Takoyaki!

Snow in Wachi...

Our neighbours roof.

Midnight explorations in the big smoke....

After a long net-free hiatus brought on by going on holiday, moving house and struggling with our internet provider to get hooked back up, we're now settled in our new house with all utilities running and slowly getting acclimatised to the freezing winter temperatures. It's been snowing here for the last two weeks, in what is apparently record amounts for the time of year. Exciting for us who have never been snowed on anyway. We have big puffy coats and great big "nagaikutsu" - gumboots, so the problem is really not getting too hot when out slogging through knee-deep snow rather than staying warm. Home is another story though, it has so far dropped to a cosy 1 degree inside in the morning, and gets all the way up to 17 degrees when we thrash our tiny wee kerosene heater. And this is only the beginning of winter! Luckily we have been given a Kotatsu, like a coffee table fitted with a heating element on its underside. You place a big padded blanket under the top and spend the winter sitting with your legs under it, or even lying under it. It rocks.

Anyway more photos....

Autumn colours at Kiyomizu-dera temple.

Giant Ginko trees at Nijo-jo.