Autumn Festival

Today my town had their Aki Matsuri, or Autumn Festival. My town in small and their festival is too, so it wasn't a really huge occasion, from what I could see. There were several groups of men, women and children wearing blue and red festival coats and pulling small shrines and floats on wheels around the town. They stopped at various spots around town chanting, beating wooden sticks, taiko drums, blowing whistles and waving banners. According to my host mom, at the end of the day everyone meets up at the local shrine and the children receive candy. Probably some small religious ceremony goes on as well but I don't know what. I took pictures while they were stopped, waiting to meet up with another group.
Here's one of the shrines:


I feel really white.


You cannot....resist.....the cuteness!!

I'm Famous

Japanese fashion magazines have strange names. "With." "Vanilla." "Egg." "My Nail." (The last one is a magazine solely about doing your nails. Yes, it's truly scary.) But my favorite magazine name has to be this one:

...even though they spelled my name wrong. At least they got the L's right, though.

Why Dad Should Come to Japan

That's why.
Makes a great desktop wallpaper.

Love Hotels and Ii Naosuke's Castle

On Sunday a Japanese friend, Saki, took two other American exchange students and myself out to Hikone Castle. It was an hour and a half drive, but everyone had so much to talk about that it went by quickly. On the way there we passed some strange-looking buildings.
Me: What is that?
Saki: That's a hotel for...um...a very specific purpose...
Me: Oh my gosh, is that a love hotel??! I need pictures!!
"Love Hotels" are a Japanese phenomenon (at least as far as I know) where you rent rooms by the hour. One of my goals when going to Japan was to get a picture of at least one. Be sure to read the signs on the one with the palm trees.


You've probably seen enough pictures of castles from me, so I'll spare you any more. Hikone castle was beautiful, but since it was the castle's 400-year anniversary, it was super super crowded. I enjoyed the old garden much more. It was really beautiful and peaceful. If I could buy it and live there forever, I would.

Notice the castle in the background!

I'm happy with the way this picture came out:

There was a ferry on the castle moat, and this amazing leafy swamp was behind the castle garden.

It was a really fun day, mostly because the people I went with were totally awesome. I pretty much live for the weekend here.