Get your beans ready!

It's one of my favourite times of year... the time of year when good people chase the demons out of their life by hurtling dried beans at them. That's right... it's almost time for SETSUBUN!

We sifted through the mountains of bean displays until we found the one we liked the best.

This year, I won't be buying the lucky roll at my local convenience store. I won't be facing the correct way when eating it either. I do intend to throw beans, so lookout!

Walker's Park

There is a beautiful hiking area near Mt. Eboshi called Walker's Park. Either I'm becoming a wimp, or this was really high up there! We got out of the car and started up a trail and I was almost wheezing as we went.

The brochure for the area where I took the picture above shows beautiful flowers, so I'll have to make the trip back once it warms up a bit.

This is the view from the vista point. The viewing area is actually before you get on the trail.

The roads one must take to get there are quite narrow with a nasty drop off. It was very cold the day we went, so I can only imagine what it's like when the weather turns nice and more people drive here.

It's kind of tricky to get there, but basically, you head away from the Jusco near the Conan. You need to make a right and head over the train tracks and just head up the mountain. There will be several signs in Katakana that read "ウォーカーズパーク" leading you to the park.

Umm, okay.

Hidden Park

One of the things I truly love about Japan are all of the hidden parks. As far as I can tell, this park is in the middle of nowhere. I'm not sure if it's used much during the warmer months, but this cold winter day we had it all to ourselves.

Shrine in Cave

I can't remember the name of this place... doh! It was off the road to Hirado and near the Insect Village. That help? It was just a quick detour because we saw a sign to a cavern.

I did a double take of this statue too.

Cheap Underwear!

Saw these underwear in a store near my home the other day. They made me smile, so there is truth in advertising.

Teri-mayo burger, teriyaki burger and pizza burgers.

Spareribs flavored Pringles and Mayo-Cheese Potato Pringles.

Tuna and Mayo Doritos -- together at last

I bought these today... for the novelty. My spouse tried them and said you can taste the mayo with a slight fishy taste. The smell turned me off and I was asked to not buy these again.

Dezomeshiki!

It's January 6th -- Dezomeshiki here in Japan. That's the day when the fire brigade goes back into formation after the New Year. I took the picture above from my car, but it's part of the demonstration. They spray water, the sirens are going, balloons were released and there were firefighters dressed up as they would dress back in the old days.

By the time we finally got into place, it was over, but if you look really hard you can still see one of the firefighters dressed as he would have in the olden days... at least that's how it was explained to me.

Afterward, the fire officials were handing out balloons to the kids and then the kids were releasing them into the air.

This was near Hirado in Kyushu.

The reason we were late was a major traffic back up as the police above were chasing papers all over the roadway. The picture above doesn't show it, but the papers were ALL over the place!