Japan Adventure

Beautiful vines in the plant nursery area outside Nishimura Joy store. We're seeing MANY vines growing in front of windows this summer to help conserve electricity - by keeping out direct sun & heat, thereby using less AC. Green, cool & beautiful!


First it makes pretty yellow flowers, then . . .


Ah, there's the "fruit" of this vine - goya, a "bitter melon" that's used like cucumber. My friend Jun-ko-san was telling me how great it is to use this quick-growing vine. You get shade, pretty flowers, and even food!


Dead bird inside Nishimura Joy store? No (well, maybe not?), but it sure looks real! It's for sale here with other items sold to scare away birds who are eating your veggies.


Summer fun water floaties hang from the ceiling.


Park behind the store with a giant Panda-painted rock at entrance. We take this road near the seacoast & marina area to avoid some of the traffic along Rt 2 in Otake.


One giant sunflower in a pot alongside the Rt 2.


See that gray roof just beside the smokestack?


It's practically covered with solar panels! These will soon be required on all homes & businesses built in Japan.


Bright orange canna lillies.


And other bright summer flowers hanging in pots along a fence.