* We’re back to Dubai, this is just a recap of our trip to Japan. *

The tots are excited as we leave Dubai. The last time Pristine was on a plane was four long years ago, of course she is ecstatic. It’s Benjamin’s first ever plane ride – I don’t know if he knows what’s in store for him this time.

We looked out the windows as we approached Narita, Japan. Ben is mega fascinated by the clouds.

Japan – the land of high technology, miniature gadgets and cars, robots and awesome vending machines in every street corner.

The hotel where we stayed had a good view of the train tracks. Here’s the bullet train approaching the station. Benjamin looks out the window every single morning to see the trains.

Pristine and Ben on our first morning in Tokyo.

Tonkatsu, a popular Japanese dish of breaded and deep fried pork cutlets. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. I miss it already.

It’s summer in Japan and we get to walk a lot outside. Pristine secured her personal umbrella for that.

This was in Hama Rikyu Imperial Gardens. Simply beautiful, don’t you think?

We passed by the National Diet Building – this has nothing to do with “diet”, this is a government building. This is the place where both houses of the National Diet (Japan’s bicameral legislature) meet.

Enjoying the greens

Takoyaki shop. Only took photos as I don’t eat takoyaki – a ball-shaped Japanese Japanese street snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special takoyaki pan. It is typically filled with minced or diced octopus.

On our first week in Japan, the husband was working (official business trip) so I had to take over the task of keeping the kids out of our hotel room. There is so much to explore but the big city of Tokyo is unforgiving for those traveling with young children (another post). People lead fast paced lives running here and there, packed in trains during rush hour…nevertheless, we braved the commute and was able to visit a few friends, the beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen Park and Hamarikyu Imperial Gardens (another post).

See: photos of our Week two in Japan.