Kyoto

I went sightseeing in Kyoto this past weekend and saw Fushimi Inari Taisha, Ginkakuji (which I don't recommend visiting until after the construction is finished), and Kiyomizudera. I am loving my language program and living in Yokohama, by the way. For now, I have a speech to write!

First day of language classes...

It went well, but I am so so so so tired. I woke up around 4:30 am (partly because I'm not fully adjusted to Japanese time and partly because that's when the sun comes up in this crazy country), had a busy morning of classes, and then went on a class field trip to Sojiji, Yokohama's largest Buddhist temple, for a rather intense tour (all in Japanese, of course). Highlights included witnessing some type of Buddhist ceremony and experiencing zazen (which included getting whacked by a Buddhist priest with a large piece of wood - and it was a good whack). Anyway, I still have a lot of homework to do, and my brain is fading quickly, but here are some pics:


Our tour guide


One of the buildings of the temple


One of the shrines within the temple

It's been an interesting first week back in Japan. But for now I'm off to try and finish this homework before I pass out.