I've been all over Honshu lately!

Kyoto was fantastic, I am definitely getting my money's worth by doing IES Abroad. It's a sweet deal. We made hand-painted fans, saw Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu-dera, Nijo-jo Castle, and the bamboo forest at Arashiyama. We also got to speak to a Meiko and Geiko (Japanese words for apprentice geisha and geisha) and ride in a rickshaw around Arashiyama. Pretty stereotypical Kyoto experience, which of course is still fantastic.

Then my okaasan took me to Kouranke to see the leaves turn for fall (this is called kouyou). My god was it gorgeous. We ate mochi, drank matcha, and basically just enjoyed the gorgeous fall weather.

Nagano is just a fantastically beautiful place. We went to temples and shrines, I got to dip my feet in a foot-hot spring,then went to my friend's host family's friends (quite far removed) second home right outside the Japanese Alps. There, we had a Japanese-style barbecue (a grate inside a big wood table) and talked late. The next day, we went out walking, then drove to Magome, where there are some of the best views.Nagano reminds me a lot of Western Colorado, but different plants.

I'm never disappointed with Japan, it's basically a festival wherever you go during the fall season!