A thousand a day...Journey to Japan (Part II)

Day 40: Jan. 15, 2010 (Kyoto)
Our final day in Kyoto was a free day, so we decided to take a trip to the Silver Pavilion. It was yet another stunning temple, the view from the top of the mountain was even better. To top off our last night in Kyoto, we climbed to the top of Kyoto Station.

Day 39: Jan. 14, 2010 (Nagoya)
We spent a day in Nagoya hanging out with new tomodachi, friends! Our tomodachi took us all around Meijimura to see what Japan looked like during the Meiji period. After that, we went downtown and walked to a rooftop with a reflecting pond and a stunning view of the city at sunset.

Day 38: Jan. 13, 2010  (Hiroshima)
Our day in Hiroshima was very sobering and emotional. We spent a few hours at the peace park and museum, just walking through and soaking in all the personal accounts of that day and the aftermath. The A-Bomb Dome serves as a memorial to those who died on Aug. 6, 1945.

A little girl who was suffering from leukemia a decade after the bomb decided to make 1,000 cranes - each with a wish for her to live. She surpassed her goal of 1,000 but kept making them because of the message rather than the number. She died but her message for peace lives on through her folded paper cranes.

Day 37: Jan. 12, 2010 (Kyoto)
These two precious animals were the highlight of our time at the Toei Kyoto Studio Park, where they make all the old-time Edo period movies. I felt so badly for the pony all tied up, while the pretty kitty was just relaxing near the bow-and-arrow game booth.