Morning Chores and a Breath of Fresh Air
It's Saturday, May 9th. Time really does fly, and it's already been a little under two weeks since I returned to my parents' house after my last trip.
I kicked off the morning by tackling some serious yard work. The garden looks completely revitalized from the outside now; the airflow and the way the natural sunlight hits the space have improved dramatically. There's something incredibly grounding about getting your hands dirty and seeing immediate results.
Traditional Arts and a Cool Escape
In the late afternoon, I headed out to a local event happening here in Takasaki. While wandering around, I stumbled upon a traditional Sarumawashi (monkey performance).
It seemed to be put on by a troupe that traveled quite a distance to perform. I watched from a bit of a distance, but it was surprisingly nostalgic and entertaining to see this traditional Japanese art form after such a long time.
Afterward, my parents kindly bought me a protective travel charm (omamori) for my upcoming adventures, and we made our way to the Dokutsu Kannon, a fascinating underground cave temple. Stepping inside, the air was strikingly cool, and the dimly lit pathways were filled with numerous serene Buddhist statues.
It felt incredibly refreshing—I can easily imagine this place being the ultimate sanctuary during Japan's scorching summer months.
On our way back, we stopped by a local gardening shop and the Sekichu home center to pick up some fresh soil and gardening supplies before finally heading home.
Exhaustion and Accomplishment
Once I settled down back at the house, it suddenly hit me: I had completely forgotten to eat lunch. Almost immediately after that realization, the exhaustion of the day took over, and I passed out on the spot. By the time I woke up around 7:00 PM, dinner was already waiting for me—a true perk of being back home.
Today honestly went by in an absolute flash, but I managed to cross everything off my to-do list, which feels pretty rewarding.
