holiday – Roving Sun

December 31, 2025September 1, 2026

New Year’s Eve at Toyokawa and Nagoya

Today is New Year’s Eve! After breakfast at the 名古屋マリオットアソシアホテル Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel, we visited 妙厳寺 Myōgon-ji, more commonly known as 豊川稲荷 Toyokawa Inari, in 豊川 Toyokawa to the southeast of Nagoya. We returned to Nagoya in the afternoon and visited 大須 Osu, the shopping district around 大須観音 Osu Kannon and 万松寺 Banshō-ji. We had a late lunch and lots of snacks before returning to the Marriott to end the last day of the year.

December 26, 2024July 23, 2025

Tokyo Winter Illuminations

After leaving Guam and returning to Haneda, we checked in at the new Mercure Tokyo Haneda Airport. We visited the atré at Shinagawa Station where we had lunch at the new Toriton kaiten sushi restaurant. We spent the evening looking at the winter illuminations near Tokyo Station.

December 25, 2024March 25, 2025

Christmas in Guam

We departed from Dulles on the 23rd, spending Christmas Eve at Haneda Airport before arriving at Guam early on Christmas Day. We spent the day mostly at the beach in front of the Westin where we stayed but ventured out to see the new Don Don Donki as well as to have lunch.

October 12, 2024October 18, 2024

Another Meadowlark Morning

We decided to head out to the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens again today, just like last Saturday! There was quite a bit new as many displays were setup for the annual Winter Walk of Lights. Some plants have been removed to make room, though there was still plenty to see. But, unlike last week, we didn’t see a single Eastern Bluebird! We did find a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker though, something we haven’t seen very often!