Sakura, sakura, sakura

Seeing the sakura lit up at night time at Himeji Castle was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. On more than one occasion I collided with an oncoming passerbyer as I was staring up at the trees. My shaky hands and dodgy camera don't really capture the niceness of it all.

Kyoto and sakura

It's been very cold these past few days and I've been stacking on the layers to try and stay warm. My first weekend in Japan was spent at a dinner party in Himeji, visiting shrines in Kyoto, a stop off in Namba in Osaka and finally, my first Hanami (cherry blossom viewing party) under the sakura. Although this involved more sipping sake and eating food than looking up at the trees. I've been trying to cram in as many parks as possible while the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Kyoto was completely covered in the white snow of the blossoms. It was incredibly busy as it was the weekend and school holidays. Nevertheless, I'll be back.

Ridiculous.

Tom's bread/icecream combo.

The ever-endearing Kinkaku Rokuon-ji zen Buddhist temple.

One day last week, Sawoka - who is a country western singer and volunteers on many organising committees - took myself and another girl out to see Takasago by car. I really liked our transportation.

We stopped for lunch at sushi train where all the plates were 100yen (or, about $1). So cheap, so fresh and so very, very delicious.

A view from one of Takasago's temples. My apartment is just off the right of the photo.

After returning home from Kyoto on Saturday I stopped off at Osaka to take a quick look around. I met up with a friend who took me to his friend's art studio in some crevass of Osaka. By midnight we'd made our way over to Namba. Rain hung in the air, there were people everywhere and advertisements flashed in my face. I stood for a very long time watching stories unfold as people crossed the bridge. Ah, Japan.

Hello from Japan

Oh Japan. Little, wonderful, magical Japan. Although I haven't seen much yet - bouncing between paperwork and formalities - these past few days have been wonderful (albeit a little strange). I stepped straight off the plane and straight onto my ¥18,000 bicycle.

I opted for no gears - and although Takasago is flat i feel as though I will come to regret this decision.

This is my little apartment - otherwise known as 2LDK (the Japanese abbreviation for a two-bedroom apartment with a living room, dining room, and kitchen).

I quickly unpacked and spent many hours trying to set up internet, a phone and bank account. All arduous tasks when you don't know any of the language. So far, I've taken several bike rides around Takasago, visiting many beautiful temples and shrines. In the front/back/side of every house are bonsai trees. I love them. It's horticulture, art and philosophy all in the form of a carefully pruned tree.

I'm lucky to have arrived in spring, and that means cherry blossoms (sakura) season. The sakura usher in a new season, along with a new school and fiscal year. While Japan is highly industrialised, it is also very in touch with nature. And this means where there is concrete, there is always a potted plant.