orange pagoda & noodle shop

Today I met with new friend, Aoi. She wants to practice English, and I want to practice Japanese. Her English is much better than my Japanese! Mainly, we want to be friends. We are about the same age. Aoi has three young boys, so we had a good time browsing through Babies R Us. She could help me decipher many of the products (the Japanese have thought of everything you never knew you needed.) The baby food here looks especially yummy and healthy. We also had lunch at Joyful Honda (a home department store) next to Babies R Us.

Then I drove around Tamako (lake Tama) to visit this striking orange pagoda. It is so bright. Behind it is a hillside with dragon sculptures, temple grounds, a big cemetery.

It's so close to Yokota, I can bike there. But I don't think many Yokotans know about it. Driving there is tricky. I rely on my GPS here, even when biking.

This is from yesterday. Noodle lunch with the English class.

Heather, Kayoko, Matsuko.

We sit on the floor for this lunch.

Cold soba noodles and tempura.

Delicious!

I thanked them for the Japanese lesson.