Young and Old

Gray day, still no visitors . . . looks like it’s time for another park.  We can no longer go more than two consecutive days without some sort of adventure; I think we are seriously getting spoiled.  What are we going to do when we are back in the States??? 

I’m not quite sure how I’ve gone this long without showing you a tomb.  These things are EVERYWHERE (even more than parks are everywhere)!  You’ll see them randomly stuck into hillsides, usually overlooking the ocean.  There are two main styles; the one you see here is the older style, called a “turtle-back tomb” and is said to represent a women’s womb. 

Newer tombs are generally this “house-style” which is cheaper (even being made out of solid marble) and uses less land.  They are frequently found grouped together in little “villages”.  Generations of families are interred here, cremated and put in urns, and living family members gather at the tombs on sacred days to leave offerings of food, sake, and flowers.

The tombs were just down the hill from a baseball field and playground . . .

This is actually only half of the giant log structure/obstacle course.

Swings and a roller slide round out the fun.

Logan and Jake catch a view of the baseball game from the top of the play structure.

On the way over to get a closer look at the game, I spotted these flowers growing on the side of a small shrine and thought they made a pretty picture :)

These kids were GOOD!  I was also impressed by the fact that they (the kids, not the coaches, not the parents) were completely involved in cheering each other on.  Notice #15 in the picture even has a drum!

  Jake tried explaining the finer points of the game to Logan.  Logan said “ball” and “oooh” when he saw someone get a hit—I think he’s got the basics down :)