Mirei's Japan Trip 

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Happy Manner
Happy Manner
There are lots of signs in Japan reminding people to mind their manners. This one is Clifford reminding people to not talk on their cell phones on the train.
Lego
Lego
Lots of toys in Japan are just like in the United States; they just have Japanese labels on them.
Colonel Sanders-Claus
Colonel Sanders-Claus
Colonel Sanders gets dressed up for the holidays!
Scooter
Scooter
Many people use scooters to get around in Japan because they are small, convenient, and inexpensive.
Kōban
Kōban
This is a police box, called a kōban. It's a mini-police station. There is a little bed in the back for the police to sleep in. You can see the police car in back, and the police bike in front.
Traffic
Traffic
This is a street in Tokyo. The traffic drives on the left side of the road.
Inside a Train
Inside a Train
Trains are used all over Japan. They are my favorite form of transportation.
Station Sign
Station Sign
This sign shows you what station you are in, what the previous station was, and what the next station is.
Monorail Track
Monorail Track
This is the platform of the monorail train in Tokyo. "Mono" means "one"; the monorail trains have just one track!
Tokyo Skyline
Tokyo Skyline
This is a view of Tokyo from an island in Tokyo Bay.
Prius
Prius
Here I am driving a car with my mom (just kidding!). This is a Toyota showcase.
E-com Ride
E-com Ride
My dad and I went for a ride in this car — I pushed a button, and the car drove itself around a course automatically!
Tatami Room
Tatami Room
This is a traditional tatami mat room. You aren't allowed to wear shoes on the mats (or in the house). The mats are made of woven reeds.
Oshiire-closet
Oshiire-closet
This is a special kind of closet where the beds are stored. The beds are called "futon", and are put away during the day.
Futon
Futon
At night, futon are taken out of the oshiire and put on the tatami.
Noh Mask
Noh Mask
This is a painting of a Noh mask. Noh is a traditional form of Japanese theater. This mask is also a self portrait by my grandfather.
Obaachan
Obaachan
This is my grandmother. She's been taking very good care of me!
Ojiichan
Ojiichan
This is my grandfather, who has been taking me on lots and lots and lots of train rides!
Ueno Station
Ueno Station
This is a big train station in Tokyo — many, many train lines have stops here, on many different floors.
Waiting for the Train
Waiting for the Train
This is the bottom floor of the station, where we will board our train, called the Hokutosei
Hitachi Express
Hitachi Express
This is a train we looked at while waiting for our train.
Hokutosei!
Hokutosei!
This is the Hokutosei electric engine It will take us to Hokkaido. After that, they will switch engines, and we will have a diesel engine for the rest of the trip.
My Sister and Me
My Sister and Me
Here we are in the first car of the train. Behind us through the window you can see the engine!
In the Middle of the Night...
In the Middle of the Night...
...they disconnect the electric engine.
Asleep in the Hokutosei
Asleep in the Hokutosei
This is a sleeper train. We got on in the afternoon, and it runs all night.
Dining Car
Dining Car
Here's my mom in the dining car (it's the middle of the night...)
Lounge
Lounge
And here's my mom in the lounge (again, in the middle of the night).
Shower
Shower
The Hokutosei even has a shower!
Morning View
Morning View
This is the view from my compartment window in the morning as the sun came up. That's a mountain in the distance, looking across a bay in Hokkaido.
The Diesel Engine
The Diesel Engine
This is the diesel engine that took us the rest of the way to Sapporo.
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