Ichou Park or Liberty Park

Ichou Park is in Momoishi Village in Oirase Town, Japan. As the town shares same latitude as New York City (Lat.40' 40" N), the Statue of Liberty was put in the park and is the highest of all the Statue of Liberties in Japan. The size is 11.5 meters high, 1/4 of the original size in New York and is lighted up at night, adding a fantastic atmosphere.

Directions: (using back road)

1. From POL gate, go straight until you see Universe Grocery Store, make a left on this Universe intersection.
2. Go straight, you will pass Eneos gas station on your left side and then pass Family Mart on your right side. Make a right turn when you see the Lawson Store on your right hand side. You will see the sign board, to Aeon Mall.
3. You will drive straight and pass rice fields (7-10 minute drive from Lawson) until you see the Shimoda Mall or Jusco Mall
4. Make a left turn on the traffic light before the traffic light intersection on going to Shimoda mall.
5. Go straight and make a left on the T-intersection.
6. Make a right turn when you see the Lawson Store on your right hand side.
7. Go straight and follow the direction on the signboard "Ichou Park", you will see on your left side the statue of liberty just follow the road leading to that park.

From Shimoda Mall or Jusco: (From the front side or main road)

1. Travel out to the main road of Shimoda Mall not on the back road. The main road is can be seen when you are coming out from the main entrance of the mall or from mister donut store side. Get off from the parking lot, make a left turn first and another left turn to hit the main road. You will pass Giga outlet (on your left side) as soon as you make a left.
2. Make a left turn on the traffic light after you pass Giga Outlet.
3. Go straight, make a right turn on the first traffic light.
4. Follow no. 5 to 7 directions above.
   

Japanese Parking Sign

Wohooo! Another Japanese sign in a parking lot. Go go go! lol

Toy's Vending Machine

These are vending machines for toys which cost 200 yen for each toy. My son loves to get pokemon toys from this type of machine. This photo was taken inside the Veedol Plaza or the Super City Asahi.

For directions see the post for Veedol Plaza or Super City Asahi.

How to buy japanese sauce

This is how I buy sauce here in Japan whether it's a teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, tempura sauce, udon sauce, ramen sauce or even just a seasoning sauce. I just sometimes watch this small monitor hanging on the shelf and trying to figure out on how to use this particular sauce. That's how hard it is to read japanese writings, I hate it. I think I need to start learning katakana just to help me out on buying food off base. But another problem is, Japanese not only has katakana but they still have hiragana and the worst is kanji, my daughter said it's hard to read kanji coz it has 2000+ characters....ohhh never mind then, I think I'm stuck here with this monitor ha ha ha.

Japanese Instruction

Another Japanese instruction, this was taken inside the cubicle in a public restroom of a mall. I wasn't able to take the picture of the flush itself, it's actually on your right hand side lol

Yokomachi Store

This logo sign board was taken when we were driving to Hachinohe. I can't read the Japanese writing on this sign but I know this logo, this is Yokomachi. Here in Misawa I have to memorize and be familar with the signs or logo of each store. When I saw this sign I told my husband that store is Yokomachi and he was surprised that I can read Japanese hehehe but actually I only knew the store because of the logo and I learned that when we had our tour bus from the base; the tour guide mentioned that store, Yokomachi.

There is one Yokomachi closer to Misawa Air Base but I haven't taken the photo from that store, anyways it's the same logo, a bird carrying a flower (don't know what kind of flower it is).

Yokomachi has sale every Tuesdays and that's where I always go every Tuesday to find a 100 yen items for sale. Most items are vegetables that cost 100 yen; either per piece, per pack, per bag or sometimes per kilo.

Directions from Misawa AB main gate:

1. Go out from main gate

2. On the first traffic light, make a left turn

3. After few blocks, you will see on your right side the logo sign board (see above picture) on top of the store, that is Yokomachi

Directions from POL Gate:

1. Go out from POL gate

2. Go straight when you see a traffic light with Lawson store ( Ithink the second stop light but not sure though) on the left corner, make a right turn.

3. Go straight and few blocks you will see the logo sign board (see above picture) on top of the store on your left hand side.

Parking:

• Parking is on the front of the store and you can also park across Yokomachi store, you will see the sign "P"

Japanese Constructions Signs

I saw these two signs ( Right turn is being construction and left turn is being construction) when I was driving back home and can't help to grab my cellphone cam and took shots of the sign board. These 2 photos were taken on different days. What's wrong with these signs???? That's the reason I always bring my camera with me to see and look for signboards that are funny to read and can share on my blog. Am I bad person?

Daiso

This shot was from my cellphone camera, even I don't bring my camera with me I still have back-up :-) "The Daiso" is the 100 yen store here in Japan. This is like a 99cents store in US. I really like shopping here coz there are plenty of good stuff for kids and even for moms like me and even for dads. From snack food, toys, kitchen ware, hardware, electronics and cellphone accesories to school supplies. Almost every week we are here to shop.

Misawa Beach

This is Misawa Beach taken from Los Guerreros Restaurant on base, the lake is the Lake Ogawara. Yesterday the sun did show up but still a little bit windy outside with a temperature of 6 dec C as it showed up on my GPS, no more snow; and by the way that's one of the things I understand on my GPS, temperature and the other one is the compass. My husband was trying to fix the GPS and ended up messing it up and the worst thing is..... the map is not showing up anymore. Although I don't understand the kanji nor katakana nor any Japanese writing at least I understand the route number or the highway number where it can help us locate where we at......but now it's gone :-(

I should have taken picture of my GPS hmmm good idea, oh well that's it for now.

Snowing in Aomori

I took this picture from the bus when we were going to Aomori for my son's field trip. It was snowing hard when the kids got off the bus. My son was so excited to see a lot of snow, it's his first time actually to play with the snow. He was only 3 yrs old when we went sledding in Big Bear CA and he totally forgot it.

Raddish for sale

I always go to this vegetable store to buy cheaper vegetables like carrots, raddish, cucumber, spinach, cabbage, lettuce, potatoes, etc. but until now I don't know what the name of this store is (????) ; I just call it "vegetable store" or the company parking store hahaha lol. It says on their sign board (first picture) "only company parking" but actually customers can park on their parking lot, right in front of the store.

I was surprised when they are selling this 1 bundle of raddish for 100 yen I think it has 8 raddish in it, so it's like $1, sooooo cheap. Maybe I should start looking for a raddish recipe so I can buy this bunch of raddish just for a 100 yen. I know Japanese and Korean they are making kimchee out of raddish. Hmmm maybe I should try raddish kimchee too.

By the way, aside from vegetables they are also selling, fruits and some dried fish, canned goods and snack food.

• Directions from Misawa AB's main gate:

1. From the main gate make a left
2. Make a quick right turn on the first block
3. Right after the first intersection ,you will see on your right side the sign "Only company parking"
4. You can park on their parking lot, never mind the sign hehehe

Note:

I guess the meaning of their sign "Only company parking" is "for customers parking only" hahaha I just figured out today while writing this blog.

First Snow Fall- Nov. 19, 2008

Oh my first snow in Japan!!! My kids were very excited this morning when they woke up and they saw the snow they even took pictures with snow falling as the background lol. The base has a snow fall contest whoever can guess the first snow fall will win a snow blower. My guess is Nov. 29 so I lost :-) that's ok

Making Mochi

When we went to Salmon Festival in Oirase we stopped by one food stall that was selling mochi and we saw the old lady and the man were pounding the grinded sweet rice so I took pictures of them from pounding, kneading and cutting of mochi. I missed the mixing of sweet ricce and its ingredients. This is the traditional way of making mochi. I bought 3 bowls of mochi. One small bowl is 300 yen and it has only 3 pieces of mochi on it. The mochi is not sweet unlike the commercially made mochi which has sugar in it and sometimes it comes in different colors like pink, light green and light yellow. They have 3 different types of sauce for mochi. Sorry but I forgot to take pictures of them since I was so excited to taste the mochi. One was with sesame seed black in color (eewww I didn't try that one), one was powdery green and tastes like peanut butter and looks like wasabe and the last is mashed soy beans maroon in color. I'm not sure the name of that beans :-) maybe it's kidney beans but tiny

By the way, mochi is made of sweet rice, sugar and coconut milk. I know how to make mochi, I learned it from my co-worker when I used to work in Honolulu, Hawaii. Mochi is very popular in Hawaii, aside from local Hawaiians, Hawaii is mostly dominated by Japanese people second is Filipinos ( I think) :-)

Ohhh I love mochi!!!

By the way, I searched the meaning of mochi from wikipedia and this is their definition:

Mochi (Japanese: 餅; Chinese: 麻糬) is a Japanese and Chinese rice cake made of glutinous rice pounded into paste and molded into shape. In Japan it is traditionally made in a ceremony called mochitsuki. While also eaten year-round, mochi is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year and is commonly sold and eaten during that time.

Mochi is similar to the Chinese rice cake nian gao; however, mochi is shaped from cooked glutinous rice right after it is pounded, whereas nian gao is steamed directly to its final form from a batter made of uncooked glutinous rice flour.

In the Philippines, it is called palitao in Tagalog and is coated with sesame seeds and grated coconut.

Shimoda Salmon Festival

Last Saturday, Nov. 15 we went to Salmon festival in Oirase or the Shimoda Salmon Festival. We didn't catch the salmon but we just watched the people who were catching live salmon by their bare hands in an 8 inch deep pool. It's fun even we just watched them and they even have the salmon race (second picture) where they use stick to nudge the salmon to swim to the opposite end.

Entrance is free but if you want to catch a salmon you have to pay 1200 yen when you buy from ITT or from Shimoda mall it's only 1000 yen. Boots and gloves set for rent for 200 yen and fish cleaning is 300 yen.

This is our first salmon festival experience here in Japan. We also enjoyed the festival by eating some snacks from the food stalls :-)

Shimoda Park's Tower

Another picture taken in Shimoda Park. Second picture is showing the wood ladder going up the tower. I was not able to count the steps though :-)

Shimoda Park's pond

This is another picture from Shimoda Park. I'm just new with my camera and I don't know to adjust the setting yet. Just bear with my pictures. Thanks to my brother who is giving me advices on photography .I should take the basic photography then hahaha. Any comments are welcome :-)

Notes:

The first picture is the original one

The second picture was enhanced in adobe photoshop cs2 by my brother, thanks bro.

It's Fall!!!

The leaves are turning into orange and red colors now, what more can I say.....it's really fall season now!!! These pictures were taken in Shimoda Park last Sunday, Nov. 9. Finally we found the Shimoda Park, we just followed the sign when we passed the sign along route 45 going to Shimoda Mall and I asked my husband to check this park and see what's in there. The kids enjoyed the playground and I enjoyed the view and scenery. So more pictures coming on this blog which were taken from Shimoda Park.

KFC in Hachinohe

I saw 2 KFC in Hachinohe one is along route 45 before Sega World (the first picture)and the other one is when you make a right turn on the intersection of Sega World and maybe few kilometers more from that intersection (2nd and 3rd picture). The latter one was the one we went to after we came from Tanesashi Seaside. There was no mashed potatoes which is my son's favorite, so he was kind of disappointed. So when you order fried chicken it's only fried chicken and the side order I think is corn or coleslaw and each order is too expensive when you compare the price from the US. And they even give you one napkin for each person. This is I notice here in Misawa or Hachinohe (and I'm not sure if it's all over Japan) they are just giving out one napkin (small one) to each person and sometimes none.....grrrrr same with ketchup grrrrrr too (what's wrong with them???). And now I have to bring my own napkins and ketchup coz my kids love ketchup. So make sure you bring yours too when you go to Japan.

Pepper Steak

One of my favorite places to eat is the Pepper Lunch fast food restaurant located in the food court of Shimoda Mall. For a price of ~$7.40 I can eat a sizzling steak (in cubed) with corn and egg and of course 1 cup of rice hmmmm yummy! And you will get a free soda on your next buy, it's a good deal.

Bells

I found this christmas decoration fascinating since the bells are made of balloons so I took a picture of it from the food court of Shimoda Mall. Oh well, Christmas is just around the corner and I'm feeling homesick right now. Silver bells, silver bells it's christmas time in the city la la la la la la..... just sing with me... hehehe

Chestnuts

Oohhh I like chestnuts!! But I don't know how to cook them. I always remember the "Christmas Song" lyrics about chestnuts....."chestnuts roasting on an open fire, jackfrosts nipping on your nose, la la la la :-) :-) I think it's better if you roast the chestnuts on an open fire hahaha. The chestnuts here in Misawa are so cheap!! It's only 300 yen so it's like $3. I bought one bag and ended up boiling them, the taste is not as good as when they're are roasted, oh well as long as they're chestnuts I won't hesitate to eat them all, hmmmm yummy!!

Sign- "Menu du Jour"

I took this picture while waiting for my order, Seafood Miso Ramen. I was laughing reading the sign' "please help yourself to the water" and I didn't notice that the notes were written in the shape of a cow until I viewed this picture. What do you think are the right words on this sign?

Taro??

When I went to farmer's market I saw these 2 root crops and they look like taro but I don't know what Japanese call these kind of root. And it's expensive, one for 400 yen and it's weird coz they shape like feet with 3 toes hehehe

Shimoda Mall

• Shimoda Mall or the AEON mall or JUSCO (whatever they call it), it's a 10 to 15 minute drive from our off-base house close to Misawa Ice Arena.
• The mall has lots of stores to offer and some of the stores along the side are 100 yen Plaza, The Sports Authority, Mister Donut and there are also some restaurants like Italian and Chinese to name a few. There is also McDonald's in the food court.
• The mall is open at 10:00 am. The pictures were taken when we were still waiting for the mall to open, we thought it's already open at 9:30 so we came early at about 9:40 so not too bad of waiting for 20 minutes....taking pictures of the stores.
  

Directions: (sorry I don't know how to get here using toll road)

1. From Misawa AB's POL Gate go straight and make a left on Universe (you will pass Asahi Super Drug)
2. Go straight, you will pass Eneos Gas Station and Family Mart, continue driving make a right when you see Lawson Store on the right and ESSO gas station on the left, you will see signs going to AEON mall which is the Shimoda Mall.
3. Go straight you will pass farm fields, continue driving for approximately 10 minutes until you see on the right side the Shimoda Mall.
4. Make a right where you can see Shimoda Mall, you will see a blue overpass ( I think) and this is where you will make a right turn.
5. Go straight until you see Shimoda Mall at your right side, the mall says JUSCO.
   
   
   

Happy Halloween

I didn't know that Japan is also celebrating Halloween. The picture above was taken in Shimoda mall, they are also selling some halloween stuff.

Sizzling Plate Care Instructions- in English

Whoahh!! I bought a sizzling plate from a 100 yen store and I was happy to find out that there is an english care instructions so I read it.....after reading that, I had a terrible headache. Help!!! I need a good translation on this I really can not understand it :-)