thanks Neha. =) You should visit this wonderful country soon. =)

      Delete
  10. MarjorieFebruary 14, 2018 at 8:02 PM

    Looks like things are going great for you guys in Japan. And you're doing it the local way, which in my opinion is still the best way to travel. I used to think that golf is easy but when I tried it years before, I couldn't get the ball to shoot inside the hall, it was quite frustrating haha...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioFebruary 15, 2018 at 7:10 AM

      yes it is. =)

      Golf is frustrating but like what the pros say, "The more you do it, the more it becomes natural".

      Delete

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