Sake in lotus leaf cup

Mimurotoji is a temple in Kyoto. Today was the lotus sake event there. I found it in a free local magazine. It was $5 per person and only served for first 300 people. Of course I had to go there! (notice my dad's t-shirt)



Almost all temples have long stairs...

Lotus Festival

I made it! lots of people were there already!

This is how they served sake. There is a hope in the middle of the leaf and the sake go through the stem. It was very interesting! my mom is taking pictures in the background.

There were supposed to be 100 different kinds of lotus

other part is famous for hydrangea. They were almost done...

Can you tell what wild flower this is? It's blooming right now in Smoky!

This supposed to be a wildflower

I saw this last trip to smoky! but this was on the street

Love this one too!

On the way back, we stopped at my High School!

This is the art department. Did you know I did sclpture?
(I was the WOrst student)

Then, we stopped at Nara park.

coffee time. this one had coffee jelle/jelly in it. VERY GOOD.

Lunch time!!!

Udon(flour noodle)place. They make all from scratch.

This one with raw egg and cod eggs in it. what you think?

I had to get an extra prawn tempra... very light and crunchy.

Then off to my Dentist... Boooo

shopping in Osaka

My family was busy today, so I went to get famous toe socks to Osaka. Only thing was that my mom's membership to the special store was expired and they didn't let me extend it. So, I couldn't shop there!!! I will make sure I will get some socks before I go back.

There are prenty other places I can go to, so I started walking.
This is Hard Rock Cafe in Osaka. It is in business side of the town. How odd.



Osaka's famous shopping arcade.

Chacott is a dance wear store. They were dong costume fair... Oh they were so beautiful and VERY expensive

still going

This crepe is 100 times better than one in Knoxville.

One of famous spot in Osaka
Neon signs everywhere

Tutaya is the Video and Music CD rental place. Yes, You can rent music CDs in Japan

Another famous spot in Osaka

If you go to side streets (from Main street), there are bars and cabarets

street foods everywhere

Octopus Ball! since it's popular food, it is sold everywhere. Great snack!

Osaka is famous for commedy. People come here all over Japan to see comedies. We have traditional comedy that has been shown 100s of years, and also new ones.

Typical drinking place. You have to stand there... Impossible in America

My friend who has a restaurant in Knoxville (Kalamata Kitchen) is working temporally in Sushi place in this famous, old style fish and vegetable market. I couldn't remember the name, so I visited all the sushi places to find her...

and I finally found it!

She wasn't there... but gave me the Sushi to go.
Typical Maki, called Futo-maki.

It was so Fresh and DELICIOUS! Thanks Tomo!