A Long Shogatsu(New Years)

I lost internet and hot water, but found an awsome arcade, bought a car, and learned a little more Japanese. With the car I managed to find all new shops, rent videos easily, and leave my prefecture for the first time(except for heading to and from airports to go home). For New Years Eve, I went with a few foriegners and friends to a temple(I got to help ring the giant bells with a swinging battering ram). Then we visited a drumming performance at another temple. Finally, I went to Konpira-san, the famous temple with somewhere between 800 and 1300 steps to the top. I made it the whole way without breaking down, and even bought one of those cool pilgrim hats(pointy straw hats like the one Raiden from Mortal Kombat wore). All in all, it was a fun time.