Japan update #3!

It's been way too long! Sorry it's been a while since I've updated you all, I've been busy, busy, busy (more like lazy, lazy, lazy). Anyways, I am at the two week mark until I leave Japan. I can't believe I've already been here for 5 weeks! I'm very sad to even think about leaving, but I have a feeling it won't be my last time here, and I have many good things waiting for me in America.

Lots of things have happened since the last time I updated!

First off, Sean and his dad got a new kitten! Possibly the cutest ever. I believe they settled on the name Luna.

What a cutie!

Another exciting thing is that I learned how to windsurf! It was a little rough the first time, but after a break and some hydration, I got the hang of it a little better! It is so tiring! I can't wait to try it again, though. It's been a little windy for an amateur like me to go out again, but I'm determined to go out again before I leave. No pictures of me windsurfing yet, but here's one of Sean! 

I totally look that intense when I windsurf, too.

Another fun adventure was going to observe Sean's Taiko group. Everybody there was super nice and welcoming to me. I had the pleasure of taking pictures while they rehearsed. It was definitely loud, but very cool! I think every music major should at least attempt an ensemble or genre of music that requires no printed music in front of them. It definitely would be out of my comfort zone, but good nonetheless! They were all having such fun, too. It seemed like a really great stress release at the end of a long day. Taiko is probably the most physical music making I've seen. 

They invited me back to observe for the next rehearsal, which will be tomorrow! Can't wait!

In addition to all this fun stuff, we've made two trips to the shrine near the house. It's only about a kilometer away, so it's easy to walk to. The first time, we went to visit the shrine and so I could see what it has there. 

Here's me with the horse that is right at the entrance to the shrine. 

The second time we went, was for the hike up the mountain that the shrine is towards the base of. It's actually two mountains, and by an accidental wrong turn, we ended up hiking both peaks! The mountains are called Miyajiyama and Arijiyama.

I'm insisting that we continue to find mountains to hike before I head out, since it's fun, beautiful, and a good source of exercise. 

The very beginning of the hike.

The view through the trees on top of Miyajiyama.

Sean on top of Arijiyama. 

Day to day, I continue to practice, run, read, study Japanese, enjoy the beach, avoid massive insects, and apply copious amounts of sunscreen. A life that will be difficult to give up...

I'm looking forward to being here to celebrate Sean's 21st birthday on Saturday. Send happy thoughts his way!

Will update again, and this time I won't wait so long!

Love and miss you all.

Brianne

Japan update #2!

Hi everybody!

So much has happened since last time I updated. Sean and I took a three day trip to Kyoto and Nara (thanks to his wonderful and generous parents!!).
We took a very early train from Fukutsu (where Sean lives) and went to Nara the very first day.
Nara is about and hour away from Kyoto by train and is a really wonderful town with so much history. There are deer that roam freely. I believe that they're thought to be sacred animals. Also in Nara is the largest wooden structure in the world, which houses the world's largest statue of the Buddha Vairocana.
We saw countless temples and shrines on our trip. The very first one we saw was Kōfuku-ji, a buddhist temple in Nara. There wasn't a temple that we saw that didn't keep me amazed.
After seeing the beautiful botanical gardens in Nara, we left to return to a wonderful mountainside hotel in Kyoto. 

Nara Deer

The Giant Buddha

Our beautiful hotel

The hotel was traditional style. We walked barefoot everywhere and I got to wear a yukata, which is like a summer version of a kimono. There were also public baths (which I was unable to use, due to rules against tattoos). But instead I was able to use private baths which were pretty much really awesome hot tubs (and one was a sauna). Each bath had different minerals and a different feel to it. One was surrounded in bamboo while another felt like it was in a cabin in the woods. Essentially, I was pretty pampered. 
We were fed at the hotel as well. The first night was a little stressful on the food front. The food came out very fast and I felt as though I couldn't even process what was put in front of my before the next thing came out! For those reading this that may not know this, I have been a almost-lifelong vegetarian and have chosen to eat seafood for while I'm in Japan because, well -  otherwise I wouldn't eat. Needless to say, I was very overwhelmed by the food the first night. The second night, I did much better. I made a vow to try everything (as long as it didn't go against my rule being that the only meat I would eat is seafood). I ended up eating quite a few different types of fish, squid, octopus, urchin, and a couple other things. It was definitely an experience. After dinner we would relax a bit more, before getting complimentary Ramen and dessert! What people think is Ramen in the USA is definitely not what Ramen is here. So good. (There's even a Ramen truck that comes around Sean's neighborhood late at night playing music like an ice cream truck!)

Just a 5 minute walk from our hotel to see this.

The second and third days were spent sightseeing in Kyoto. Some of the sights we saw were: Kiyomizu Temple, Tenryuji Temple, Ninna-ji Temple, Nijo Castle, Rokuon-ji Temple (the Golden Pavilion), Sanjusangen-do (or Rengeo-in), Toji Temple, and the Ryoanji Temple.
And that list just includes the ones I got tickets to and didn't lose...we also saw countless shrines and other sights that didn't include tickets or pamphlets.

A couple highlights:

Sanjusangen-do 

This temple was extremely long. It was filled with 1000 buddhist deities. The temple is known for their archery festivals that have been going on as long as the temple has existed and still go on to this day. The contestant must shoot the arrow from one end of the temple to the other, and very few could actually do it.

Since I was not allowed to take pictures inside the temple, this is one that google has provided me! :)

Ryoanji Temple

This zen rock garden is famous around the world. There are 15 rocks in it and the walls are made of clay boiled in oil. As time went by, there was a design made by the oil that seeped out.

Sean and I at the Kiyomizu Temple

Though it was a long walk up the hill to this temple, it was totally worth it. Many people come here for purification by water. There is a water that has been running for thousands of years and I was able to be purified by it! 

Rokuon-ji Temple (the Golden Pavilion)

This is probably the most seen sight in all of Japan. Rightfully so, it's beauty speaks for itself.

Okay so I've done enough blabbering and there's no way to explain every single thing we saw, so here are a few more pictures to close! (If you would like to see more pictures, I've posted a ton to my facebook). Comment if you have any questions as to what any of them are!

Ever since we've returned, it's been back to a life of relaxing, practicing, reading, working out, studying Japanese and enjoying life on the beach. Will update again soon.

Love and miss you all, 

Brianne