Japanese cars tend to the small size. There is only comfortably room for four people in Austin and Kaori's car. Indeed, it is only registered to carry four.  There are six of us this weekend.  Too many people for the car.

So Austin arranged with Kaori that he would take Lindsey, Wendy and me out for the morning and all six of us would reconvene somewhere for lunch.

Where to go?  Then Lindsey remembered the ancient tree up in the mountains.  It's a lovely drive and Wendy hasn't seen much of country Japan. So we abandoned Kaori and Tatsuki to Tatsuki's homework and took ourselves up into the mountains.

Back to Austin's place and we headed to the Coco Curry house for lunch.  I had been blissfully unaware that you can get small portions until Kaori ordered one.  Hers was a perfect lunch size.  Mine was huge 😥 I couldn't overeat at lunchtime because I knew we were going out for dinner.  Next time I will try and remember to ask for a small one.

A brief break back at Austin and Kaori's place before we headed out again

We were supposed to be meeting Kaori's dad in Nagoya but he had come down with a nasty cold and had pulled out.  Kaori's brother was still keen to meet up and was hoping we wouldn't decide to stay in Mizoho. Lindsey and I wanted to go to the Totoro shop and Wendy wanted to go to the Disney shop and Tatsuki was rather hoping for some Lego. It seemed as though a trip to Nagoya was the way to go.

Nagoya station is decked out for Christmas:

We got to the Totoro shop (and the Disney shop and Tatsuki got his Lego)

We might have gone for a pre-dinner drink:

Wendy's first ever cocktail

And Lindsey's obligatory brightly coloured one

A good night out