Tokyo to Yamato

Today was our last day of our first leg in Japan.

I have been watching YouTube videos of these UFO, or "claw catcher" games, in which people waste, I mean, pay 100 Yen per game to try to win prizes like cute stuffed animals. I made the mistake of showing K, and she wanted to play them in Japan "just one time." I was suckered by the super cute Shiba puppies. So today, we were catching a train to visit hubby's brother, his family, and mom in Yamato. We had a few hours before we headed out, so we went in search of a Game Center. I found this one, Taito Station, and it was GAME on! K wandered around, and eyed some big puppies, but I figured we should start small. She sheepishly planned her strategy and we asked staff to swap the kitten she wanted, you can do that- they cannot exchange once you win something.... and she finally played. Poof, fail. Her one coin gone, I got the itch to try, and after failing at the mini Hachiko (Shiba puppy) a couple times, I won one of these kittens, after about 3 tries. Not too bad!

We played a couple others, and it was time to move on to Isetan Department store, so I could find Sadaharu Aoki Patisserie, which was a favorite place of mine in Paris. They had gorgeous food stalls in the basement, but it was a high class place, so I didn't go picture crazy. Here is my Carmel macaron, and matcha eclair.

We picked up some lunch items- pork bun, egg roll, musubi, chicken, and huddled in a corner eating. What's up with the no eating in public in Japan? 

Then K really wanted to try her last coin ( we gave her several, as it takes practice) at the claw machines, so we hit it up again. No luck for her, but I spotted this Minnie Mouse big Tsum Tsum like pillow primed for the plucking, and SCORE, won it with one coin! At which point I was thinking, "What have I done, and where are we going to pack that?"

We went to grab our luggage, and barely made our train, but lucked out, and caught an express and didn't have to change trains. 45 minutes later, we arrived in Yamato!

Family time! Cousins! And apparently K forgot the universal photo pose of Japan.

Of course, we grabbed dinner, at a family restaurant that served pretty much everything! Hubby had a salmon set with shrimp and all kinds of stuff. I was focused on my unagi!

We are hoping for a solid night's rest, something eluding hubby and I. K is sleeping great!