We’ve started a traditional Thanksgiving migration to Tokyo. Our schedules give us a small window in November to make the three and half hour flight to Tokyo for a few days of shopping, eating and sightseeing. If things continue as planned, we’ll be heading to Tokyo again this November for another visit.

On our trip two years ago we set aside some time to visit Showa Memorial Park. We spent the morning walking through the park, drinking hot chocolate and thinking about family. It is a large park that at one time was part of Tachikawa Air Force Base. My wife’s father, Sheldon, had passed away earlier that year and we wanted to see where he spent his time as a young man during the late 60s. It was a difficult visit, but a fitting way to spend time thinking about Sheldon while walking around in such beautiful, peaceful surroundings.

I imagine it a busy park in the spring and summer, but when we were there in November it was quiet and only filled with a few families and joggers. I’m looking forward to our next visit.