We are so thankful for a homestay with Yuji and Keiko Kasiwamura. It has been a wonderful experience which Marlon and I feel so lucky to have such amazing friends to open their home to us. Today, they are taking us on a road trip and we don't know where we are going! We don't even care because we know it will be a good time and a great experience. The first stop was at a friend's house whose last name was Watanabe-ke. We toured around the property which was very beautiful with lots of fall colors surrounding their very old home. Older homes are being torn down to construct newer ones but they are dedicated to preserving the history of this home. We enter by walking through a garden of tea plants.
Check out how many layers of straw is on their roof. 
Yuji has many connections in Tochigi Prefecture. We stopped at an OYA Company that quarries pay stone for use in construction and other unique items. His friend Keiko Takahashi has invited us into the office.
After sitting and chatting a while we were given hot coffee and some cookies that had chocolate in the center of them. Mmmmmm
Keiko Takahashi of the Oya Stone Company leads us to the Oya quarry where she guided us on a tour. She was a wonderful person to do this for us.
After our tour, it was lunchtime and we went to this fabulous restaurant. We shared an order of stuffed eggplant.
Marlon and Keiko !
