Fifth Post - Momiji/紅葉/Fall leaves

In Japan, there are two "seasons" that are taken very seriously here. In the spring, the entire country follows the cherry blossoms as they bloom, and there are parties galore under the cherry trees in parks everywhere (it's called (o)hanami/お花見). The other is in the fall when all of the leaves start to turn.

At Osaka castle park in early November.

So it's actually quite the industry, catering to tourists during "momiji/紅葉" in the fall months in Kyoto. Someone told me that fall is actually the busiest time for tourists in Kyoto, even busier than the spring. And I can believe that; there were so many people in the city and on the buses going to the various temples near my university, it was insane.

I'm not a very good tourist because I didn't really do much in the way of momiji hunting. But I do want to share the places I did go. It's really quite beautiful here in the fall, so I can totally understand why so many people come :)

At Toufukuji/東福寺, apparently a nationally famous shrine for momiji.

At Fushimi Inari Taisha/伏見稲荷大社

At Kitano Tenmangu/北野天満宮, the same shrine as the first picture above.

Fourth post! Nagoya!! 名古屋!!!

I've done a lot since my last post- gone to Nagoya to visit a friend, gone to Osaka a few times, wrote exams, been a tourist here in Kyoto, had family visit, etc etc...

Nagoya was so much fun! If you don't already know, I spent a year in high school (2004-05) living in Konan city, about twenty minutes outside of Nagoya, near the border with Gifu prefecture. I didn't make it to visit Konan this time, though. We spent a lot of time, the other exchange students with Rotary and I, in Nagoya on the weekends, generally shopping and going to karaoke and concerts and having fun and speaking English...

Going back after more than four years (five since I lived there; I went back for a visit in 2006) was a strange experience. It hasn't changed; everything is pretty much the same. But my memories aren't as sharp and it was almost surreal to be somewhere I knew so well but had been relegated to a fond memory.

I ended up taking the bullet train from Kyoto; it only took around 45 minutes, which was awesome. I planned to meet Allison in Sakae, so I wandered around mei-eki (Nagoya station- in Japanese, Nagoya is 名古屋. The first character, 名/"na", can also be read "mei" and station in Japanese is 駅, "eki," thus "mei-eki".) which hasn't changed but it's a lot more confusing when you haven't been there in so long!

Nana-chan, near mei-eki. Often dressed to celebrate/mark various things, such as the Dragons winning, or in this case, child abuse prevention (Orange ribbon campaign).

Meeting Allison again after so long was awesome :D We were very close when we both last lived in Japan, but we've both changed. But we still had a great weekend, just like old times! Also the first time we'd been in Nagoya for the whole weekend- it was usually just one day. Nagoya isn't really the most exciting city in Japan, but we hit up most of our old spots, like the fountain in the park, shopping in Sakae, Osu (ELL! Trying to find the curry restaurant! ) and of course karaoke :)

In front of the fountain! So many memories!

I kind of knew that I would fail at keeping a regular update... But almost two months later is a little ridiculous. I also don't know what to talk about- been there done that...?

The countdown's on. I have seven days of class left (of my bachelor's degree!) and a month and a half until I go back to Canada. I'm not ready to think about this being over, I'm really not. Everyone's starting to talk about departure dates and life back "home," wherever that is. I don't want everyone to go/stay, either way I won't see these people every day ever again...