http://liezl.modkid.com/blog Discovering a Tokyo for Young Kids Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:10:10 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en http://liezl.modkid.com/blog/2010/02/13/happy-new-year-2/ Christmas was extra festive because the grandparents were here to celebrate with us. I am used to celebrating Christmas on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day, so I really must do something on December 24 and 25 to acknowledge the holiday, no matter what day of the week it falls on ... http://liezl.modkid.com/blog/2009/12/13/happy-holidays/ So, in November the kids celebrated 七五三（しちごさん）shichi - go  -san,  which literally means 7 - 5- 3.  In Japanese tradition, these are the ages boys and girls could wear a kimono for the first time and would mark a special time for them. So on a day in November boys ages ... http://liezl.modkid.com/blog/2009/12/01/welcoming-a-new-year-and-bidding-farewell-to-the-old-one/ It's always nice to go to Odaiba during the weekday...when it's not overcrowded with tourists and visitors. Weekends can be a bit stressful, if you don't like crowds. All year round it can be quite enjoyable, even if just for a couple of hours. The drive is also picturesque, especially during the ... http://liezl.modkid.com/blog/2009/11/23/evening-in-odaiba/ Each year, during the town festival, apart from all the food and games stalls, residents can participate in carrying an omikoshi or portable shrine. It is said that the portable shrine temporarily houses the gods of that town's main shrine. On the first day of the festival weekend, people from ... http://liezl.modkid.com/blog/2009/11/01/the-omikoshi-for-kids/ There are more Halloween options lately. We went to the Omotesando Halloween event. There is some sort of stamp rally where you go to shops, collect stamps on a sheet of paper then hand it in for some treats.  We were a bit late, so instead we headed straight to ... http://liezl.modkid.com/blog/2009/10/31/happy-halloween-2/ The release of the life-size Gundam in Odaiba was pretty big news over the summer. I never watched the series much, but my brother was a fan and so I knew of it. Although the idea was to show Keiji, I have to admit that I thought it was really ... http://liezl.modkid.com/blog/2009/10/23/gundam/ Hakone is a pretty nice place to visit. From Odawara Stationa you transfer a small train (Hakone Tozan Railway) which is rather unique because the conductor must keep switching from the front and back of the train to continue up the mountain in a sort of zigzag way. We took ... http://liezl.modkid.com/blog/2009/10/20/hakone/ Hakone has been a popular weekend getaway spot for Tokyoites and for that reason, Yuki and I have never been there before. I happened to see a special deal for the Fujiya Hotel in Miyanoshita, so I insisted we check out this popular place at least once in our life. ... http://liezl.modkid.com/blog/2009/10/20/the-fujiya-hotel/ I'm not used to this much rain. Some days it rains the entire day. The hardest part about rainy season in Tokyo is that the apartment is more easily prone to mold.  I see now why there are so many products that absorb moisture, like these beads inside a plastic ... http://liezl.modkid.com/blog/2009/07/03/rain-rain-go-away/