Hello!
Well we recently went to Kyoto, our firstmajor trip in Japan. It started in a pretty eventful way. Our 2 and 1/2 hour train ride became 10 when our train was stopped becuase of a storm. We had to cross a bridge and they were worried about the wind. But we got there in the end and were able to have a good old time touring around.
We also visited Himeji, about an hour from Kyoto, which has the biggest castle still standing in Japan. It was hugely impressive. There were also the castle gardens nearby which were rather pretty and beautiful to wandre through. THe Japanese really have a different idea of gardens than we do, but it was cool!
Kyoto it strewn with temples and so we saw a few, but not being hugely interested in temples, i think we enjoyed Nijo, the Shogun's castle alot more, it was not only beautiful, but so amazingly designed. My personal favorite was probably the costume musuem, there was a 1/4 scale size model of a house and people, all representing the oldest novel in the world The Tale of Genji, which was written in the Heian period and is about a Prince (Genji) and the usualy court intreigues and romance! We even dressed up like Genji and Murasaki! which was pretty cool!
Anyways, that's all for now. Winter is upon us and Evan has already bought his skiis. I go snowboard shopping next tuesday and then we are ready for the snow!!
More as it happen!
Matta ne!
