Angie joins Sit-n-Wait game at Westie Party

Westie Sit-n-Wait game

At the party, westies play several games.

This is Sit-n-Wait game where

owners make them sit and walk away from them 

and compete how long their fur kids can wait...!

So we joined the game.

Angie goes to Dog Training School regularly 

and she is good at obedience.

So I sat her (on the right)

And my hand on the left of the photo.

She was holding it all right, then

suddenly,  ran towards me.....

Someone inadvertently touched her tail from the back.

We did not win  but you are always my best girl!

First River Swimming

Tokyo continues to be exceptionally hot with no sign of summer heat easing.
We were fed up with the city heat so
 we decided to go to the upstream of Tama River in the suburb of Tokyo for a picnic.

There Angie can try river swimming for the first time.

Tokyo city westie standing still, she is not sure what she wants to do.

She gave it a try with me.
The water was very fresh and cold.

She had enough with the first swim and....

Eagerly heading back to our tent...lol 

We had picnic lunch in the tent, 

and later Angie tried again to soak her feet.
That seemed OK, but she did not want to go further.

  

Back in the tent, relieved and dozing off....

After the picnic, we stopped by at 'Tea Room' by the same river.

The lady owner of the cafe has been working on 15-year old garden.

                                     



                                           Afternoon tea

Angie has her smiles again.
Maybe we will try the picnic again soon.

Sound of Summer

Summer evening walk to a local shrine at northern Hyogo.

We are surrounded by this overwhelming sound of cicadas.

This is the sound of summer in Japan.

Angie walking up to a shrine.

She is making sure I am following.

Angie climbing down from the shrine.

She seems to find it harder to walk down the moss-covered steps.

Old primary school at sunset.

JP summer is slowly going.....

The Summer is starting....

Tokyo is still in the rainy season, but the temperature and humidity are rising rapidly.

This is the hardest time for Tokyo westies and we are taking extra care for their health & wellbeing.

We also look forward to our summer break next month when we escape to the countryside.

The Takeda Castle is one of our favorite places near AngieDad's hometown in Hyogo in western part of Japan.

The Castle is built on top of a mountain with 15-minute climb.

It is the perfect place for a picnic or an outing.

Here are some photos of the place from last year.

     Many steps...
     Angie opting for the side walk avoiding the steps....

                             





                     More steps!
                     Now she has given up and Dad carries her

Nearly there...., at the base of the castle. 

A few more steps left! 

Voila!  

The 16th-century castle has the spectacular view. 

In winter it is surrounded by the clouds below the mountain.

This is the Machu Pichu of Japan.

We made it!

Angie feeling and sniffing medieval wind..... 

Angie goes to Japanese Ryokan (inn)

When the two-legged go to Japanese Ryokan (inn)

Saryosoen, Sendai 2009

On arrival you change into Yukata, a casual kimono,

and take a hot spring bath

and take it easy

Dinner is served privately in your room
and it is sheer luxury

Some Japanese Ryokans can receive four-legged guests
so Angie stayed at Ryokans a few times

Shuzenji, Izu 2012

Japanese Garden

Angie takes a stroll at the Japanese Garden with Dad
and then takes an open-air bath

Hot spring experience

Angie in Yukata

Like Mom & Dad she changes into Yukata

Angie's Dinner

Angie's dinner is served (with menu signed by the chef!) which are

Tofu hamburg with vegetables, egg and soy milk soup, black rice risotto

Waiting...........

She is not quite used to the three food bowls  

Ryokan meals are beautifully arranged

and she finished them all in the end

Japanese Ryokan with hot spring is a wonderful experience 

no matter how many legs you have

A short break at Mt. Fuji

Golden Week has started and

we visited Mt. Fuji lake district last weekend.

It's only 100km south east of Tokyo with easy access.

Mt. Fuji is 3333m high

but today we will only go up to the 5th station.

 Angie is wearing an official football uniform.

Japan won the Women's World Cup Final in 2011.

This is a must-have item for Tokyo Westies for London Olympics this summer.

The 5th station of Mt.Fuji was pretty much covered with snow and still cold,
but we had gorgeous sunshine.

Wild Bird Forest Park

Spring prevails at the foot of the mountain.

This was a breath-takingly beautiful park with flowers in full bloom.

For a minute I thought/I wished Rainbow Bridge may be a place like this....

only we did not see dogs here.

Next to the park lies Jukai (Sea of Trees) 

 the vast natural forest that sits on lava from Mt Fuji.

It is so big that one must be careful not to be lost.

We chose the easiest trail for the short legged, ( I meant for Angie!)

Lake Kawaguchi with Mt Fuji

After the trail, we went to Lake Kawaguchi

that still had Sakura in full bloom.

Angie was getting comfortable after a good exercise.

Good weather, good air, beautiful nature,

we all enjoyed this short break.

Chidorigafuchi April, 2012

Long awaited spring has come to Tokyo

This is Chidorigafuchi, the Imperial Palace moat
with SAKURA (cherry blossom) in full bloom

We missed the SAKURA season last year 
due to the 3.11 earthquake and the Fukushima uncertainty


Both events changed our values and life styles
Tokyo westies now react to quake pre-warning sounds from mobiles and TVs
and they go to their crates or under the table
'a new normal' has emerged 

So, spring was especially important this year

I took Angie for a walk to a park with cherry trees near us. 

The Japanese cherish SAKURA 

both in full bloom and when falling.

 Sakura epitomises 'natural course of life'

And a blossom petal lands on Angie's face!  

a beautiful spring moment 
that we wish to repeat many many years with her...