Ashio Copper Mine Train
Ashio Copper Mine was a place I was not planning or expecting to go, but how could I refuse a free school trip. Getting to the location was amazing because the mountains and surrounding area were painted with autumn leaves. On this trip I did not know what to expect, but we ended up on this little train that goes into the mine. The staff explained to us what had happened at the mine and why it was shut down. Riding the train we had the chance to see more of the area before entering the dimly lit tunnels. The exhibits in the tunnels depicted the lifestyle and work of the people.
Duffy the Disney Bear
For those who do not know these bears they are known as Duffy the Disney bear. When I went to Tokyo Disney Sea I was not expecting Duffy to be a popular item in the park. I saw stores dedicated for the bear and people walking around with their own Duffy swag. After a while I felt the urge to get my own Duffy bear and dress it up in a Donald Duck outfit, but when I saw the price the wanting feeling went away. Instead I went for a key chain version that did not break the bank.
Kinkakuji, Kyoto
Kinkakuji is one of the iconic places of Kyoto. The top two levels are covered in gold leaf. Actually the original building was burned down in 1950 because of a novice monk. It was later reconstructed in 1955. My friends and I went to this place in the morning and luckily it was not too crowded. We had just gotten off the night bus and dropped off our luggage when we reached this place. All the traveling was worth it once we saw this place. When you get closer to the building you can admire all the details of this Zen temple.
Family of Bears on the Philosopher’s Road
While we were wandering around Kyoto we ended up on Philosopher’s Road because we were following this stray cat. Taking a break from all the temple and shrine visits we decided to stroll down the walkway and relax. On our little excursion we passed by this little family of bears fishing. It was randomly there and it was cute. Just to let you know there is a stream of water flowing along the Philosopher’s Road. It is nice to find something unexpected when exploring a new area. You never know what memories will be made when a detour is taken.
Moon Viewing Platform (Kogetsudai)
Kogetsudai is a cone shaped sand mound that can be found in the sand garden of Ginkakuji. The name translates to Moon Viewing Platform because it is said that if you were to look at the mound from the top floor of Ginkakuji then it would look like the full moon on a silent pond. The optimal time would to see it would have to be on a night when the full moon is out. Others have also said it to be a Zen representation of Mount Fuji. Either way it is amazing to see this perfectly shaped cone in the Zen sand garden.