Weekend Adventures!

Well, we're staying closer to home these days, but still enjoying some fun adventures around town! On Saturday we took a short ferry ride to Sarushima Island, just off the coast of Yokosuka. It's affectionately called "Monkey Island" by most foreigners and it's the only natural island in Tokyo Bay. Before WWII it was an ammunition depot for the Japanese military, so there are paths and caves and shelters all over the island that you can explore. It's also a favorite spot for locals to have cook-outs and picnics on the beach. (we'll have to write more about Japanese picnics later - they're amazing!)

Later that evening we went to a going away party for a wonderful family who are moving back to the States and then met up with some friends to set off fireworks on the beach. Summer fireworks are very popular in Japan and go along with several of the summer holidays that they celebrate here. During the summer you can purchase fireworks at the local convenience stores. (Wouldn't my brothers be in their glory?!?!) We all enjoyed a small, but fun (and mostly safe!) display at Kannonzaki Beach.

On Sunday, we headed for the lighthouse at the end of our peninsula. It's just a short drive from our house and then a pretty easy hike through a wooded park and up to the lighthouse. Right near the lighthouse there is also a radar station which helps to patrol the ship traffic for all of Tokyo Bay, so that was also pretty cool to see. We climbed to the top of the lighthouse and enjoyed the views of the harbor - along with a host of sea hawks who were enjoying the views as well!