Photos from the Fish Festival

The Boys take Boys Day: Take only pictures and attempt to put the same foot in the same river in the same place more than once.

Japanese Kites for Boy's Day

On May 3rd, my family and I experienced one of Japan's most cherished traditions - the Koinobori Festa. This festival is a celebration of Children's Day, a day to wish all children happiness and good health. Located in Takatsuki, between Osaka and Kyoto, the festival is a must-visit event if you're in the area.

The main attraction of the festival is the Koinobori, or carp streamers, which represent the strong-willed nature of the carp to swim upstream and against rough currents. These streamers are hung above the river, creating a breathtaking sight. My family and I were mesmerized by the colorful kites dancing in the sky.

But the real highlight of the day was the refreshing dip in the river. My kids, Marcus and Maxie, had a great time playing in the water, and Marcus was a fantastic big brother, caring for his younger sibling. It was heartwarming to see them bonding over the festival and the refreshing river.

After a fun day at the festival, we stopped by an old-time Japanese toy store on the way home. The store was unique in that almost all toys were given out by lottery. It was a fun way to end the day and my kids were thrilled with their new toys.

In other news, we're coming home! If you missed us, we'll be back in May and June in both California and Hawaii. If you have time to say hi, please do!

Fish days