Temples & Totoro in Japan

In Kyoto, Kevin took me to Kanga-an Temple, a temple with a hidden bar once the sun goes down. 

We sipped on Japanese whiskey (finally!!).

“The pace is slow here so it calms you down,” says Yamada [the bartender]. “It’s not the drinks, it’s the garden that relaxes you” (from the Japan Times).

After Kyoto, Kevin & I stayed in Eko-in Temple in Koyasan. The train ride was so pretty.

 Dinner.

Best tofu ever.

The view! It was nice to wander the halls and find random rooms and studies. The best parts were the fire ceremony in the morning, relaxing in the onsen, and the table in the room with an electric blanket as the tablecloth. Glorious. We basically lived under the table.

And then there was Totoro! I happened upon him many times before actually saying hello at the Ghibli Museum.

Hidden Cameras: Ghibli Museum

I believe that children`s souls are the inheritors of historical memory from previous generations. It`s just that as they grow older and experience the everyday world that memory sinks lower and lower. I feel I need to make a film that reaches down to that level. If I could do that I would die happy. Hayao Miyazaki

That being said... Let's get lost together!

Bus stop, you had me at (oh!) hello.

O hello, Totoro! Two tickets please!!

Can I move in? Thankssssssssss

Soot balls & le petit traveler = bff!

They had a giant plush Nekobus for the kiddies. You had to be this tall to ride ::stretches arms::. I drew a sketch of the fun :)

Even the bathroom door was special! (Yes, I took a picture of the bathroom door. Laugh all you want... it's pretty)

You win, Ghibli. You win all my love & tears of awe, haha. Oh, and money, too. Your gift shop is AWESOME.