This is the Samurai Movie Village which is supposedly a faithful replica of an Edo Period city where samurai dramas are still filmed. Sadly they weren't filming when I was there, but it was still pretty cool.

If Lonewolf doll doesn't kick Barbie's skinny arse, I'm sure Cub will. From a diorama at the Samurai Movie Village.

Amazing! I had no idea that mechanical, rope-ninja had been so prevalent back in the Edo Period!

In general, I find ninjas much more intimidating when they don't look like homeless whinos.

I went to Mt. Heian which is very nice, though I never did find the temple I was looking for.

The first cablecar I took up the mountain; very reminiscent of the Peak Tram in Hong Kong

The valley as seen from the end of the second gondola line.

Found a clearing that offered a delightful example of atmospheric blue shift. Mmmmmmm, neato.

The view from the top of Heiei-zan. Purty, no?

ff the backside of the mountain was a fantastic view of Biwa-ko (Biwa Lake), the largest lake in Japan.