Fushimi Inari

On Saturday the girls, and John, went to the Yukata party thing and all I wanted was to sleep in and do nothing all day. So that's what I did. Saturday was the first completely lazy day I've had in Japan.. didn't go anywhere, didn't do anything, and my host parents didn't feel the need to bring me someplace.

On Sunday the gang decided to go to Fushimi Inari. It is a series of Shinto shrines and tori gates all over a mountain. The main temple sits at the base of the mountain and then you follow a path or two to the top, stopping at shrines along the way. The kistune or fox guardians, one biting a scroll and one biting a jewel (officially dubbed the Shikon Jewel-thank you Inuyasha), are the guardians of Inari, who is a human/er.. shinto god person. The climb was only bad in a few areas where the steps were steep, but the view is totally worth it. We brought lunch so we had a picnic near the top. And I also want to say that I officially LOVE Japanese woods. They are so completely different than woods I am used to back home. Trees are taller, skinnier, more moss on the ground, and the bugs don't sound as annoying. Very pretty day. Pics are coming soon to facebook.