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"