January in Japan. Again!

Well, it's a new year. We are all hoping that it's much better than the last one. The mess from the triple disaster in Tohoku is far from over, but the desire to move on is strong.
    がんばて！

For the new year, it is very common for Japanese people to return to their families home and spend the holiday with them. Eating and drinking sake! Lots of eating and lots of sake. Traditionally, families would go to a shrine (or 3) and pray for the coming year. We went to three. We went to three last year so why not this year too? Right? I prayed. Oh, how I prayed...

Oh and did I mention sake?

Delicious drink brewed from rice...

This will be a very different year for many reasons. I don't know what they are, but I am certain that it will be different for some reason(s). The photo above is of Yufu Mt. It is in Oita prefecture separating Beppu and Yufuin. Within the mountain lies a sleeping cauldron of molten lava. Yes, it's a volcano. I've tried to find information about the last time it erupted but I can't seem to get any worth quoting. Maybe in the future, I'll add something to this post. Let's hope it isn't some news about a tragic explosion anytime soon. The photo below is of Yufuin from a very different perspective. Most people go to this tourist town to shop and go to onsen but I prefer seeing things from a different angle.

Don't forget to click on the images. They grow!