富士山

Fujisan has always been elusive on my past trips, and unfortunately, my trips have never coincided with climbing season... However, I had a sunny Sunday during my last weekend, so I made my way to Kawaguchi-ko for some views.

I caught the morning Fujikyu Railway express train and spent a few frozen hours walking around the lake. This might be the cutest train in all of Japan.


The many personalities of Mount Fuji!


The express train's local brethren.


From the train station, one catches a bus to various points on the lake, and there is also a walking trail that loops around the lake.


Another example of Japan's lovely manhole covers!


I'll have to return in the spring...



Later that evening, I made my way to Shibuya to get one last dinner with Aaron.


We were lured to a restaurant by it's 1000-Yen rice bowls, but ended up getting the fancy dinner set!

^the leaf is NOT edible...


We said our goodbyes, and I caught a late train to Shinjuku Station. There were still some folks hanging out around the station.


...but for the most part, I have never seen the station quieter.


On the walk back to the hotel, I stopped and watched the dancers at Sompo Japan Building for one last time.



The next morning, I ventured to Nakano, did some Christmas shopping, and then headed to Narita for my flight.

In and around Tokyo

So this trip started off at LAX. I was on NH005 and taxied past SQ11, which my co-worker was sitting on...

^I may have been a little envious...

The flight was uneventful. I watched Boyhood, which probably was my favorite movie of the year.


We landed in the evening...


...and I got dinner with Aaron


The views from the hotel room were fantastic as usual


I got upgraded to a room on the other side for the second week...



The second week of meetings kept me super busy. I had to navigate myself through a local laundromat. I found it interesting that Japanese washing machines are sized based on load (they are sized by volume). The cap on the detergent bottle also has lines for each of the various washing machines sizes. I'm a big fan of this standardization.


Rush hour at Shinjuku Station's Chuo Line platform. Where's my co-worker?


Feeding my gachapon addiction...


...and some of the random things you can get outta them!


Feeding my museum needs at the Ghibli Museum

^Susuwatari

Does the robot from Laputa have a name?!



At the end of the second week, I was able to catch a Robert the Thief liveset!!!


Nozomi


Packard


Bassist-san


Under Color Remover


UCR jammed so hard. They were so pro.

^a random video of them!

Hiroshima

The previous night I had stuffed my face with Okonomiyaki, did some grocery shopping for junk food, and passed out.

I woke up to another sunny day:

^nice views from the hotel

I found breakfast at a bakery and caught a trolley to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

^A-Bomb Dome


^Children's Peace Monument


Next is a view of the Peace Flame, the Pond of Peace, and the Memorial Cenotaph. The Peace Flame has burned continuously since its initial lighting, in 1964. The flame will remain lit until all nuclear weapons on Earth are destroyed and the planet is free all nuclear threats.

Behind the flame is an arch shaped monument that covers a cenotaph which contains the names of all of the people killed by the bomb. The arch shape represents a shelter for the souls of the victims, and the cenotaph carries the epitaph "安らかに眠って下さい 過ちは 繰返しませぬから", which was translated as "Let all the souls here rest in peace for we shall not repeat the error." With "we" referring to "all humanity", not specifically the Japanese or Americans, and with the "error" referring to the "evils of war":


Mother and Child in the Storm



After a few hours, I returned to the hotel, checked out, and caught the next train to Tokyo.

Miyajima

The next morning, I woke up early and caught a train to Arashiyama. I wanted to visit some of the temples, but rain started to pour, so I returned to the station and caught the next bullet train to Hiroshima.

Selfie



Just outside of Hiroshima is island of Itsukushima, most commonly known as Miyajima, or "Shrine Island." To get there, you must take a ferry. Lukily, the JR Pass covers the fare.

^that Doraemon shirt is DARK...

The weather had changed from stormy to lovely.


Unemployed samurai who have found new beginnings.


And like the rest of Japan, has tiny little fire trucks.


A short walk later, one arrives at the Itsukushima-jinja.



Some interesting background from the shrine's wiki:
Itsukushima-jinjais is dedicated to the three daughters of Susano-o no Mikoto, the Shinto God of Seas and Storms. The shrine is also dedicated to the brother of Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess.

Commoners were not allowed to set foot on it throughout much of its history to maintain its purity; as the island of Itsukushima was considered to be sacred. In order to allow pilgrims to approach, the shrine was built over the water, to create the illusion that it was floating during high tide (thus, separated from the island). The torii was built over the water for the same reason. People making the journey had to steer their boats through the torii before approaching the shrine.

Maintaining the purity of the shrine is so important that no births or deaths have been permitted near it. Even today, pregnant women, the terminally ill, or the very elderly are supposed to retreat to the mainland.

A Day in Kyoto

Since work took up most of the previous day, I decided not to go to Kōyasan. Instead, I woke up early and made my way to Fushimi Inari-taisha.

If you're unfamiliar with the shrine, it is filled with torii


Also, kitsune (foxes), regarded as messengers, are found in Inari shrines.


Folks could draw and write wishes on these kitsune ema. Some of them were pretty pro.


Mine was rudimentary.


Some school also had a field trip that morning. Also, I think that girl is giving me the finger...

^those kids look pretty gangsta...





fat cat.



I found some lunch afterwards, and took the train one stop to Tōfuku-ji, which is one of the Kyoto Gozan or "five great Zen temples of Kyoto." There were a number of gardens with spectacular colors...






Pro photo tip of the day: Utilize mad lean.




Vitamin D boost!



After this temple, I took the train towards Gion to find dinner. I really like the streetlights in Kyoto.


Getting the perfect shot for Instagram.