Ok, I've been embarrassingly lax in blogging, and there's really no excuse. I did get the images up, so if you haven't seen them yet here's what I haven't been blogging about:
Fushimi Inari Shrine - If you've ever seen the pictures of a bright orange cave created by an endless line of vermillion colored gates those picture was taken here. It's pleasant to stroll around the paths created by the gates. I went with another OEH (Osaka English House) resident and our flickr accounts are much more colorful for it I'm sure.
Yasaka-Jinja - After hiking around Fushimi Inari we headed into town to see this park. Apparently during cherry blossom season it is the place to be as cherry blossoms and a-tad-merrier-than-sober crowds fill the park grounds. We were too early for blossoms and beer, but the park was still quite nice.
Minoh Koen - On suggestion from an OEH co-resident I visited this park as a half-day trip. It wasn't touristy, it was a pleasant and interesting hike, and the waterfall at the end of the trail was wonderful. It's not the grandest of the things I've seen here, but I would go back before I'd revisit many of the more famous sites.
Hiroshima - It's basically what you would expect, except maybe slightly less dramatic. The museum is sobering, but the grounds of the A-bomb Dome are very well kept and it has the feel of a pleasant park rather than a monument of tragedy.
Tomo-no-ura - After Hiroshima I trekked to this small fishing town. I had the excellent fortune to meet two other travelers who were accompanied by their professor and guide. We got a personal tour of the town and got to have coffee in a traditional house that was redesigned by Miyozaki. There are also some politics going on around plans to fill in part of the port to build a larger road through the town.
Miyajima - Miyajima is apparently one of the most photographed sites in Japan. It's a large vermillion gate (like those at Fushimi Inari and other shrines, but larger) that during high tide stands out in the water and during low tide... it stands firmly in the mud. The deer there are very friendly if a little shaggy. They make a small cake shaped like a maple leaf and filled with cream, chocolate, or bean paste. Excellent deep fried. I thought I had a perfect gift to bring back for potluck, until I remembered the concept of expiration dates.
Himeji - There are many castles in Japan, but many of them have been rebuilt with modern materials. Himeji is apparently one of the better/more authentic castles to visit. It's much more picturesque from the outside, but it's fun to wander through and imagine lords and ladies wandering through the halls. There wasn't a line to get in which is nice, until you find out they just move it to the top of the tower at the end of the tour. No waiting to get in, but plan extra time if you want to get back out again.
Hanami - A group of us at OEH packed homemade onigiri and snacks and walked to the river in town. There, in the middle of nothing, was a stunning row of cherry trees in full blossom running parallel to a small river. It was probably the nicest weather I've seen since coming here to Japan, sunny and warm enough to take of my shoes and wade into the river. The cherry blossoms are not just hype, they're actually very moving in a calming romantic way.
So, brief summary now, and then I'll try to come back later and fill in some details.
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