Towards the end of January I had the chance to visit Japan with my brother Philip. It was a holiday simply to get away from all the worries in the past few months, as well as a chance to see each other after two years apart.
The passing of our mother made me want to weave a better web amongst us brothers, Philip, Kevin, and I, simply because the original bond, my mother, isn’t here anymore.
I am sure mom would want us to stick together, through good and bad times as well.
During this trip, Philip and I travelled through Kyoto, Osaka, Shusenji (in Izu), and Tokyo. These are the pictures that describe our fun times during this two-week trip.
After our dinner with Philip and Jamie, Hiro and I went on to meet Silvia, a friend from Minneapolis whom I haven’t seen in years…
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image004-2.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image005-2.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image006-1.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image008-2.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image012-1.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image017.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image019-2.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image020-1.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image025-1.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image027-2.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image029-2.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image031-2.jpg)
Next morning… we had lunch at a specialty noodle shop in Osaka’s Kuromon Market 黒門市場 – they were famous for their Tonkotsu soup base… and when it runs out (after approximately 300 bowls), they close down… their taste sure lived up to their reputation…
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image036-2.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image037.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image061-1.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image063-1.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image057-2.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image064-1.jpg)
Walking around, looking for a good Korean restaurant, since Osaka is a city famous for its Korean immigrants… we were looking for some food that “kicks our mouth in the butt”…
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image067-1.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image075.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image076-1.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image077-1.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image078-1.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image079.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image084-1.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image086-2.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image088-1.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image090-1.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image091.jpg)
After dinner, we meet up with Silvia and Yana one more time – tomorrow Philip, Jamie and I are moving on to Shusenji, where we will spend two relaxing nights at a hot spring resort!
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image092-1.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image093.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image094.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image096-1.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image100.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image116.jpg)
Yana started drinking like she was born in a bar…
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image118.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image120-2.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image122-2.jpg)
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image124.jpg)
Good-bye Silvia and Yana!
![](http://www.lewislau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image135-2.jpg)
They sure are creative in Japan when it comes to window displays.