Ootsu, Shiga-ken, May 6

We took a paddle boat ride around a river leading into Lake Biwa.

Lots of people practicing rowing in the river.

Still some sakura blooming.

Then we headed off to the temples and such. Host dad crawled into a cave. We followed in.

and out.

This place is famous as it is where the world's first novel was written. At least, it's where the lady who wrote it lived. Go on, learn about Murasaki Shikibu.

Some temple we walked up to in that area.

Then we drove a bunch. We stopped in the middle of nowhere, as there was some temple to climb up to atop a hill. There wasn't even sake after this hike, just hot tea. Like, too hot to drink, and we being too hot to drink it. Anyway, this is a statue toward the bottom of the staircase. You'll see this guy in the last photo too, in the distance.

The temple and statue atop the mountain.

Down down down

You know it's recent when it has Katakana on it. I'm guessing some "New Fashion" place sponsors the area? I forget what these are for.

Host mom!