A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

Since this is late anyway, I hardly feel any pressure to present these in the proper chronological order. If you must know, I met my family in Tokyo and we had about a day there before taking off for Mt. Fuji/Hakone, Inuyama/Nagoya and then went to Kyoto/Nara. Once the tour package expired we spent another few days in Kyoto on our own which was really fun (finally able to take things at our own pace, not that I regret the tour at all. I am so glad that I saw everything that I did) before catching the very crowded Shinkansen down to Kurume for New Year's.

• Nagoya-jo. Probably the most impressive castle I've visited. Completely reconstructed. Highlights include the golden dolphins on the top and the (original!!) carvings in the rocks that form the battlements. Samurais were required to haul large rocks to the castle site, and many of them scratched their family names into the rocks. Can't remember if they had to in order to get credit for their work or just wanted to show off to the competiton.

• Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto. The first of many, many, many temples, but definitely one of the more scenic ones.

• Kinkakuji (The Golden Pavillion), Kyoto. In the old days, rich people didn't so much wear their bling as put it on their garden gazeboes. We were so lucky to have nice sunny weather the day we visited.

• Mommy and daughter at the Imperial Palace, Kyoto. Getting in was quite a process. Everyone on our tour bus (and the other two buses out that morning) had to line up in rows of four to be counted (and re-counted until things we just right.) But they didn't even glance into the backpacks/large purses people were carrying. Oh Japan.

• Sadly, I have no idea what this temple is actually called. All I know is that it's on top of a hill and has an amazing view of Mt. Fuji on a clear day. The temple itself isn't too shabby either against the blue sky.
  
  
  
• Top of a hill above Lake Ashi, another spot we went to see Fuji-san. I am looking in the wrong direction, but the view is still pretty amazing. It was also rediculously cold up there, with lots of wind and some ice patches on the ground.

• Inuyama-jo. The only original castle I have been too. Much smaller than any of the other ones too. Full of charm i.e. the steepest stairs ever. For not being too large, it had a very nice panoramic view.

• Snazzy building in Nagoya. Future home of a fashion design school. When viewed in conjunction with Inuyama-jo above really demonstrates the fusion of Japan's old and new architecture. (Ugh that sounds like something from a bad paper)

• Shadow of Nagoya Tower. Something to love about Japan--almost every city builds a huge, potentially ugly TV tower and adds a platform, turning it into a tourist attraction. They do provide some amazing views. At the top of this one is wall commemorating all the couples who have been married at the top. Awwwwwww.

• The family prior to their first onsen experience. It took some convincing to get them to walk downstairs in just their yukata, but after the initial uneasiness, I think they enjoyed it. They went again at the next hotel.
  

• Even though we're hardly around each other enough to fight these days, I still think this is a nice picture of peaceful sibling interaction---on the Shinkansen no less. Snazzy.
  

• One of the highlights of our tour. When we went to Inuyama, it was just the four of us, so we all got dressed up by the local kimono dresser. It was pretty incredible. Mine had a full under-robe and about a bazillion ties in the middle. Then they made us slip into a pair of narrow sandals and hobble (mince?) our way down the street to this photogenic gateway for a full-on photoshoot. We attracted quite a few stares. When we returned to the shop, we were undressed...and I let out a huge sigh, relieved to be able to breathe again. That's when the dresser told our tour guide in Japanese that they had made mine "loose" and if I was really going to wear a formal kimono, it would be much tighter. Sheesh.

• This probably ice cream picture #87 on my blog, so by now you know that no sightseeing trip of mine is complete with out some "sofuto kurimu."
  

• Hmmm, back to Mt. Fuji. Maybe I should organize these...sorry. Again, really lucky with the weather.

• Lovely family portrait in front of Mt. Fuji. This is about as close as we got. I think I am going to start using this picture for my self introductions at school instead of the one I have from Costa Rica where we're all wearing helmets and harnesses after riding the zipline.

• Tokyo Tower!! Another TV tower all gussied up as a tourist attraction. Nice views. I think the Japanese are very proud of the fact that their "famous" tower is taller than the Eiffel Tower (by 6 meters or something rediculous like that.)
  

• Andrew, mom and me looking down from inside of the tower. Neat-o.

• Hahaha. Trying out the ride-able animals at Lake Ashi. Unfortunately, we were a bit big, so they didn't move too well under our weight. My lion barely moved and when Andrew tried one, it didn't budge. But it was worth the 200 yen just for the rediculous pictures in my opinion.

• Mmmmm, pickles. Since we were traveling right before New Year's, all of the temples had large displays of sake offerings from local sake brewers out front. This temple in Nagoya also had numerous barrels of pickled veggies. Interesting.