S: Chris and Lori's year in Japan

1: Our Year in Japan January 2008 - January 2009

3: Our home next to Bay Quarter

5: Early morning view of the bay bridge from our apartment in Yokohama, Japan

6: Tokyo, Japan

7: Shibuya Intersection Lori's walk to work

8: Tokyo, Japan

9: Shibuya Lots of people and too many retail stores to count!

10: Matsuyama, Japan Shikoku Island

13: Matsuyama Castle

14: Kaolyn's pottery exhibit in Tokyo, Japan | Lori and Kaolyn became friends through their pottery class

15: Lori's Pottery | Masayuki-san Lori's pottery teacher

16: Hakone, Japan

18: Hakone, Japan

19: This was our second visit to Hakone. We ate lunch with Kaolyn and Toshi at the famous Fujiya Hotel.

20: We were able to go to Kamakura several times while in Japan

21: Kamakura, Japan

22: Japanese Food

24: Only a small sampling of all the different foods we tried in Japan

25: Sweet Things

26: Shirahama, Japan

28: Kyoto, Japan

30: Maiko girls in Kyoto, Japan

32: Kyoto, Japan

34: Kyoto, Japan

37: Nikko, Japan

38: Tokyo, Japan | AIG Tennis Tournament

40: Playing Tennis in Tokyo, Japan with friends

45: Tokyo, Japan Sumo Wrestling

48: Kimono Wearing and Tea Ceremony with Yukiko and Tomoko

50: Yokohama, Japan

51: Tulips at Kanai Station

52: Tokyo Disney Tokyo, Japan

53: Yokohama Zoo Yokohama, Japan

55: Yokohama, Japan

56: We were able to see the most amazing fireworks from our apartment balcony.

57: Field of blue christmas lights during the holiday season in Tokyo, Japan

59: Japan ...One of the last countries I imagined visiting in my lifetime, let alone living in. I was ready to take a year long excursion to Madagascar before considering Japan. But now, with everything Chris and I were able to see and experience in Japan, I wouldn't have changed a thing about the experience. Everything about Japan...from its difficult language, traditional temples, beautiful well | manicured gardens, concrete white-tiled buildings and city concrete color skyscrapers with overhead wires running everywhere, kind but proud people, and the best food you can possibly imagine...I can only be in awe of our time there. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I am so glad I got to share it with my best friend, the love of my life. -Lori

60: I like Japan this much. A year with Lori even more. I hope we can go back with our kids some day. And we can have as much fun as our Year in Japan. -Chris