They're paying me to do this!
Last week, students from Frisco, Colorado visited and stayed in Nishikawa for about a week. The two towns are sister towns in whch they alternate years visiting each other as part of an international exchange program. I spent most of last week visiting the schools with them acting as thier interpreter. It was pretty amusing actually because I'd always get people from both sides running up to me to have something translated for a conversation. Apparently my Japanese is good enough for both sides to trust me. There was an elderly couple that came with the group to also help translate. They've been living in Japan for quite some time now and have studied Japanese since before I was born. I got a kick out of it. Anyways, I went sightseeing last Wednesday with the visiting students. On our way to the first stop, we made a brief pit stop in the middle of the mountains. I haven't put up pictures of food for a while so here's a nice little BBQ stand.
Go ahead, shake your fist in jealousy. Muhuhahaha!
I also took a picture of some mountain mushrooms that they were selling for ￥13,000(equivalent to about $130)!!! If you want to see, just let me know and I'll send you the picture. So after the brief stop, we headed off to 羽黒山(Hagurosan or Mt. Hagurosan). Upon arrival, I learned that we were going to be climbing a lengthy amount of stairs for about an hour before we reached the temple/shrine grounds. Whoa, wait a second. How can you climb stairs for an hour? Well, if there are exactly 2,446 steps of stairs, then it would take about an hour.
Here's a what it looks like, for like an hour too.
Along the way, we reached a five storied pagoda considered to be a historical monument. The really interesting fact about this pagoda is that there is no nails used to connect it whatsoever.
Notice the person on the bottom. Gives you an idea how huge this pagoda is.
Then climbed more stairs. Did I say that there was about 2,446 steps? =P
Another thing about the steps on the trail, besides there being 2,446 steps, is that there are a set of 200 Kanji/Carvings spread throughout the trail. It is said that if you see all 200 of them, you will go to heaven. Who knew it would be that easy. By the way, I only saw like less than ten. Also, their was a small temple dedicated to finding a mate. Here, people would tie red ribbons in hopes that one would come along in the near future.
Of course I stopped and prayed at the temple.
So after the long trek of stairs, we reached the holy ground where we ate our bentou and looked around at all the cool stuff. There was a HUGE temple, a statue of a god in the form of a three-legged crow, a HUGE bell, and some small houses that belonged to the guards back in the day. Oh yeah, the food was delicious as always. Also, tried some grasshoppers.
It tastes like fruity beef jerky, with a little crunch to it.
Man I miss fried chicken and pizza.
More to come soon.
Go ahead, shake your fist in jealousy. Muhuhahaha!
I also took a picture of some mountain mushrooms that they were selling for ￥13,000(equivalent to about $130)!!! If you want to see, just let me know and I'll send you the picture. So after the brief stop, we headed off to 羽黒山(Hagurosan or Mt. Hagurosan). Upon arrival, I learned that we were going to be climbing a lengthy amount of stairs for about an hour before we reached the temple/shrine grounds. Whoa, wait a second. How can you climb stairs for an hour? Well, if there are exactly 2,446 steps of stairs, then it would take about an hour.
Here's a what it looks like, for like an hour too.
Along the way, we reached a five storied pagoda considered to be a historical monument. The really interesting fact about this pagoda is that there is no nails used to connect it whatsoever.
Notice the person on the bottom. Gives you an idea how huge this pagoda is.
Then climbed more stairs. Did I say that there was about 2,446 steps? =P
Another thing about the steps on the trail, besides there being 2,446 steps, is that there are a set of 200 Kanji/Carvings spread throughout the trail. It is said that if you see all 200 of them, you will go to heaven. Who knew it would be that easy. By the way, I only saw like less than ten. Also, their was a small temple dedicated to finding a mate. Here, people would tie red ribbons in hopes that one would come along in the near future.
Of course I stopped and prayed at the temple.
So after the long trek of stairs, we reached the holy ground where we ate our bentou and looked around at all the cool stuff. There was a HUGE temple, a statue of a god in the form of a three-legged crow, a HUGE bell, and some small houses that belonged to the guards back in the day. Oh yeah, the food was delicious as always. Also, tried some grasshoppers.
It tastes like fruity beef jerky, with a little crunch to it.
Man I miss fried chicken and pizza.
More to come soon.