The 'Rents Visit Days 5,6 and 7

Day Five

We got up early to take a train headed north-west of tokyo to Chichibu, where a sleepy countryside town at the foot of a  mountain swarms with tourists keen on seeing the carpet of spring Phlox flowers (known as shibazakura in Japan).

Although the photos don't really show it, it was a scorching day, and the flowers were so colourful in the sunlight!

 Animals were out in force, we were treated to dogs in prams, a *pig* (a debut for me) and some sheep!

 

 Posing in front of some torii gates leading to a shrine

 Korean bbq

Day Six

Another excursion outside of Tokyo, we headed west to Mt Takao. Mt Takao is a popular day trip for Tokyoites, as it's not too far from Tokyo, and it's thought to be a "power spot" (or pawa-supotto as they call it in Japanese-English. This is a new spiritual craze that was only created 20 years ago). This means that climbing Mt Takao will bring you good luck as the Earth's energy gathers at this place. Another "power spot" we visited was Meiji Jingu.

 My Dad is tickled by a double mispelling on this signboard. Can you see them? Click the picture to zoom in..

Onwards and upwards..

Video: My parents climbing a particularly slippy and muddy part. I like 0:21 hehe..

Yay! We made it!
600m high! It's no Mt Fuji, but it was good exercise and a chance to get some fresh air

I'm proud of my mum, who had foot problems :)

Afterwards, we went to a 'Trick Arts Museum', which was really interesting! Here are some photos:

 Good, isn't it?!

We finished off the day with Thai food

 

 My parents look sad.. must be because they're leaving Japan tomorrow :(

Final Day

We went to the top of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building to take a last glimpse of Tokyo

Look how much my mum's chopstick usage ability as improved!

And them we said goodbye to them at Nippori airport before rushing off to work.. they got home safely seemingly 48 hours later. Phew! I can also safely report that my mum's feet are back to normal.

Thank you for visiting mum and dad!!