A Visit From Family and Friends
Fran, my best friend(whom I consider my sister) of more than two decades had her first little bundle of joy, Vivi—and oh such joy we felt indeed when they made the trip from the U.S. to Japan to see us at the height of cherry blossom season.
It’s amazing how someone so small can be so magnetic, even if it’s all just babbles for now. 🙂
Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Mie
Second time at Nabana no Sato! The first was with my now-husband Lester—he actually introduced me to this place when we were still dating.
We weren’t making it to the real Mount Fuji this year, so we took Vivi, Fran and her cousin Nicole to this cute illumination event that recreates it through the seasons.
Also, check out these pictures I took of the flowers.
They looked so flawless and perfect, you’d think they were fake!
La Collina Omihachiman, Shiga
Lester and I have been wanting to check out La Collina for ages, so we figured we’d take our guests to see the factory famous for its baumkuchen and other delicious pastries.
Yasaka Shrine, Higashiyama, Kyoto
Couldn’t pass up a picture with Vivi. She’s such a smiley little darling.
Fran and her cousin Nicole—someone in the family hit copy-paste on the pretty gene.
Me and my husband Lester, the sweetest guy ever. 🙂
Ninenzaka, Higashiyama, Kyoto
A snapshot of a proud mom and her cute little giggle bug.
I like how we’re the only ones taking this path in this shot.
Stroller duty for a bit—briefly considered a career in childcare, but I think I’ve aged out of au pairing. 😅
Has anyone else met katanorinekoriku?
Kiyomizudera, Higashiyama, Kyoto
Took a quick snapshot at the base of Kiyomizudera, with Fran’s husband Justin on the far right(chillest guy I’ve ever met).
Justin’s friend Alex on the left of the frame. Nicole had the camera this time, while Lester and I opted to stay outside the temple. Judging by the pictures in the shared album, I think they had a really great time inside(especially with the iron staff, Benkei no Naginata). 😂
Yeah, my back says “no thanks”.
Kyoto’s traditional charm definitely pulls in the crowds, but during peak season it can get so busy that getting around isn’t always the easiest.
On a related note, our visit to Arashiyama was refreshingly free of the usual crowds—likely due to the nonstop rain. I do regret not taking photos though, since I was too preoccupied with staying dry and warm.
Tonboike Park, Kishiwada, Osaka
After we said our goodbyes at the airport (definitely holding back a few tears), Lester and I made our way to the Yozakura Lantern Festival in Kishiwada, which is basically rural Osaka. We were still carrying that post-goodbye slump, but thankfully the event did a lot to lift our spirits.
I call this ‘The Night the Stars Turned Pink.’ Haha, I’m kind of a sucker for sentimental moments, so things like this really get to me—and I tend to get carried away with cheesy lines like that.
Anyway, watching the lanterns light up the night sky, I found myself thinking back on the week. It was honestly just what we needed—good people, good vibes, and not a single dull moment. If anything, the only downside is that it ended too quickly.
As the night drew to a close, I felt a quiet sadness knowing our spring holiday was over—along with a small hint of worry about Lester’s heart procedure the following week… but that’s probably a story for another blog. Or maybe not.
Days With Mika 
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