Random J-Shot

I don't have any real reason for putting this photo up, except I've been scanning every single photo I've ever taken and am now working my way through my year in Japan. This is Himmeji Castle in Himmeji, Japan. It's about an hour train ride from Osaka. It's been called the most beautiful castle in Japan. It was really interesting, definitely unlike the European castles I'm partial to. The most intriguing part of the castle was an area called the 'Suicide Room'. Apparently that's where warriors would go to end their lives. I also learned that ninjas weren't the fighters they've been portrayed to be on TV. They were actually spies. There was a place called Ninjatown in the area and guests could go to Ninja School for the day. I never did end up going, but man, what mad skills those would be to put on a resume! Under skills: leaping from tree branches while battling my enemy single-handed with a samurai sword.