Christmas in Japan

Christmas starts early here, November 1st. They've been outside putting lights on trees, and I heard a Christmas song at the market this morning. I guess that's what happens when you don't celebrate Thanksgiving.

Nara

This is the world's largest wooden building, Todai-ji Temple.

There is a huge Buddha inside. And a whole bunch of smaller huge Buddhas. These people really like their Buddhas.

This is the gate in front of the Great Buddha Hall. Bear-Dog and Cookie Monster posed in front to show the size.

There are super dangerous deer wandering around Nara.

Don't worry, I survived.

Hiroshima

The A-Bomb Dome is near the hypocenter. There was a debate about whether to preserve it, and now the city leaves it standing as a reminder.

Cookie Monster and BearDog visited the Peace Park across the street.

Every time there is a nuclear weapon test, the Mayor of Hiroshima sends a letter of protest.

There is a ferry that goes to Miyajima Island.

The island has lots of cute roaming deer. This one was resting. Also it is not as cute.

Cookie Monster and BearDog pose in front of the floating torii. It was first built in the 12th century and has been replaced several times.

I went there too.

Osaka and Matsumoto

Beardog and Cookie Monster visited the Aquarium in Osaka.

They were not worried, because Osaka is 100% radiation free. The sign says so, so it must be true.

Beardog and Cookie monster read that it is the best aquarium in Japan, but they have not compared all of them. They believe that it is true though, because where else do the fish eat the people that are riding the rays.

Matsumoto has a castle with a pretty impressive moat. I was hoping for crocodiles or sharks, but nope (maybe I spent too much time in the aquarium).

I am carrying my shoes, just like everyone else. The castle is therefore very clean.

View from the top.

I like moats. I might build one around my house.

Scorpion. Naturally.

Kiso Valley Hike

There is a nice hike in the Kiso Valley between Tsumago and Magome.

It was very pretty. There was bamboo.

BearDog enjoyed the view at the end in Magome.

BearDog and Cookie Monster relaxed at the end of the trip.

Central Japan

I went to Nagoya Castle.

There are golden dolphins on top, although really I don't think they look like any dolphins I've ever seen. Maybe Japanese dolphins are different. Also there was one inside the museum.

Hida Folk Village was an old style town.

There were old style stilts.

BearDog and Cookie Monster enjoyed the town too.

Free ride!

Toyota has a museum for their spinning and loom business and then automotive business. It was a very good museum for nerds.

It had a lot of interactive displays, also I learned how to work a loom.

Kauai Part 4: Hiking

I hiked 11 3/8 (that's a fraction 3/8, not 113 divided by 8) miles to the Napali Coast. At first it didn't look that much different than back home.

There were pretty flowers. I liked these because there were so many colors in one group.

Several miles in, after lots of slippery downhills and turns, I reached the first viewpoint.

Films like Jurassic Park were filmed on Kauai and feature views like this. Instead of dinosaurs, I saw a mountain goat.

Don't go past here. You will fall off the cliff.

After walking along the cliff for a few miles to the second viewpoint, I was joined by a couple of birds.

It wasn't too hot since I was high in elevation.

See? What did I tell you about falling off the cliff?

It was definitely worth the hike.