As I mentioned the other day, we visited the Nanzen Temple, and on the way, stopped by to see the area where I took the Vine and Bamboo pictures that I posted last fall. It seems that the vine had come back to life, so this is the summer version of the picture.

Just like last time, I've included links to desktop-background versions in various sizes, both widescreen and standard.

The vine emerges from behind the fence in its middle, with the part growing above the center apparently new growth. I find it mildly interesting that the new growth would [...]

So, yesterday's post left off with a photo from the stairs looking at the dining platforms over the upper river. The stairs were those going down to the lower "noodle platforms" (where the noodle part of the lunch is to be eaten), and so here's a view from the same position, looking down at them.

Here's more of a zoom. Notice the trough-like thing in front of the counter Aunt Jeannette is sitting on?

That trough-like thing is really a flume in which water -- and occasionally soumen noodles -- flow. You sit in front of the flume, watching for [...]

When Aunt Jeanette was in town two weeks ago, we headed up to Kibune to enjoy the drive, and to have lunch at Hirobun, an inn with a nice restaurant that overlooks the river. However, when we arrived, it turned out that the restaurant was serving lunch over the river.

We were on the middle of three straw-mat-covered platforms, at what would have to have been the best seats in the house (so to speak). Next to us was a six-foot waterfall just far enough away not to get us wet. As if the breeze from the river wasn't enough [...]

Taking a pause from mossy temple pictures for a moment, I'll return to our trip to Hokkaido (northern-most island in Japan) last month, and the picturesque countryside of Biei. (Previous posts on Biei: one, two, three).

More random shots from the mostly-overcast days of our visit....

I wasn't the only one to enjoy the views...