Our training this New Year's was different from that of years prior. Ten of us met Kato Sensei at Shinjuku, and we went on to Kamakura for first visits of the New Year at shrines there. From Kamakura, we took the Enoden to Enoshima and then walked out to the island, enjoying the brisk atmosphere of the early morning. Brightly lit by many lanterns, the road up to the shrine area was crowded with many others also out early. After visiting several of the shrines, we went to a garden area where we waited for the sunrise. Tombe circled above as the sky slowly brightened. After sunrise, we walked to the other side of the island and down by the water, with Fuji-san uncharacteristically clearly visible. We had our breakfast back on the other side of the island, before we returned to Tokyo. The next day, 7 of us joined Kato Sensei to go to Oyama. This was a day of much more rugged walking, climbing up and then down many steep stone steps. We all enjoyed a good meal after this! On the 4th, 5 of us joined Kato sensei to go to Mitake-san. We took the cable car up and walked further up to the shrines at the top. From there, we took a very different route through winter's landscape. Eventually we arrived at an onsen where we all enjoyed a good soak, and a meal afterwards. All in all, it was a superb way to begin 2007!