Last week-end, the entire Tokyo team had a retreat near the Japanese Alps. It is about two hours northwest of where we live. I had my doubts about their title, but I was not disappointed. The snowcapped peak on the right is near where we were headed. That peak is Mt. Asama, an active volcano that we were able to see steam coming from its peak. It was amazing to watch the skiers come down the steep slopes; it was not for beginners. This area was also used during the 1998 Olympics for the curling event.

In the middle of the picture you will see a green and white wind sock. This is to let drivers know the direction and force of the wind. The closer you get to the mountians, the more dangerous the crosswind becomes; especially during a snow storm.


The Megumi Chalet is a Christian conference center that is an off-spring from one that was established in the mid-1880's. It is located in the town of Karuizawa which is noted for being where the present emperor and his wife met. It is reported that John Lennon and Yoko Ono spent time here as well because Yoko's parents had a summer cottage in the area. The town has a Winter Festival that lasts until February, so many of the Christmas decorations and lights were still up.




Our room was a typical Japanese tatami style hotel room. You can see in the closet the futons,pads, and blankets that would be laid out at night for sleeping. It was really quite comfortable. It certainly costs less to furnish a room this way. The room also had a wooden fold out table and cushions that could be placed on the tatami floor during the non-sleeping hours. Each room had a private bathroom with a sink and toilet; the shower was located in a community shower room, which is typical. Bathrooms in Japan normally are not heated, so the toilet seat has electric coils that keep it warm; as is in our apartment.

One morning we were treated to a family of snow monkeys. They would go through the leaves looking for something to eat- not sure what, but I did see them putting something in their mouth. They would climb in the trees and on the roof tops. One of the employees came out to scare them away because the monkeys have a tenedency to carry off the shoes that were on the outside of the door. (Yes, even at the conference we took our shoes off before going indoors, and there were slippers provided for the guests to wear on the inside.)

One purpose of the retreat was to get to know other IMB missionaries serving in the Tokyo area; and we did that one afternoon by going bowling as a group. Our bowling partners in this picture have been in Tokyo for over 20 years. Their ministry is with the homeless in the Tokyo area.