Josh's last night in Japan

Shimonoseki, the musical. Josh and I found it by accident while walking home past Akama shrine. We missed the beginning, so I'm not sure that this is the most interesting clip, but you get the idea. I believe this part shows the female relatives of the child emperor Antoku coming to pray after his ship sinks in Kanmon Straight. It plays again in October, I think, if anyone wants to go.








Josh's signature waffles. :)

Oura Church Music

These are some gospel singers we found in Oura Church, one of Nagasaki's most famous Catholic churches... ;) Enjoy!

Monkey Talk

The macaques of Yakushima (Yakuzaru) having a little conversation.

Golden Week!!

So I've finally uploaded my pictures from my Golden Week vacation (April 28-May 9). We went to Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Yakushima. The posts start from lower down and go bottom to top (Nagasaki, where we started, is lower down the page; Kagoshima, where we ended, is at the top). It was an awesome trip!

Last Night on Yakushima

Mmmm...bbq corn and nasu




The train after arriving in Kokura

Yakushima: Climbing Mt. Miyanoura

Dinner the night before the climb

Camping in the parking lot so we could get an early (6 am!!) start

The route
Mt. Miyanoura is the island's highest peak, at 1936 metres above sea level.










The scenery near the top of the island is very different from the rainforests lower down. Near the top there are huge granite rocks everywhere sticking out of short shrub-like bamboo and wild rhododendron bushes.




The shrine at the summit

Yakushima: Rain and Wildlife

Yakushima!

Early morning view of Sakurajima, Kagoshima's active volcano, from the ferry port




The cute little rental car
Driving was slightly scary because #1 the roads are VERY narrow and curvy and there are deer and monkeys all over the place #2 I've never driven on the left and #3 I haven't driven for the past 9 months... but if you're heading to Yakushima I would recommend a car unless you want to do organized tour bus type stuff. Would have been a bit hard to get places using just public transport. The car company met us at the ferry terminal and also rented camping gear, which was in the car when we arrived.


One of Yakushima's specialties, flying fish


Sunset on the first night

Climbing Mt. Aso

Sulfur for sale



Naka Dake

Kumamoto

ferry from Nagasaki to Kumamoto




Kumamoto City




Kumamoto Castle

Nagasaki part 3: Peace Park and Christian martyrs

Peace Park:







Fukusai-ji Temple, which features the Goddess Kannon riding on the turtle-shaped temple. Definitely one of the more interesting temples I've seen in Japan.


Site of the martyrdom of 26 saints