Mom and I in front of Himeji castle. Two really nice Japanese women offerred to take a shot for us because we took one for them. Kind, eh? Sometimes foreigners are treated really well... It was lovely, though, with all the fall colours. Himeji was surrounded by reds, yellows, and greens. They seem to lack fire orange.


Looking down into Himeji, toward Himeji station. There were some great views once you got up into the castle. I hope to bring Emily up there one day, since it's such a great spot to take photographs, of the castle, the city, or even of the very closely laid out Koko-en gardens.


Inside the castle, here is mom standing on one of the beautiful hardwood floors. In Japan, you can't wear shoes inside. You have to remove your outdoor shoes, carry them around in a plastic bag. You get to wear these dorky slippers, that are clearly for one purpose only. To kill you. In Himeji castle, there are about 6 or 7 floors, and the steps in these slippers that are barely managed to stay on. Grippy socks would have been preferable. Hindsight IS 20/20!


Mom in front a lovely view of Himeji. This shot is taken from the courtyard sort of area, directly in front of Himaji Castle. This area is supposed to be lovely during cherry blossom time.


This is the famous and beautiful Himeji Castle. I actually don't know much about the history of the thing, but it was breathtaking all the same. Huge, too.


Mom wanted me to take this shot, of the crooked rooves of Himeji Castle leading out in the city, and then into the hills. It's actually quite pretty. Tiled rooves are the norm here, as they get rain, and not snow like at home, and the water runs off these quite beautifully. Rain season is May or June...


Tunnel area, or sort of, underground gate, at Himeji Castle... I didn't feel like climbing to take the photo, because it wasn't the way we had chosen to go... Call me lazy if you must.


Lily's stylish maroon and pink puma and... a big-assed bug of some sort. Couldn't resist documenting it, creeping thing that it is. I hear that these are rampant in summertime, and that the cicadas start their annoying singing at 5am or something equally wicked.


This is a really odd-looking plant we saw on the walk down from Himeji Castle. I truthfully am not what it is, mom and I were debating whether it was real or not, but there appeared to be a pot of dirt behind the wooden part, so my guess is yay.



Marking this as the correct day, when mom and I visted Himeji. Sunday, November 27, 2005.