Akita (6/2-6/3)

People started to get tired of me taking their picture after awhile, but that didn't deter me. In this shot we are headed for the underground (and undersea) tunnel taking us away from Hokkai ...

2009-06-04T10:38:08Z

Heather Meadows
People started to get tired of me taking their picture after awhile, but that didn't deter me. In this shot we are headed for the underground (and undersea) tunnel taking us away from Hokkai ...

A view out of the train in northern Honshu.

2009-06-04T10:19:24Z

Heather Meadows
A view out of the train in northern Honshu.

We had something of a layover at this train station, brief though it was--time enough for a meal.

2009-06-02T07:02:43Z

Heather Meadows
We had something of a layover at this train station, brief though it was--time enough for a meal.

This is something you see in the winter months, or in northern Japan where it's cooler: hot food from a vending machine. You picked what you wanted and the machine would cook it for you in ...

2009-06-04T10:26:27Z

Heather Meadows
This is something you see in the winter months, or in northern Japan where it's cooler: hot food from a vending machine. You picked what you wanted and the machine would cook it for you in ...

A shot of the miraculous hot food machine.

2009-02-22T13:13:01Z

Heather Meadows
A shot of the miraculous hot food machine.

Inside the Doraemon train.

2009-06-04T10:30:29Z

Heather Meadows
Inside the Doraemon train.

Heather Meadows' photo

2009-06-02T06:56:05Z

Heather Meadows

I wish I knew what mountain this is. (A commenter tells me it's Iwaki-san in Aomori Prefecture!)

2009-06-02T06:57:02Z

Heather Meadows
I wish I knew what mountain this is. (A commenter tells me it's Iwaki-san in Aomori Prefecture!)

Heather Meadows' photo

2009-06-02T06:53:14Z

Heather Meadows

I wish I knew what mountain this is.

2009-06-04T10:31:08Z

Heather Meadows
I wish I knew what mountain this is.

I wish I knew what mountain this is.

2009-06-04T10:23:07Z

Heather Meadows
I wish I knew what mountain this is.

I wish I knew what mountain this is.

2009-06-02T06:54:58Z

Heather Meadows
I wish I knew what mountain this is.

I wish I knew what mountain this is.

2009-06-04T10:20:51Z

Heather Meadows
I wish I knew what mountain this is.

Heather Meadows' photo

2009-06-04T10:38:54Z

Heather Meadows

Heather Meadows' photo

2009-06-02T07:01:35Z

Heather Meadows

Heather Meadows' photo

2009-06-04T10:24:44Z

Heather Meadows

Tea plants going up a hillside

2009-06-04T10:22:59Z

Heather Meadows
Tea plants going up a hillside

Heather Meadows' photo

2009-06-02T06:50:57Z

Heather Meadows

The lovely toilet on the train. Isn't it inviting?

2009-06-02T06:59:59Z

Heather Meadows
The lovely toilet on the train. Isn't it inviting?

Heather Meadows' photo

2009-06-04T10:21:54Z

Heather Meadows

Heather Meadows' photo

2009-06-02T06:48:59Z

Heather Meadows

Heather Meadows' photo

2009-06-04T10:30:34Z

Heather Meadows

Heather Meadows' photo

2009-02-22T13:11:03Z

Heather Meadows

My room at the Akita ryokan.

2009-06-02T06:50:37Z

Heather Meadows
My room at the Akita ryokan.

Another view of my room at the Akita ryokan.

2009-06-02T06:57:55Z

Heather Meadows
Another view of my room at the Akita ryokan.

Still another view of my room at the Akita ryokan.

2009-06-04T10:32:32Z

Heather Meadows
Still another view of my room at the Akita ryokan.

The guys' room at Kohama Ryokan.

2009-06-02T07:04:23Z

Heather Meadows
The guys' room at Kohama Ryokan.

Out front at the ryokan. Todd, Brandon, James, Jason, Justin, and Inoue-sensei.

2009-06-02T06:53:40Z

Heather Meadows
Out front at the ryokan. Todd, Brandon, James, Jason, Justin, and Inoue-sensei.

Todd, Brandon, James, and Jason.

2009-06-04T10:28:51Z

Heather Meadows
Todd, Brandon, James, and Jason.

Todd, Brandon, James, Jason, Justin, and Inoue-sensei.

2009-06-04T10:24:58Z

Heather Meadows
Todd, Brandon, James, Jason, Justin, and Inoue-sensei.

Todd walks through Akita.

2009-06-04T10:30:23Z

Heather Meadows
Todd walks through Akita.

Strolling through Akita

2009-06-04T10:30:56Z

Heather Meadows
Strolling through Akita

A canal in Akita.

2009-06-02T06:49:02Z

Heather Meadows
A canal in Akita.

A street in Akita. I've always loved these narrow streets. They seem to have so much character.

2009-06-02T07:01:57Z

Heather Meadows
A street in Akita. I've always loved these narrow streets. They seem to have so much character.

Dinner at a yakitoriya, where we sampled hot and cold sake. I liked the biting taste of the cold the best. While we came primarily for the sake, we also ate a lot.nikujagaika no shiokara (I ...

2009-06-04T10:28:26Z

Heather Meadows
Dinner at a yakitoriya, where we sampled hot and cold sake. I liked the biting taste of the cold the best. While we came primarily for the sake, we also ate a lot.nikujagaika no shiokara (I ...

The chef at the yakitoriya.

2009-02-22T13:17:23Z

Heather Meadows
The chef at the yakitoriya.

Another shot of the chef.

2009-06-02T07:04:20Z

Heather Meadows
Another shot of the chef.

Finally, some light was cast on the chef.

2009-06-04T10:23:02Z

Heather Meadows
Finally, some light was cast on the chef.

Night in Akita.

2009-06-02T06:48:44Z

Heather Meadows
Night in Akita.

Brandon, Todd, and James at the ryokan.

2009-02-22T13:17:21Z

Heather Meadows
Brandon, Todd, and James at the ryokan.

James, Todd, Inoue-sensei, Jason, and Justin having tea and smokes

2009-02-22T13:16:47Z

Heather Meadows
James, Todd, Inoue-sensei, Jason, and Justin having tea and smokes

Next morning, I picked up an obento at a combi, but the ladies at the ryokan insisted upon serving me this cool dish which I can only assume was some sort of stiff yogurt, or sweet tofu, or ...

2009-06-02T07:00:18Z

Heather Meadows
Next morning, I picked up an obento at a combi, but the ladies at the ryokan insisted upon serving me this cool dish which I can only assume was some sort of stiff yogurt, or sweet tofu, or ...

Heather Meadows' photo

2009-06-04T10:30:30Z

Heather Meadows

After breakfast, the ryokan's Mama-san dolled us up in traditional garb so we could take pictures. Originally I refused to post any of them...but...okay, I give. Here is one picture of me ...

2009-06-04T10:20:18Z

Heather Meadows
After breakfast, the ryokan's Mama-san dolled us up in traditional garb so we could take pictures. Originally I refused to post any of them...but...okay, I give. Here is one picture of me ...

The ryokan's Mama-san puts away the wig I was wearing.

2009-06-04T10:21:03Z

Heather Meadows
The ryokan's Mama-san puts away the wig I was wearing.

This vintage suit of armor sat in a glass case at the front entrance of the ryokan. (Akita)

2009-02-22T13:12:51Z

Heather Meadows
This vintage suit of armor sat in a glass case at the front entrance of the ryokan. (Akita)

This vintage suit of armor sat in a glass case at the front entrance of the ryokan. (Akita)

2009-06-04T10:22:08Z

Heather Meadows
This vintage suit of armor sat in a glass case at the front entrance of the ryokan. (Akita)

The ryokan ladies assist me with my linguistics project. (Akita)

2009-06-02T06:50:56Z

Heather Meadows
The ryokan ladies assist me with my linguistics project. (Akita)

The ryokan ladies assist me with my linguistics project. (Akita)

2009-02-22T13:17:15Z

Heather Meadows
The ryokan ladies assist me with my linguistics project. (Akita)

Time to go. The ryokan ladies pose for us one last time. (Akita)

2009-06-04T10:24:58Z

Heather Meadows
Time to go. The ryokan ladies pose for us one last time. (Akita)

Aren't we all, though? (Akita record shop)

2009-06-04T10:27:01Z

Heather Meadows
Aren't we all, though? (Akita record shop)

We took a stroll around Akita while waiting for our train, going around this building and its pool of lotus blossoms to find a park and a museum.

2009-06-04T10:36:03Z

Heather Meadows
We took a stroll around Akita while waiting for our train, going around this building and its pool of lotus blossoms to find a park and a museum.

Lotus blossoms (Akita)

2009-06-02T07:01:45Z

Heather Meadows
Lotus blossoms (Akita)

Lotus blossoms (Akita)

2009-02-22T13:15:55Z

Heather Meadows
Lotus blossoms (Akita)

Lotus blossoms, and ripples in the water--koi! (Akita)

2009-06-04T10:19:32Z

Heather Meadows
Lotus blossoms, and ripples in the water--koi! (Akita)

A koi ripples the surface of the water (Akita)

2009-06-04T10:41:25Z

Heather Meadows
A koi ripples the surface of the water (Akita)

We didn't go into this building, but I thought it looked neat. (Akita)

2009-06-04T10:29:43Z

Heather Meadows
We didn't go into this building, but I thought it looked neat. (Akita)

We didn't go into this building, but I thought it looked neat. (Akita)

2009-06-02T07:02:23Z

Heather Meadows
We didn't go into this building, but I thought it looked neat. (Akita)

A bird flies over the lotus pond (Akita)

2009-06-04T10:24:37Z

Heather Meadows
A bird flies over the lotus pond (Akita)

This was my first-ever shot of Japanese schoolgirls. I was too embarrassed to blatantly take their picture, so I tried to seem as if I was taking a picture of Brandon and Inoue-sensei.

2009-06-02T06:53:10Z

Heather Meadows
This was my first-ever shot of Japanese schoolgirls. I was too embarrassed to blatantly take their picture, so I tried to seem as if I was taking a picture of Brandon and Inoue-sensei.

A potted plant sale was going on, and we checked it out.

2009-06-04T10:26:31Z

Heather Meadows
A potted plant sale was going on, and we checked it out.

YES! (Akita)

2009-06-04T10:27:49Z

Heather Meadows
YES! (Akita)

Painting, art exhibit, Akita

2009-06-02T07:04:43Z

Heather Meadows
Painting, art exhibit, Akita

Ikebana (flower arrangement), Akita

2009-06-04T10:26:16Z

Heather Meadows
Ikebana (flower arrangement), Akita

Ikebana (flower arrangement), Akita

2009-06-02T06:50:24Z

Heather Meadows
Ikebana (flower arrangement), Akita

Painting, art exhibit, Akita

2009-06-04T10:54:24Z

Heather Meadows
Painting, art exhibit, Akita

Heather Meadows' photo

2009-06-04T10:20:43Z

Heather Meadows

Shrine grounds, Akita

2009-06-04T10:24:18Z

Heather Meadows
Shrine grounds, Akita

Shrine grounds, Akita

2009-06-02T06:50:02Z

Heather Meadows
Shrine grounds, Akita

Shrine grounds, Akita. Look at that--I mean--those crows could perch on that thing!

2009-06-04T10:24:54Z

Heather Meadows
Shrine grounds, Akita. Look at that--I mean--those crows could perch on that thing!

Shrine grounds, Akita

2009-06-02T07:01:42Z

Heather Meadows
Shrine grounds, Akita

Shrine grounds, Akita

2009-06-04T10:36:57Z

Heather Meadows
Shrine grounds, Akita

Torii gates, shrine grounds, Akita

2009-06-04T10:32:27Z

Heather Meadows
Torii gates, shrine grounds, Akita

Wishes, shrine grounds, Akita

2009-06-04T10:13:49Z

Heather Meadows
Wishes, shrine grounds, Akita

Heather Meadows' photo

2009-06-02T07:00:00Z

Heather Meadows

Heather Meadows' photo

2009-06-04T10:35:16Z

Heather Meadows

I'm all about the beat of life.

2009-06-02T06:49:05Z

Heather Meadows
I'm all about the beat of life.