A Welcome Counterpoint to Tokyo

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Nikko- the home of the shrine of Tokugawa Ieyasu and his descendents after he claimed divinity to deepen his power in Japan

Train ride through beautiful mountains-our first glimpse of rice paddies and true Asiatic peaks

Onsens-divine hot springs and making broken Japanese conversation with charmingly friendly locals during soaks

Shrines and shrines and shrines

Lake Chuzenji

Hiking up a bamboo-laced mountain to have o-nigiri in an alpine botanical garden above the lake

Riding a bus through crazy switchbacks (Automated announcement: “The bus will soon begin to sway. Please hang onto your children.”)

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Photos

studying Thai on the train
veeery studious

the see no evil hear no evil speak no evil originals
Rather Mona Lisa-esque in actuality. not that spectacular.