Takeda Castle Ruins

♫ ♪ The King of Carrot Flowers, Pt. 1 - Neutral Milk Hotel

It was about a 45-minute hike to get to the top. I should have worn hiking boots or something but I didn't know there would be a hike...actually I don't even own hiking boots so I don't know why I said that. But anyway, it was beautiful, and also ridiculously hot. One of my favorite things about Japan is how people use sun umbrellas, hence the umbrella in the first picture. It actually really does help!

Sunflowers

♫ ♪ Tous Les Garcons - Francoise Hardy

Massive sunflowers nearby Dad's apartment. :)

Joruri-ji Temple

♫ ♪ For Emma - Bon Iver

Possibly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been too. I'd love to visit in every season, so I can see it with fall colors, and also with winter snow! Can't believe my dad lives only 15 minutes from here...I never knew about this temple!

Rainy Weekend

♫ ♪ Rhythm of the Rain - The Cascades

Nara is beautiful in the rain! My dad's apartment is the best when it rains, it's so quiet, you can just leave the sliding doors open with the screens closed (for keeping out the huge bugs) and listen to the rain and the crickets and frogs outside. I watched one of my dad's many classic movies on DVD, Gone with the Wind (one of my all-time favorites...I'm also reading the book right now), and got a kick out of the Japanese subtitles. I would have turned them off had I known how to use the Japanese DVD player. I was just happy I at least knew where the "pause" and "play" buttons were on the remote. You must choose your battles here.   

Some More Sweet Things

♫ ♪ Stay - Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs

Flowers...Choco Pies...the usual. 

Foreboding Skies

♫ ♪ I Love a Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt

These kinds of skies make me excited. The last ones are pre-typhoon from two weeks ago, my first typhoon in Japan! Ikeda did not get as much rain as Nagoya, but lots of wind.