Rain gear and game face on, I prepare to head to the Kansai region.
Rain gear and game face on, I prepare to head to the Kansai region.
Kevin leads us to the hotel. I'm glad it only rained the one day.
Kevin leads us to the hotel. I'm glad it only rained the one day.
This picture looks like a lot of Japan. A pretty canal next to the machinery of the city next to an ancient shrine.
This picture looks like a lot of Japan. A pretty canal next to the machinery of the city next to an ancient shrine.
An ancient shrine we wandered into.
An ancient shrine we wandered into.
Gabe poses amongst some early cherry blossoms.
Gabe poses amongst some early cherry blossoms.
The entrance of the Fushimi Inari Shrine, and Gabe's blasted umbrella ruining my photography.
The entrance of the Fushimi Inari Shrine, and Gabe's blasted umbrella ruining my photography.
I liked this shrine because it was all about foxes! (Kitsune!)
I liked this shrine because it was all about foxes! (Kitsune!)
A fox holds the key to my heart in his mouth.
A fox holds the key to my heart in his mouth.
A thousand paper cranes. Well, I didn't count them all. But they were purdy.
A thousand paper cranes. Well, I didn't count them all. But they were purdy.
A woman prays that the scary white girl will stop taking pictures of her.
A woman prays that the scary white girl will stop taking pictures of her.
Kevin the Cold Unabomber appreciates the ancient shrines.
Kevin the Cold Unabomber appreciates the ancient shrines.
Gabe poses between prayers with Jamie the Chimney Sweep. Jeez, I'm a jerk to my friends.
Gabe poses between prayers with Jamie the Chimney Sweep. Jeez, I'm a jerk to my friends.
The entrance of the 10,000 gates.
The entrance of the 10,000 gates.
This picture is decieving. The gates are close together, but you can still see the forest out the sides. And you can still get rained on!
This picture is decieving. The gates are close together, but you can still see the forest out the sides. And you can still get rained on!
We chose the path to the right, unlike Chumpy McBlueSweater.
We chose the path to the right, unlike Chumpy McBlueSweater.
Every hundred gates or so, you can stop to purchase fox-related trinkets!
Every hundred gates or so, you can stop to purchase fox-related trinkets!
Gabe buys one and draws a fierce-looking Kitsune to watch over us.
Gabe buys one and draws a fierce-looking Kitsune to watch over us.
The sign says to lift one of these rocks, and if it doesn't feel heavy, your dreams will come true.
The sign says to lift one of these rocks, and if it doesn't feel heavy, your dreams will come true.
Gabe looks confident in his every whim.
Gabe looks confident in his every whim.
Prepare for Rock Challenge!
Prepare for Rock Challenge!
Oh, I look calm, but it was pretty heavy. Maybe half my dreams will come true.
Oh, I look calm, but it was pretty heavy. Maybe half my dreams will come true.
If you look really close in the upper-left-hand side, you can see a huge mystical fox leaping over the gates. We did not see this fox in real life.
If you look really close in the upper-left-hand side, you can see a huge mystical fox leaping over the gates. We did not see this fox in real life.
A side view of the winding gate path.
A side view of the winding gate path.
Tiny shrine village.
Tiny shrine village.
A peaceful lake at the top of a steep hike.
A peaceful lake at the top of a steep hike.
I think these are family names and dates written on each gate.
I think these are family names and dates written on each gate.
I stumble upon a friendly shrine cat.
I stumble upon a friendly shrine cat.
Famished, the four of us visit the American Embassy.
Famished, the four of us visit the American Embassy.
And deface the placemats like 12-year-olds. (The woman in the top middle is my impression of Jamie!)
And deface the placemats like 12-year-olds. (The woman in the top middle is my impression of Jamie!)
Since basically all vacations revolve around eating, we fast forward to dinner.
Since basically all vacations revolve around eating, we fast forward to dinner.
We prepare to eat my new favorite food -- Okonomiyaki! (Vegetable Pancakes!)
We prepare to eat my new favorite food -- Okonomiyaki! (Vegetable Pancakes!)
The chefs pancaking it up. Too bad we're just going to slather it in hot BBQ sauce and mayonnaise. Psh, don't look at me! It's Japan's idea!
The chefs pancaking it up. Too bad we're just going to slather it in hot BBQ sauce and mayonnaise. Psh, don't look at me! It's Japan's idea!
Kyoto Tower. If we ever got separated from Gabe, we were supposed to find him underneath this, waiting for us, tears running down his face.
Kyoto Tower. If we ever got separated from Gabe, we were supposed to find him underneath this, waiting for us, tears running down his face.
Japan is sometimes like Where's Waldo? Except instead of Waldo, it's Where's the Grandma With Purple Hair. Can you find her?
Japan is sometimes like Where's Waldo? Except instead of Waldo, it's Where's the Grandma With Purple Hair. Can you find her?
Aboard the crowded bus to Kiyomizu Temple.
Aboard the crowded bus to Kiyomizu Temple.
I look like Punk Rock Jamie's overly-eager roadie. She wanted a brandy glass full of a thousand brown M&Ms, so I had to beat a shopkeep and his son with their own shoes. But that's a different story altogether.
I look like Punk Rock Jamie's overly-eager roadie. She wanted a brandy glass full of a thousand brown M&Ms, so I had to beat a shopkeep and his son with their own shoes. But that's a different story altogether.
Kiyomizu Temple in the distance.
Kiyomizu Temple in the distance.
Oh, by the way, I curled up in a ball on the night bus here, and somehow pulled my hamstring. Whee! Stairs are fun!
Oh, by the way, I curled up in a ball on the night bus here, and somehow pulled my hamstring. Whee! Stairs are fun!
At the entrance of the temple. Everyone but me in the picture. :( I'm such a mom.
At the entrance of the temple. Everyone but me in the picture. :( I'm such a mom.
Gabe and I illustrate friendship, while I offend Buddha with my nonsensical Engrish t-shirt.
Gabe and I illustrate friendship, while I offend Buddha with my nonsensical Engrish t-shirt.
The view of the valley below.
The view of the valley below.
Gabe illustrates that it's okay to wash your hands in dragon spit. Who would have thought?
Gabe illustrates that it's okay to wash your hands in dragon spit. Who would have thought?