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We just returned from visiting Kaoruko's family and a friend in Kobe (where her mom and sister live), and Seto (where her dad lives). We have always searched for cheaper methods of transport and we found one this time. We took the slow train over the mountains and back. It's called the seishin ju hachi kippu. Basically the ticket is for young people but anyone can purchase one. The system allows you to travel for 5 days (they don't have to be consecutive) and you can get on and off as many times as you like. Kobe is a port city where the people are far more relaxed than in Tokyo and more friendly. We spent time with Kaoruko's mom and sister and our friends Yuuno, Shinya, and Mika. Yuuno is the littlest one (6mo's old). It's been awhile since I held a baby but I look so natural. Seto is a small town just outside of Nagoya in central Japan. The town is known for Setomono- a pottery. Everything there is pottery related. We got to Seto during the middle of the week and we realized as we walked the empty streets that all the cafes were closed including the one at the glass museum where you can choose your own cup. We were a little disappointed but it soon became a joke and I took some pictures of the closed shop doors which sometimes have paintings on them. Our nights were spent listening to Kaoruko's father instruct us on all things Japan. As he mapped out our return trip to Tokyo (9 hours), he reminisced about his father working for a travel agency and how he used to help him with the tours. We took the Chuo line which leads us straight back to our home station. There are many transfers to different lines in between (about 1 an hour), but it's all called the Chuo (central) line. Along the road there and back we were able to sample the Eki bens we wrote to some of you about (the article is now in our feature section).

these are the routes we took:
to Kobe:
Tokaido Line (East Coast Road Line)
Tokyo - Atami - Numazu - Shizuoka - Nagoya - Kyoto - Osaka - Kobe

back to Tokyo:
Chuo Line (Central Line)
Tokyo - Shinjuku - Kofu - Shiojiri - Nagiso - Nakatsugawa - Nagoya.

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