Shinjuku

Shinjuku is just a couple of train stops from Shibuya

Cherry Blossom Time

Posted 12 April 2026

Shinjuku Gyoen

Trip to Hakone

This past week we took a trip to Hakone. This is a famous destination near Tokyo. It is famous for Japanese hot springs, a beautiful lake, and many steam jets coming out of the grand due to the volcanic activity in the area.

Posted February 2, 2026

A Red Tori Gate

In Hakone there is the beautifyl lake know as Ashinoko. Here is a red Tori Gate that leads to a Shinto Shrine on the edge of the lake.

Posted February 2, 2026

Mount Fuji

Here is a picture of Mount Fuji (Fujisan) from the top of the ropeway above lake Ashinoko. The top of Mount Fuji is obscured by clouds which is very common due to it's height.

Posted February 2, 2026

Picture with A Girl in a Traditional Kimono

This is a picture of us with one of the receptionists at our hotel. She is dressed in traditional japanese dress. Everyone at the hotel was so kind and helpful. We really had a good time.

Posted February 2, 2026

Sushi

More Sushi

Each night at the hotel there was a buffet for dinner. The highlight was the top quility sushi. This was the best Sushi I have ever had.

Posted February 2, 2026

And More Sushi

Trip to the Imperial Palace

We took a trip to downtown Tokyo to see the Imperial Palace during January. This is a statue on the grouinds of the Imperial Palace.

Posted February 2, 2026

Godzilla

Near the Ginza, which is the famous downtown shopping area of Tokyo, is the HibiYa Hills Mall. One of the attractions there is the statue that you can see behind us on the left. This is a large statue of Godzilla, famous for starring in many Japanese disaster movies.

Arisugawa Memorial Park

Across the street from the Tokyo Temple is the Arisugawa Memorial Park. This is a fairly large park that is know for wallking paths, ponds, fountains and lots of trees and flowers. According to the parks home page on the internet, "This park is beloved by many as an urban oasis where you can experience the richness of nature." We visit the Tokyo Temple at least weekly and often take time when we can to stroll through this park.

Visit to Sapporo

This past week, October 8 - 13, 2025, Susan and I took a trip to Sapporo which is on the northern island of Hokkaido. This is where I spent most of my mission as a young missionary. While there we visited the Hokkaido History Museum shich is just outside of Sapporo in the Nopporo Forest. Above is a picture of a Mastodan skeleten that was excavated in Hokkaido showing that these elephant like creatures once inhabited Hokkaido. Prior to the Meiji era, which began in the 1860's when the emporer took control of the government from the Samurai Shogunate, the only people on the island were the white skinned Ainu.

posted October 14, 2025

Hokkaido Fortifications

In the museum is also a display of the type of fortification that the early Japanese pioneerrs used when they settled Hokkaido in the 1860-70's. The Japanese government settled Hokkaido to take advantage of the coal reserves in order to industiralize Japan and bring it out of the feudal age. This shows a fort constructed with wooden barricades with heaps and mounds of earth thrown up for barriers and narrow passages that allowed for entry and exit that were easily defended. They look exactly as the description of the defenses as described in the Book of Mormon. Interesting!

Hokkaido Shinto Shrine

This picture is taken in front of the typical Tori (Gate) to the oldest and most famous Shinto Shrine on the Island of Hokkaido. These gates are typical of the Shinto Shrines. Most Buddhist temples did not have the Tori as this is a Japanese fixture and Buddhism came from China and Korea to Japan. To me this is similar to the lentil as described in the Old Testament where the lamb's blood was smeared to protect the Israelites during the first passover. Many of the Tori in Japan are painted red to represent blood and life.

Japanese Tori in the Background

Japan is famous for their shrines and temples. There are basically two kinds. The Buiddist Shrines are known as Tera. The Shinto Temples are known as Shinjo. Both types are often adorned with the Japanese Gate (Tori) as shown behind me and Susan. This isi at the Meiji Jinjo which is a Buddhist Shrine that that celebrates the Meiji era. The Meiji era is famous for the Emporer and the imperial family taking control of the government of Japan in the 1800's ending the era of the Shogun and the Samarai. This led to the modernization of Japan.

Posted September 15, 2025

Large Display of Sake Barrels

On the grounds of Meiji Jinjo is this display of the various sake barrels of Japan. Japan is famious for their sake. This is basically liquor made from rice. Like american spirits it is distributed in barrels. This wall is a display of the various sake barrels of Japan.

Posted September 15, 205

Shopping in Shibuya

Shibuya is known for the famous Shibuya Scramble. This is an intersection in the middle of the city that boasts the most foot traffic of any intersection in the world. At times it seems like there must be 5000 people crossing the street at the same time.

Susan and I are here shopping close to the scramble. There are so many shops and places to explore here. There are also a lot of colleges and employment opportunities for younger folks. This makes it a magnet for YSA age Japanese as well as tourists.

There is always something going on in Shibuya.

posted August 12, 2025

Trip to the Ginza

This past week Susan and I took a trip down to the Ginza. The Ginza is the upscale shopping area of Tokyo. All the major international brands have stores there. I couldn't resist taking a picture in front of the Gucci sign. She likes looking at all the name brand clothers and accessories.

I, on the other hand, took time to visit the large Yamaha Musical Instrument store in the heart of the Ginza. From pianos to piccolos this store had it all. It was a lot of fun for both of us. Didn't buy a thing but it was great entertainment.

Posted July 13, 2025

Meiji Jingo

We visited the Meiji Jingu which is a shrine that celebrates the beginning of the Meiji era, modern Japan. This is not too far from our apartment in Shibuya--A train stop away.

The Meiji era began in the 1860's when the current government of Japan was instituted, with the emporer as the head, after taking power away from the Tokugawa Shoguns.

After World War II, McArthur instituted reforms that changed the emporer to a figure head and gave real power to elected governments patterned after the US model.

The Tokyo Temple

We needed to drop by the Tokyo South Mission office. This office is in an annex next to the Tokyo Temple. The above picture was taken at the entrance to the temple. The temple was announced in 1975 By President Kimball, completed and dedicated in 1980 and was recently refurbished and rededicated in 2022.

Arrival In Japan

We spent about 20 hours all total traveling to the airport in Salt Lake, going through security, flying to Seattle and then onto Tokyo. The flight from Seattle to Tokyo was about 10 hours. We actually did pretty well but Customs took another hour and a half and 45 minutes driven through traffic by President and Sister Tueller and we were pretty worn out. Check out the post on our apartment. We are thrilled with our living accomodations and excited to get settled in and get to work.

Our First Week

The first week of our mission we are studying at the MTC during the day and return home each night to eat and sleep. This is because our home is within about 30 minutes of the MTC.

There are a number of other couples who are from the Salt Lake and Utah County areas that are not staying overnight at the MTC.

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