A Day of Flowers

Our Bright School students spent their Sunday with their Japan host families. We'll hear all about their weekend tomorrow when we all re-convene at the school. I'm sure they will have many stories to share, and I bet they are realizing that they will be returning home soon. We'll head back to Chattanooga on Wednesday. Again, with the kids being with their host families, I'm short on pictures of them. But I thought I'd post photos of what Mrs. Smith and I were able to see today.

Mrs. Horoko Azaki, former Bright School parent, graciously took us by car to Hakone, a town south of Tokyo in the Mt. Fuji region. It reminded me immediately of the Smokies with lush green mountains, beautiful streams, and dogwoods in bloom. The regions is famous, of course, for its views of Mt. Fuji. This being the rainy season in Japan, I was doubtful we would see Fuji, but for a brief period we were able to make out its snow covered summit through the clouds. A chance of a lifetime! We also visited a Shinto Shrine nestled among giant cedars high in the mountains and beside beautiful Lake Ashinoko.

In the town of Hakone itself is a 15th Century castle that has housed various clans and shoguns over the years. We were fortunate to be there during the annual hydrangea festival, which was unlike anything I've ever seen. Apparently, the hydrangeas are quite famous in Japan because the tourists were there in droves. What's great about Japan, however, is that everyone is so polite even big crowds have an order and peacefulness about them. It was all quite lovely.

Here are some pictures from our day. Tomorrow, I'll be able to supply you with more pictures of our wonderful students.