![Photo of Atami Castle](https://i0.wp.com/lestaylorphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Atami-Castle_smaller.jpg?fit=725%2C1024&ssl=1)
Atami Castle Shizuoka Prefecture
Yesterday I had a church event down in Shizuoka Prefecture, and on the way back home took a stop by the town of Atami on the Pacific coast. It’s a beautiful little town with some fantastic scenery and places to explore. I only got there just in time for sunset (because the sunset is so early now!) but the little time I spent there convinced me I need to go back sometime and explore some...
![Matsumoto Castle Japan](https://i0.wp.com/lestaylorphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Sakura-Path-at-Matsumoto-Castle.jpg?fit=1024%2C604&ssl=1)
Cherry Blossoms in Matsumoto
Last year at the beginning of April my family took a much needed vacation to the town of Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture. So far it’s been one of our favorite places that we’ve visited in Japan, although I’m sure the experience was helped by the fact that we had been sick most of the Winter! And I’m sure it didn’t hurt that the Sakura were blooming during our trip either. The blossoms in the city...