My Japanese New Year: A Photographic Adventure

I burned some incense for you... Make a wish! Dear friends, dear family: Happy New Year!


The Hondo, or main hall here at Horyuji Temple is said to be the world's largest wooden building, and it houses the biggest bronze buddha I've ever seen (which isn't saying much, I suppose). Judge for yourself: no picture of it here, but I promise to take you if you come to Japan!


This shot wasn't staged: one of the little buggers actually took a bite out of my map. I literally had to fight the thing for the scrap shown here.


A little blessing


You think that's beef you're eating, Lindsay?









The deer in this park were at one time considered sacred, but are considered more of an attraction now, and even a pest...



A walking garbage machine? Sadly, the deer in Nara Park eat everything


Five-tiered pagoda in Nara Park















Ocha at our ryokan in Nara













Leaving our "hostel" in Kyoto (it was far too nice to be called that. Thank you Sachiko san!)


The Grand Splendour of the Kyoto Municial Museum of Art (the inside was a far sight better)



Every bus/train ride was the same


Cell phones: they can do everything but heat up your bento (that model comes out next month)



Along with a million others at Kinkakuji- the Golden Pavillion




Kimonos on white manikins in Gion


A dusty antique store in the Gion district, and hell to navigate with a backpack




At the entrance to Kiyomizu (a prospective New Wonder of the World, I might add!)














In the leaves. Away from the crowds. Off the beaten path.










A torii at Kiyomizu temple. Bonus points if you can read the kanji.



Could it be? You better believe it.







Yes. A two-bite hotdog. For hungry Lindsay, anyway.






Fast food? From a vending machine? Here in Kyoto, anything's possible.




Enjoying the afternoon of New Year's Eve Day




Lindsay and I taking advantage of the oh-so-efficient Japanese train system


Available at every shrine is your fortune for the new year. Take your chances and if it's bad, be sure to leave it behind. (and yes, mine was bad)


Though it's not so new anymore, New Year's in Japan has been an experience I won't soon forget. My lack of blog updates is proof of just how great of a break it was!: full of friends and food, shrines and shopping, rest, relaxation and ryokans, I couldn't have asked for a better two weeks. However I could've asked for more a bit more than two weeks, but I wouldn't get too far- even after an excessive amount of planning, I was very lucky to get the time off that I did. Thank you Nova, and special thanks to Ken, James and Brian, for their generosity in shift swapping with me.
Through the grace of her good planning, Lindsay was able to get a reasonable ticket to Japan for a visit. I'm so glad she could make it as it truly wouldn't have been the same time without her. Together we made it to the legendary temples of the old capital, Kyoto, the deer-infested parks of Nara, the hills above Himeji, and to just about every bloody boutique in the prefecture (see Lindsay's wild new styles for proof).
So, without further ado I give to you: My Japanese New Year.