...and so we reach the end

Today was a beautiful day, full of beautiful things. We woke up this morning, enjoyed some more of those great bagels (blueberry with blueberry cream cheese, just in-case you were wondering), and headed off to the Imperial Palace and Ueno park to enjoy the cherry blossoms.

First on our list was the palace, which only allowed you to enter the outer garden and walls due to the fact that it is still in use.  There weren't a whole of interesting things but it was cool to see the moat and walls.  Oh, there were also a group of people practicing kendo behind a wall.  It was sad that we couldn't really see them because it sounded truly interesting. 

After our tour of the palace we headed off to Ueno.  Although the park was so full you could have swore they were giving out free money, it was still rather enjoyable.  The cherry blossoms were in full bloom and lined the streets of the mile of walkways leading through the park.  As usual there were large groups of people consuming alcohol and partying it up, which led to some interesting people watching.

Gundam Wins!

Last nigh my Gundam beat out the internet. Sure, I could have got online and wrote a little something or two, but we had been shopping and I bought a few different Gundam models, one of which was the green guy you see to the left.

For those who don't know, Gundam models are essentially the same as building your own action figure.  Seeing all over Japan you will see old men, young women, children and teens alike, toiling away to make these robots, I take no shame in being too addicted to take the time to write. Besides - Josh was doing it too.

A Castle's Castle

Today was an awesome day.  See that picture to the left (or, "right," for you dyslexic folks out there).  That my friends is one of the only remaining original castles in Japan and boy is it a cool one.

As has been the routine for a few days now, we woke up nice and early to catch a ride on the Shinkansen, although this time was for a much farther trip to the town of Himeiji.

With four hours of on-and-off sleep we felt pretty rested despite having left the house a little after 6:00 in the AM.  Right from the platform we were greeted to a lovely model of the castle and a large yellow sign leading pointing us on our way.

Winding through a series of catacombing shops we popped onto the ground level with the castle in plain sight on the horizon.  It's amazing that even in the modern day, with skyscrapers throughout the city, how the castle can still manage to loom over everything.

The walk would have taken us around 15 minutes but having skipped a true breakfast we were all hungry.  Much to our surprise though there were few food outlets and even the ones we could find weren't open until after 2:00 in the afternoon.  Out of luck we stooped to the level of McDonalds, where I enjoyed a thoroughly gross Big Mac.

With food in stomach, and a herd of people in front of us, we made our way to the castle entrance.  As with all things in Japanese the motto I have given them rang true once again, "We build lines - you stand in them." 

Approximately one hour of line standing led us into the series of chokepoints leading into the inner castle.  Although the castle had never been attacked during it's active life, I can only imagine there would have been a blood bath for the apposing forces. 

Staggered along the way were multiple towers and openings for gun and arrow fire.  Secret holes for warriors to hide in lined the walls.  Boiling pots of water would have been poured over gates on to forces.  Spears thrust into men's sides as they climbed through gates.  Maybe the best defense isn't a good offense after all.

Inside of the main tower were six floors, each with a different pourpose.  Some were for storage of weapons, while others were for storage of food.  The sixth and final floor was closed to the public, but it was said to have gold plating.  I can only imagine that it was used for a last hiding spot if for the local ruler.

With every inch of the building you could feel as if you were walking through living history.  You could imagine the the arrows flying as you picked off invading forces.  You could see the rice patty being tended beyond the middle wall.  All together, the history, the beauty and the mystery, made today and awesome day.

 To see today's pictures - click here.