Japan Pictures anyone?

[rkold]

To all the doll people reading this, I'm very sorry but after hurting my hand I just didn't feel up to carrying Lux and Kira with me and then trying to pose them for pictures so I have no pictures of them in Japan.

becroberts and I started our Kansai+ touring adventure with a trip to Miyajima to see the deer and eat momiji cookies

We were staying in Osaka so we caught an early morning shinkansen to Hiroshima and transferred there for a train to Miyajima-guchi to catch the ferry to Miyajima.




For those curious, I'm pretty sure I fell near that little hump in the indent between the two peaks. However, I did walk down from that mountain.








Me, before the fall and becroberts


Not muck yet!






becroberts


Me!


Me and the cutest doll of a Japanese bride ever! She was so tiny!








Secret Cosmos Garden with the deer gate lol




Cool wooden dragon sculptures


The gods like this pond


The view from the top of Mt. Mise. For those curious to get to the top, one can either go up 1.8 kms of giant stone steps (no I'm not kidding it is almost completely steps) or take a "ropeway" which consists of little tiny cars hanging from some sort of line not unlike those gondola rides at amusement parks. Terrified of heights, I had to spend almost the entire trip taking deep breaths with my eyes closed. (I was nearly hysterical OK maybe I was a little hysterical when I rode the Odaiba ferris wheel with sumergiskank, kosquarepelli and dilettanka) I took the 1.8 kms of steps down which is when I sprained my finger. At the time I decided to go down I did not know the entire path was stairs as the tourist map was not quite accurate on that little fact. lol


This temple at the top of Mt. Mise has an "eternal" flame. Cue the Bangles.


Another view from the top, I want to say that huge city in the distance is Hiroshima.




Another view of the eternal flame temple


That white building is where the ropeway ended, I'd hiked to where I was standing. There was supposedly a monkey park near that building but every time *I* have gone there the monkeys have been in the forest eating. Suuuuuuuure there are monkeys XD;




The torii at much lower tide. My hand was killing me at this point. ~.~


Post the pictures, I met becroberts and we shopped and ate momiji cookies. We both agreed the chocolate ones were the best. lol I tried this weird honey drink that at the time I hadn't known was a chain, but I later saw one at Nara (they seem to be some sort of major traditional tourist sight chain only ^_^;; ) We then headed back to Hiroshima to catch the shinkansen to Osaka. I discovered over dinner that ice really helped with my hand and then tried to figure out how to buy an ice pak in Japan only to fail miserably.

Stay tuned for more pictures and stories from my adventures in Japan.

Comments

[twotone]

Oh man, I think I stopped at the same honey store in Nara and later in Narita-town! I liked the drinks they had as samples but was too cold to try the honey soft-cream they offered. What did you think of the honey drink?

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I didn't try the ice cream because I didn't want to ruin my appetite, but I bought a container of the Grape Honey and the Yuzu Honey lol

The grape I finished in Japan but the Yuzu one I brought home with me and I might try to make some up once I clean out my old ice tea containers >>;;;

So I guess I liked the honey drink XD; The grape can be too sweet if not enough water is added but I am expecting good things from the Yuzu.

[mec]

Ooh, you've started uploading them! Must steal the ones I don't have. ^_^ (Amazing! A picture of me where I a) am looking at the camera and b) do not appear oddly intoxicated.) It's nice to see the pictures from your adventure on the mountain - and they make me really glad I did not go up with you!

The custard ones were okay but the chocolate momiji cookies were definitely the best! (Especially when warm.)

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yup! I have more of Miyajima as well, I just wanted to share the ones I thought looked the best and yeah I think you look great in the pictures. Tomorrow I'm going to try to share Kyoto/Umeda.

If I hadn't gone so fast I actually really enjoyed it up there... the view was really nice. I can't imagine hiking up though.

Love the scenery.

[ginarolo.livejournal.com]

Nice you could meet a friend there.
BTW. I got your postcard! thanks!

Re: Love the scenery.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you got the postcard! :D While it is Japan I technically sent it from UT because my hand was just not up for much writing while in Japan. It's still somewhat painful, but it's doing a lot better now.

Miyajima is gorgeous, though unless you were away from the deers it's not exactly safe for doll pictures.

[erjika.livejournal.com]

*wants to go back to Japan with you!* I love the torii in the water. It sucks that the path was made of steps, but it's a great view from up there. (and deer!)

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I so love the deer even if they are the most avaricious deer ever. lol

The floating torii of Itsukujima is considered one of the 3 famous views from Japan. The other one is 2 hours from Kyoto and the final is somewhere near Sendai. Someday I would love to see the other 2. lol I've currently got 1 of the 3 big gardens, 1 of the views and 1 of the mysteries. lol

It was hard on the knees (going down at least) but I would do it again, at least if I can keep from falling. XD;

[erjika.livejournal.com]

I could have sworn I saw one near Yokohama, but it's been a few years. ^^;

Yeah, so what's this about deer attacking students? o.o

[rkold.livejournal.com]

You might have, the most famous one though is this one out about 20 minutes from Hiroshima. It's like Odaiba has a "Statue of Liberty" but it's not *THE* Statue of Liberty.

The deer are extremely avaricious and have no shame so try to steal all paper and food type items in their proximity. They ended up going after some Jr. High students and becroberts saw them go after some Australians lol

[mec]

I don't have a picture of the deer attacking the Australians, unfortunately, but I did take a photo of one of them investigating the backpack of an unsuspecting tourist...

Here

[erjika.livejournal.com]

That's... scary. But hilarious at the same time. Usually it's monkeys or baboons aggressively stealing food, not deer!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

This is not Japan but:





I got those two in Zion lol It was so incredibly adorable.

But yes, the deer in Miyajima are very aggressive. I once saw one eat a napkin out of a school girl's pocket and tourists regularly pay tug of war with them to get back their tourist maps. becroberts and I saw one try to much a Jr. High kid's work book.

[ad-exia.livejournal.com]

Wow, those are some gorgeous pictures!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I bought a new camera last year and it helps XD;;;

I still suck at indoors photography though.

[ad-exia.livejournal.com]

Yay new cameras!

Heh, well, conveniently these were all outside pix. XD; They do look really nice~

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yeah!!! I am trying to get better with pictures. :D You'll have to let me know if you like the next batch as well lol

[ad-exia.livejournal.com]

Hehe, will do! I look forward to them. ^_^

[rkold.livejournal.com]

*hugs* And thanks for looking! :D I really love Miyajima despite hurting myself there.

[cc-lemon.livejournal.com]

Absolutely beautiful pictures! I loved Miyajima when we were there. And the momiji manju are delicious, especially hot. You make me want to go back!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Thanks *hugs* It helps I got a decent camera now. >>;; The pictures I took from our trip were such a disaster. ;;_;;

It's such a fun destination. Though I am now determined each trip to go someplace completely new! :D