Ninjageddon

21st October - Nagano

Near impossible feat of the day; persuading Helen to visit a ninja museum.

The museum was decked out with the expected pictures of flying, swimming and hiding ninja wearing some fine threads. It also had an impressive array of blow-pipes, foot spikes and other practical maiming devices. Surprisingly, it turned out to be somewhat less interesting than the 'ninja house' next door; an ensemble of hidden trap doors, sliding bookcases and a room with a sloping floor (alas Helen did not acquire any new ninja skills). I successfully weaseled my way around the ninja climbing wall (no great feat I admit; the thing was designed for children and more to the point, 'climbing' is for chicks) and even threw a couple of ninja stars into some targets. Still, I would be no match for Helen, above - she fights dirty.

Alas, there was no accommodation in the ninja museum and so we ventured into the woods to find a mountain side shrine. The approach is via an impressive cedar avenue which looked a little like something from Lord of the Rings. Pretty spooky place, especially when the locals got the dry ice machines out.