I often let too much time pass after doing something, and then I can’t remember it well enough to accurately post about it. This time I’m going to try and run down dad’s visit in my eyes, as well as add some thoughts about the experience. I’m not going to write about everything, just what I deem the highlights.
First off, I can sit here and write about how much I love this country all day, but you can’t really know Japan until you come. I can post hundreds of pictures (6,000 + by my count) and you still wouldn’t really have an idea, so for my dad to come and see what I’ve been talking about for 3 1/2 years was a big deal.

I overwhelmed him a bit the first day. Three hours of trains isn’t anything anyone should have to do, especially after not sleeping for 24+ hours. It was a more authentic experience than jumping on a military bus for 3 hours though.

Our trip to Nikko was amazing. It was one of our two big trips, two places I’d also never been before. Nikko is a small town in the Tochigi mountains, 2 hours north of Tokyo. Its claim to fame is Toshogu, one of Japan’s most decorated shrine and mausoleum complexes. It’s also the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. It was a little cloudy when we first arrived, which added to mystic atmosphere. As we climbed the stairs towards the different shrines, more staircases unveiled new and more elaborate areas. The gateway just before the summit of the Toshogu shrine was the most elaborate I’ve ever seen. Several detailed dragon heads, highlighted with gold stood guard against evil spirits. Getting closer to the shrine was the real prize. The detail and craftsmanship was amazing. I took at least 100 photos just there. I’m sure Dad’s first memory of the Toshogu shrine would be, “Why do I have to carry this heavy backpack up flight after flight of steep mountain stairs?”

I reserved us a couple beds at a local hostel, but that didn’t work out. After climbing 15 miles, uphill both ways, dad didn’t like the idea of sharing a bunk bed with a couple of Aussies. We called a cab to take us back down the hill we’d just climbed for a more spacious, mysteriously quiet, hotel. Dad had two firsts here: His first dip in an Onsen (Japanese communal bath - VERY soothing on achy muscles) and his first encounter with a beer vending machine.

The next day we took a bus ride to Kegon Falls - a huge waterfall up one of the nearby mountains. Halfway up dad sees a gondola ride and we both spontaneously decide to get off the bus. We then have to argue the price with the bus driver because the bus passes I’d gotten us didn’t work on that particular stop. At the top of the mountain we got a few photos of the distant waterfall off before some clouds settled in. More memorable for me was the couple we met on the way up - a British guy, his Thai wife and their 3 hyperactive kids. Apparently they were traveling the world and hadn’t planned on any cold weather. It was snowing when we got to the top gondola station. The wife frantically tried to keep her kids from falling over the sides while the guy just leisurely took pictures without a care in the world. It was like starring into my own possibly future, lol.

part two later. I’m too tired now…