The most fun you’ve seen

The Japanese have some seriously amazing playgrounds!  On the one hand, they get points for creativity; every playground we’ve been to off-base is unique.  On the other hand, they also get points for striking a balance between safety and fun.  Check it out:

This one is down on Araha Beach—the closest beach to our house.  The story is that a ship washed up on shore here after a storm some decades ago and the local people took in the sailors and helped them build a new ship to get back home.  When they decided to put in a park, they went with the shipwreck theme in commemoration of that event.  Logan is too young to appreciate the really cool perks on this one—going down the zip line and climbing up the masts!

I couldn’t fit all of this one into one shot, but it’s shaped like a couple of dolphins.  It is also located near a beach (just a bit north of Araha Beach) and has a baseball field and a skate park nearby as well.  Logan (and Jake and I) had a blast at this one!

Look at that joyful grin!

No slow slides here!  You slide down the length of the dolphin’s tail on these little rollers—SO MUCH FUN!

Then, over the past weekend, we went to a friend’s birthday party at an indoor playground.  I’ve seen ones a lot like this in the US.  We had a great time!

And it had another one of those cool roller slides!

Later this week Logan and I will be meeting some friends (the birthday party boy and his mom, among others) at a castle-shaped park, and I’ve heard that there’s another one a bit south of us shaped like a shisa dog! 

Another day, another adventure!  Thanks for reading!