10:48:47 Today and tomorrow we were going on a coach tour of an area on the North coast of Japan. On the way, we passed through some snowy areas, and I couldn't help but take a few pictures through the coach window.
10:49:32 A snowy forest.
12:19:51 Here we are in Matsue, our first stop on the tour.
12:45:19 Our first port of call in Matsue was Gesshoji temple. This seemed to be a series of these burial areas.
12:45:38 The Moriwakis on a bridge.
12:47:03 A close up of one of the burial monuments.
12:49:21 It reminded for some reason of an Aztec temple, found in the middle of the jungle found after months of exploration. In reality, we'd taken the bus.
12:50:23 There were lots of these torii (gates) about.
12:50:45 Some carved wooden dragons on one of the gates.
12:52:46 Erm, a stone.
12:54:59 More gates and things.
12:55:26 ...and again... Are you beginning to see a pattern emmerging?
12:56:57 This time there's a tree as well.
12:58:09 More of the same.
12:59:04 There were lots of these lanterns in rows. They must look pretty impressive when they're all lit up.
13:01:32 Another torii.
13:05:02 My favourite bit - a bit stone turtle with a stone on his back. It reminded me of Terry Pratchett novels.
13:05:33 Camesan (honourable turtle) up close.
13:06:15 Something weird happened to the camera here, making Yuka's coat shine in a mysterious way...
13:07:11 Kanasan, Chiesan and Camesan.
13:08:30 The other side of the turtle.
13:08:48 One last view of the turtle before moving on...
13:09:11 A carving on the gate leading to the bit were the turtle was.
13:13:57 Zen gardening in action.
13:14:31 You can't get enough zen gardens.
14:25:34 After the spiritual dimension of the temple, it was time for wholly different type of spiritual dimension, and we popped into this very nice sake gura (distillery). After sampling about nine different varieties and getting quite tipsy, I made a purchase.
15:08:27 The outer walls of Matsue castle.
15:15:20 I found the "We have none upstairs" part of this sign oddly appealing...
15:16:24 Chie emmerging from one of the outlying buildings of Matsue castle.
15:24:56 Chie took an "arty" picture of me banging some drums.
15:25:07 Me banging the drums, a bit spoilt by having forgot to turn off the wide range setting thingy.
15:34:52 The inner bit of the castle, which we didn't have time to visit.
15:35:10 Apparently there's a saying in this part of Japan, along the lines of "Even if you forget your lunchbox, make sure you don't forget your umbrella". Wise words indeed.
16:09:20 In the Ryokan, we were going to be staying in this evening.
16:20:15 Me sitting on the floor, but otherwise not looking very Japanese.
16:40:06 Me wearing a Yukata in readiness to go to the onsen (hotspring), although in actual fact I didn't go there until much later on in the evening.
16:40:13 As before, but not blurred.
16:40:37 Chie's Dad looking a bit neater than me in his Yukata.
16:40:49 Chie, not yet changed into her Yukata.
21:15:44 A picture you almost certainly didn't want to see. Understandably, cameras aren't allowed in the onsen itself, so the nearest I could manage was me in the bath in our room. The hot water was from the onsen though, so it was almost as good. Note the very nice sake, purchased earlier in Matsue.
22:18:25 The Moriwaki females. I was quite drunk by this point, so am fairly impressed I could hold the camera straight.
22:18:32 ...and again.
22:21:43 May have been taken by accident.
23:40:51 Taken just after I finally went to the actual Onsen itself. Not sure why they're all hiding their faces here. I hope I was respectably clothed.
23:41:21 Yuka may be hiding behind a pot of Nakano Styling Wax here.
23:41:27 ...more of the same...
23:56:53 Drunkenness may have been a factor in the quantity and poor qaulity of photos taken here.
23:57:30 Chie, probably hoping I'll pass out sometime soon.
23:59:40 Put the bloody camera away!
23:59:47 I do look pretty rough, I think I did pass out shortly after this.