Nov. 2010 Japan Trip - Post #7: North to the Tohoku

Sunday morning of our November Japan trip was moving day. Specifically that means we were leaving Tokyo and heading north to the Tohoku region. We caught a morning Hayate Shinkansen from Tokyo Station and exactly 1 hour and 41 minutes later we pulled into the Sendai Station.

Meeting my wife and I at Sendai Station were two very good friends, Henry and Tak.  I had not seen Henry in quite some time.  He had retired from our company a few years back.  It was great to see him, and he looked very relaxed and fit.  We took our bags and loaded them into Tak's car.  They had planned a special sightseeing trip this Sunday afternoon and we needed to drive about one hour north to reach our destination.  We headed out onto the highway, which in Japan means a toll road.  Interestingly Tak said it was the first time he had driven out on the toll road all year (he typically would stick to the local roads).  What a difference I thought between living in L.A. and living in Sendai!!!  Before we reached our target, we stopped in a large roadside restaurant/convenience store to grab a quick bite to eat.  There were also street vendors selling their specialties out front.  One of the items we bought I had always marveled at on Japan trips for years.  It was a sausage on a bone.  What a great idea to stick a bone into a sausage I thought, especially when you eat with chopsticks!!!

How nice it was to see these two great old friends and to enjoy that simple meal on the side of the road.  I will never forget it!