Calling All Book Nerds
If you are a book nerd (and you know who you are) or you are in need of a gift idea for a book nerd, check out the list of books I’ve read so far on the trip for some ideas. I’ve read 44 so far and am in the middle of the 45th!
The Precipice of Koyo
Like watching cherry blossoms in the spring, viewing koyo – autumn foliage – is a national pastime in Japan in the fall. The weather person reports on the best koyo, and websites track the progress all over the country. Without going way north, we were there just a tad too early (the last week of September through the third week in October). The weather grew from warm to cool while we were there, and everything felt like it was on the verge of turning to full blown fall, but the elusive koyo failed to materialize. Meanwhile, all around us were advertisements for the best koyo spots, showing the landscapes ablaze in firey reds and oranges. I kept my eye out wherever we went. We managed to spot a few places where the leaves had turned, but nothing like the posters.
In the mountains near Takayama
In the Japanese gardens, everything felt like it was on the precipice of fall, but not quite there yet.
It was comforting to be somewhere where the season aligned with the season at home. Not that I’d want to trade places on the basis of weather now!
Raise your paw high
Some places are dog places, other are cat places. Japan seemed to be a cat place. Cats popped up in the most unexpected places in Japan:
On the side of the river in Tokyo
High up in the hills at the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto
In the middle of volcanic steam on a mountain in Hakone
And, as you’ve already seen, but worthy of a repeat…
Dressed up for Halloween on a busy street in Tokyo
The Japanese believe that a cat with its paw raised high in the air brings them good fortune and money. All over Japan, we saw cats in front of stores with their paws moving up and down over and over.
Not buying one of these cats with mechanical paws is one of my few regrets of this trip.
As further evidence, I present to you this poster depicting a painting by a Japanese artist in Ueno Park:
And of course, there’s the whole Hello Kitty obsession.
Then again, maybe the Japanese are dog people after all.
Dog with a girly bow leash in Nikko
Dog walking on its hind legs down a street in Arashimya
Dogs in a stroller in Ueno Park who probably never have to walk themselves anywhere