Yesterday I went to Himeji, a city along the ocean with a very old castle. The entire structure was made from wood timbers and covered in plaster to protect it. The castle really blew my mind in the amount of craft and skill necessary to make such beautiful joints. The building was made sometime around 1333 but contains vents for natural ventilation, carefully crafted wooden sliding doors and fine joinery. The most luxurious room in the castle was outfitted with tatami mats and fine cedar wood. By comparison to European castles from the same time period with ornament and tapestry everywhere, this castle seems refined and simple.

I've started to figure out the train system, not completely but it seems less daunting than when I first arrived. Next month there is a two day festival at the dorm that happens every year. Everyone is involved in a project to either organize or build something. I'm working with a group who is making a long table that will be planted with grass and plants. The idea is that people sit around the table and eat and drink on a natural setting. I'm not sure how great it will be, but it might be fun to help these kids make it if for no other reason than I'll get to know them better.

Today for lunch I went to the store down the street to get some quick food. I bought spaghetti and heated it up in the microwave. To my surprise, the pasta sauce was actually just ketchup. Needless to say, it didn't really taste like paster, but it looked like it.

Next weekend I hope to go to Tokyo or Hiroshima. The train is pretty expensive. One way to Tokyo will be around $150 and the same to Hiroshima. Having a train pass is less expensive but its only good for a limited number of days and it would expire before I would get my monies worth. Just the price of seeing things I guess.