Just recently I went on the Rotary Autumn Tour to Hiroshima, Nara and Kyoto. Following the trip we all went to the District conference in Koufu. On the way we stopped by Himeji Castle which is one of the largest castles in Japan (the largest?) and took a tour inside the castle to the very top and all the way down. The stairs in the castle are very steep and there was many times hitting our heads on the roof! After that we were able to see the Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Park and Peace Center at Hiroshima. The Peace Center was very interesting and we all had these special headsets (in english!) to listen to all the diagrams, models, etc. The models were very graphic and detailed.

After Hiroshima we went to Kyoto where we went to a temple that is the same temple on the 10 yen coin. It is a temple that is all symmetrical and it supposed to be like heaven. There was also a museum attached to it which held a lot of the art and things that were in the temple a long time ago.

At Nara, we were able to see the Great Buddah and the surrounding temples. The Great Buddah is very very very big. I think it is the biggest in Japan. Next to the buddah there is a hole cut into one of the poles the size of the buddahs nostril. Apparently, if you are able to climb through the hole, you will have good luck. Luckily I hadn't put on too much weight so I was able to get through! Around Nara there are many many deer. These deer are holy and you are not allowed to harm them in any way. You are able to feed them this special senbei biscuit but they also try to eat your hand, bags, clothes and whatever you are holding.

(Mark I will put up some photos soon :D )