Reflections of Japan - and a few pictures to boot!

Woo boy, I haven't used this journal in ages... I'll make up for it with a few pictures of my Japan trip.


This is a picture of one of the beautiful gardens that are in Heian Shrine in Kyoto. I absolutely adored this place, I wish I had a place like this to myself back here in Wisconsin... ^_^;

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This is Daibutsu, or "Big Bhudda", located in Kamakura City. This thing was pretty big, and it you could go inside it for about 20 yen (~20¢). I tried to take a picture inside the Bhudda but it didn't turn out so well.

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Pictures aside, Japan was very enjoyable (besides Tokyo, I could go without going there). The people there are very kind and pleasant. One of the things I absolutely loved about Japan was that the tax is already included in the price. So if you bought a huge stuffed Totoro plushie, and the tag says ¥4,900 (~$50), you just have to pay ¥4,900. Ahh, I loved that...

We did spend a night at a ryokan, or Japanese-style hotel. That was... a new experience, at the least. We all wore our yukatas (cotton kimonos) to dinner, which after we all took a soak in the onsen (communal hot spring bath).

The thing about the onsen was that you have to go in nude. The whole thing wouldn't be so bad if there weren't 50 year old Japanese women in there with you. But, that's just while your washing yourself and before you actually get in the onsen to soak. Once you get in, it's "Ah, too relaxing to even care that I'm nude."

Overall, it was a very enthralling experience that I'd certainly do again if I had the chance. Just not right away. I don't think I could stand another 12~13 hour plane ride for a long while.

*shudder*