If you love instant noodles, there’s the original Instant Ramen Museum in Osaka. Good news, they’ve opened a new one closer to Tokyo in Yokohama. It’s the Cup Noodle Museum! Address: 2-3-4 Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama 231-0001 Japan Admission: Adults: 500 Read more…
On my first trip to Japan (2012), I visited a Cat cafe in Osaka. It was a really great experience, so this time around (2015), I decided to visit an owl cafe in Shinjuku, Tokyo. For ~1500 yen ($13 USD) you Read more…
Takoyaki (たこ焼き) is one of my favorite street snacks in Japan. My first experience was back in 2012 with Virginia and Kathleen. What a mind blowing experience! They look innocently spherical, but are filled with molten hot goodness! Here are two Read more…
Day Off The staff at Grace Mission Tohoku work all week for the Ishinomaki community. And even on their day off, they brought me along! Little did I know how awesome the day would turn out….
First, a long hike up a mountain shrine…
Onagawa is a town heavily damaged in the 11 March 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The tsunami reached 15 metres (49 ft) in height and swept 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) inland, destroying the town centre and leaving over 1000 people missing, with over 300 confirmed dead. [via wiki]
Grace Mission Tohoku brought us to see Onagawa’s bay. The tsunami’s power became real once we arrived — even though the devastation has already all been cleared away, one building remains toppled on its side:
This is the bottom of the building: (more…)
Ishinomaki city was among the most seriously affected by the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami which hit on 2:46pm 11 March 2011. Located 300 miles North of Tokyo, it takes around 4 hours by train (2 transfers) to get there.
I first heard of Grace Mission Tohoku (GMT) through Crash Japan, a Japan-wide Christian disaster relief organization (thanks to John for connecting me with Crash Japan in the first place!). GMT’s relief, rebuilding and caring efforts in the Ishinomaki community has been both impactful and well received. I’m so glad God brought me there for a week, meeting and partnering with all the GMT staff — Rimpei sensei, Virginia, Satoshi, Atsushi, Kathleen, Richard & Mickie…! It was eye opening to see their dedication and faith through these tough times. Even though we are now miles away, I know God is doing wonderful things with them there!