We had a holiday last Thursday called "Bunka no Hi" or culture day. Among the many things I appreciate about Japan is that there is at least one public holiday almost every month of the year. This time it was a Thursday, so we drove to a relatively local spot in the woods in Seto, Japan called Iwayado. The area has shrines, little shops, hikes and a river and is a bit old and funky, so I think it counted as a cultural excursion. It is too early for the dramatic fall colors, so the views were not spectacular, but there are always interesting things to see if you keep your eyes open.