Hagi is famous as a Samurai town. There is an old Samurai village and museum where you can usually find little tour groups from around Japan exploring. I often see a Samurai, dressed up to entertain the visitors, walking his dog around town- still doning his robe and sword. In celebration of its Samurai heritage […]
Our Japanese friend invited us to a traditional tea ceremony at her house. Tea ceremonies are heaped in tradition with all sorts of nuances and rituals. For instance- the drinker must rotate their cup so as not to drink from the front, the server must take a specific number of steps when serving the tea […]
At Shinto Shrines there are machines at which you pay 100 yen for a little piece of paper telling your fortune- a wish vending machine. It is then traditional to attach it to trees around the temple. I have featured this on my blog before (here and here), but always seem to find a new […]
snow monkey photography 