whirlwinded

japan is amazing. a week in japan is like diving into cold water on a hot day and then realizing you have no idea what the hell is going on down there but its really comfortable, safe, organized and the fish is raw and looks delicious... when you get out you feel refreshed and healthy. well, something like that.. except youre on 200 mph trains, walking through ancient buddhist temples, watching big naked men 'respectfully' bash each other and getting lost in the subway stations... and some other stuff documented in the photos that follow

this is a huge bell next to the largest wooden building in the world that was the center of the greatest kingdom in japan, the city of nara, and the site of the biggest buddha in the world...

thats the buddha... and some statue

went to a sumo practice... these guys beat the hell out of each other. everything happens so fast.. all of a sudden one guy is hanging his head in shame and the others are bowing at the winner

the homeless guys in japan are usually really well educated and have all their equipment, including tent and stove, on their bicycles.. they look like me and ed normally do when traveling..
these are tuna.. not just regular tuna but 300 lbs, 10,000 dollar frozen tuna auctioned off each morning in tokyo
this is tyler. he likes sake and kanji

thats our hitchhiking sign and our driver. i like kanji too
tyler with one of the little toy trucks. everything is mini.. the construction vehicles, garbage trucks, fire trucks... its nothing short of hilarious
one of the displays outside a restaurant... many restaurants display what it is they have to offer in their windows.. thats quite an offeringyeah... thats rediculous

hard to see but its the inside of a buddhist shrine... hundreds of candles light up the ceiling. the energy of this place is something i will never be able to describe here..
.. and the energy here. japanese gardens really do make you feel refreshed and at peace

i bet you can guess

the busiest intersection in the world... 30 seconds of chaos every few minutes

thats himeji castle. one of the largest castles in all of japan. all wood and historically filled with many samuri.. i couldnt find any though
thats a big bridge of vines... well done japanese engineers

another castle.. the japanese love to light things up at night..oh so colorful
this train travels at over 200 mph...
thats the driveway of someones house
guardian of the buddha

if you get through a little hole at the base of this pillar which signifies buddhas nostril, you may reach enlightenment... i got stuck.. psht.. that enlightenment stuff will have to wait