Camping in Japan

We just got home from a camping trip. We drove about two and a half hours south and paid $70 in tolls, and $25 in camping fees and $100 in groceries all for one night. It was a blast though. This camping site like all the others we have been to here in Japan, has a hot spring one can enjoy before turning in.

Our camp site was pretty small and all the camp sites were pretty close together, but it was very nice for Lily. Last year we went camping twice and both times were very difficult. Now that she is two it is a bit easier. There were several children around her age and that was nice. Nice not to have the only screamer. The Japanese children could say bye-bye and Lily sometimes says Konichiwa (hello). The was an ankle deep stream that we played in and a water spicket that she loved.

We went with our Japanese friends. They always pick the campsites for us and we just follow them there. They have tons of great camping equipment, we are slowly trying to catch up. We used our new lantern and camp stove this time, which was fun. The food I made went over pretty well. I am always so nervous because Ritsico is the best cook ever and I am barely so-so.

On the way home we were about five miles from the base and had to stop and get gas. Usually we make it but our AC is out and I think having the windows down the whole trip caused us to use ¼ tank more gas. This was my first time getting gas off base in Japan. It was awesome. We paid $10 and the needle didn’t even make it to a ¼ tank. About six guys came to our car and started washing. They were running around going very quickly, and chanting thank you very much in unison. It was like a dance. When we were done, they went into the street and stopped traffic and waved us on. Talk about service. They even handed us a towel to wipe down our dashboard. We still had to fill up when we got on base but it was an experience worth having. Jeff and I are wondering why is it that gas is so much more expensive in Europe and Japan? Do we get a better price on the barrels of oil or do the other countries charge a higher tax? I guess I should try to learn a little more about how the world works.

I am glad to be home. We are all squeaky clean and the rest of the family is dosing. I actually remembered to bring the camera on this trip but forgot to take it out of the car. I looked really bad, so that might have been a good thing. Lily was in a cute pink dress, soaking wet with bare feet. Mandy was reading, and Jeff looked like he always does, cute and happy. I spent three and a half hours trying to put together a tent I bought at a garage sale, I finally got it up, but I was pretty dirty and sweaty. Jeff took care of Lily that whole time, so I think I got the better end of the deal. It was a second tent, with netting on the walls, a place for Lily to play in the shade. It was almost dark by the time I got it up, but it was still fun.