Illusions

Here are some things we found in Japan that may fool you.

Cherry blossoms?  How lovely.  But wait, it's winter.  Those are not blossoms.  In fact they are wishes.  Thousands of wishes left by visitors to this shrine in Kyoto, handwritten on pink paper and tied to the branches.

You probably guessed correctly that those are mochi on the right.  But did you think that was a sweet potato on the left?  Guess again.  That is an ice cream sandwich.  Really.

And this zen garden installation is not simply a perfect conic section.  It is Mount Fuji.  See?  I told you he was iconic.