One month
I’ve been in Japan now for one month exactly. It’s a little hard to believe. Akita is growing on me now, though I’m a little nervous about winter. I got a flyer in the mail with illustrations on what to do if your house is snowed under – completely snowed under. Apparently snows here (in the city) can reach 5 meters (that’s 15 ft!). That won’t be for a few months, though. The leaves haven’t even started changing colors yet.
So, yes, Sendai pictures will be up soon. But first, I have some pictures from today. I had planned on staying in and working on my lessons, but today was the first brilliantly sunny day I’ve seen since arriving in Akita. So instead, I took a walk to Senshu Park. It’s an old castle site in the middle of the city, but you wouldn’t know it. The castle is gone, but the grounds are beautiful. Here are some pictures so you can see for yourself.
Oga lotus flowers, grown from 2000 year old seeds apparently, litter the ‘moat’ and decorative lakes.
An enormous gateway leading into the park’s center.
The view from the top. I was shocked to discover Akita City is surrounded by so much green. It was so windy today I was nearly blown off this lookout hill.
A detailed look of Osumiyagura watchtower.
Yoshiaki Satake, the twelfth lord of the city, ruled during the 16th century.
The sights of Senshu.
A shinto shrine hidden away within the park.
I like dragonflies. The first was on my balcony railing. The second landed beside me at the park.
Tonight’s sunset, viewed from my balcony.
