Driving to Seven Falls on a VERY Hot August Day

This seemed like a great day to drive out of town and into the mountains to cool off a little. It's Obon time in Japan. Obon is an annual Buddhist event for commemorating one's ancestors. It is believed that each year during Obon, the ancestors' spirits return to this world in order to visit their relatives. Traditionally, lanterns are hung in front of houses to guide the ancestors' spirits, Obon dances (bon odori) are performed, graves are visited and food offerings are made at house altars and temples. At the end of Obon, floating lanterns are put into rivers, lakes and seas in order to guide the spirits back into their world. The Obon week in mid-August is one of Japan's three major holiday seasons, accompanied by intensive domestic and international travel activities and increased accommodation rates. This is why we return from the US to Japan at the end of July . . .