The End

There was so much more, but I will end this here.

This was the last picture I took in Japan, in Abeno on the way from my house to the station.

Thank you for reading/looking!

Tea whisks in Nara

The last time I was in Nara, my host parents took me to the Takayama Chikurinen bamboo garden. Their tea whisk demonstration was closed that day, but we were shown a video of the fascinating process, and there was a display of about 120 different types of tea whisks. The area apparently produces 90% of the tea whisks in Japan.

I shrank!

We also visited Ofusa Kannon, a strange temple with wind chimes. The sound they made was very beautiful.

My last time in fanciful Tokyo

… during which I was busy doing unbelievable things and only took a few ordinary pictures

Travelling by night bus

My temporary home in Koenji

Maritta and I

Waiting for Johnny’s Dome Theatre show

Akihabara

Shinjuku

Shibuya

Tokyo Skytree

Wíth Maeda and pregnant Yoshie

Yoyogi park

Fireworks in Kobe

Yoshiko and I went to Kobe to look at fireworks.

At the entrance to Kobe Chinatown

Juri photographing Cecil (just before we became friends with them)

Maabo-raamen! Had to try it

Festival

Don’t walk

Walk

Best fireworks ever

Barbecue party

Yukata girls at station

From Kyoto to Osaka

Outside our house. If you live in Kyoto, you might understand that this is a store, and that it’s open, and you might even guess what it sells.

 

Dancing by the river at Kiki’s farewell party

 

Vending machine with beer

 

Team Finland making baskets

 

 

Finished product after three hours of work

 

I left this place

 

And moved to Abeno, Osaka

 

In Nipponbashi

 

 

Flood in Abeno

 

View from my rooftop

Gozan no okuribi (sending-off fires for the dead) from our rooftop in Kyoto

 

 

Visiting Osaka and Kobe

Gion Festival: Parade Day

More Gion Festival: Yoiyama

Hamana-sensei arranged a farewell chaji for us at his house.

In the evening we went to the Gion festival again.

Gion Festival: Yoiyoiyama

A couple of days after our graduation in July, the famous Gion Festival took place in Kyoto during several days. These pictures are from Yoiyoiyama, two days before the great procession.

Packed street

First glimpses of the Gion Matsuri floats

Japanese summer festivals are (like any event in Japan) mostly about tasting different kinds of food and snacks. Chocolate bananas are a must!

Water games for children. Yoshiko explained that the child gets to play and then take one of the toys home.

Goldfish catching is among the most popular Japanese festival activities. If you catch a golfish, you can take it home.

Farewell dinner at Hotel Okura

Still the day after graduation… Farewell dinner with teachers and staff.