Whiling awaying

I had the distinct privilege on Sunday of visiting Nikkō again, this time in the company of author Niels Planel.

We whiled away the hours on the Tōbu Line limited section-express (1320 yen, 2 hours and 5 minutes one way) arguing vociferously about the cons and cons (as Koizumi Jun'ichirō fanatiques, we see no "pros" anywhere) of the current government's policies.

Once in Nikkō, however we managed to shut up and look about us.

Pond of the Shōyōen
Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture
April 8, 2007

View from the Plum Room
Nikkō Tomozawa Imperial Villa
Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture
April 8, 2007

The Niōmon of the Taiyūin
Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture
April 8, 2007

Not entirely silent were we. Monsieur Planel, when he spied the famous monkey sculpture in the Tōshōgu, quipped, "Oh, look, it's a stunningly accurate representation of the Japanese news media!"

Blogging will be rather light this week despite the likelihood of megatons of nonsense being spewn over Wen Jiabao's visit. I have some rather important personal business elsewhere that will keep me away from Shisaku for a while.

All photos by MTC