Koya-san

Golden Week

Naka-Meguro Style

Yoshitomo Nara A-Z Cafe

Daytrip to Fushimi

Sam's evening conversation class took us on a day-trip to Kyoto, to explore some of the byways of the Fushimi area. We started with the endless red torii of Fushimi-Inari shrine, then wandered through hidden gardens and doll museums. The mischievous fox-gods of Inari demand that the good Fushimi folk roast sparrows on sticks and eat them - sparrows, apparently, ruin the harvest by eating the rice, whereas swallows are good birds that should be allowed to stay uneaten. (Or is that the other way around?) We didn't try one. Later in the day, we stumbled around the old sake brewing area, tippling our way from drink to drink. We piled onto our return train loaded up with sushi, snacks, beer and more sake, and a rowdy train dinner party ensued.

sparrows on sticks

Sam listening to a special water feature in an old garden

Noh doll