Kicking the Bucket (In a Good Way)

So, with a little less than two and a half weeks left in Japan, I sat the kids down and had them write out a "bucket list" of places they wanted to go/things they wanted to do before we left Japan.  I had to limit them to things on Kyushu, which took Tokyo Disneyland off the table (much to their dismay).  They came up with a well-balanced list, I thought.

All of the things they chose were within 30 minutes of us with the exception of Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, which is in Fukuoka (about 1.5 hours away).  The biggest wildcard in completing the list was the weather.  The month of June is the rainy season here in southern Japan so the many parks on the list posed a challenge.  We often had to do our schedule on the fly depending on weather.  We did, however, successfully complete our list although we had to swap out the park in Fukuoka for Saikai Park, which is located about 15 minutes way.  We have a few more days here, but each day brings more appointments, errands and chores so I'm glad we knocked out the list.  Now anything else we do is a bonus.

June 15: Peacock Park

June 16:  $1 Movies (Tomorrowland)

June 17:  Dinner at Hamakatsu

June 18:  Relaxing at the onsen.

June 18:  Eating yakiniku for lunch at Jyu-Jyu Karubi.

June 20:  Petting Aaron's favorite animals, capybaras, at Bio Park.

June 21:  Movies - Inside Out

June 23:  Forest Park in Arita.

June 24: Saikai Park

June 24:  Lunch at Sushiro (sushi-go-round).

And speaking of bonuses, one night I had our babysitter, Abby, watch the kids and I went out to dinner with my friends Michelle, Kathy & Lisa to one of my favorite places to eat.  And the weather didn't even matter.

June 23:  Okonomiyaki for dinner at Dohton Bori with friends.