....continued from Part l - JAPAN - LAND of the RISING SUN
Kanazawa to Kyoto
While transiting to our next city, Kanazawa, we stopped to tour a quaint village, Shirakawa-go, established several hundred years ago and famous for it’s thatched-roof buildings. While the day was very warm, we were surrounded by snow-capped mountains and were shown pictures of this valley covered in deep snow during the winter months.
While transiting to our next city, Kanazawa, we stopped to tour a quaint village, Shirakawa-go, established several hundred years ago and famous for it’s thatched-roof buildings. While the day was very warm, we were surrounded by snow-capped mountains and were shown pictures of this valley covered in deep snow during the winter months.
Later in the day, before checking into our hotel in Kanazawa, we visited the East Tea House District, home of many geishas, where we learned of their customs. The next morning, we toured a Gold Leaf Factory, observing the craftspersons as they turn lumps of gold into thin sheets used to decorate many items. We were given the opportunity to create our own work of art using their traditional methods. From there, we toured the Nomura Samurai House, a 300 year old preserved home of the great Samurai of that era.
Our final stop of the day was to tour one of the 3 most beautiful gardens in Japan - Kenrokuen Garden, walking paths around beautiful lakes, fountains and mature trees.
Departing from the beautiful train station in Kanazawa, we board an early morning train taking us towards Kyoto, our final stop on this Japanese odyssey. After another excellent experience on a Japanese train (on time, smooth, spacious seating) we arrived at Kyoto’s amazing grand station, where after a short bus ride, we were treated to a demonstration of the ancient art of pottery making at Kiyomieu Pottery operated by a family's fifth generation . Their artistry of the finished product is credit to these Japanese artisans.
Window Shopping
A day trip to Nara, the capital of ancient Japan, allowed us to tour their famous park, where large numbers of deer roam freely, nuzzling passersby, looking for food handouts. The park has the Todaiji Temple, and Kasuga Taishi Shrine, a public treasure, a gift from a great Shogun of the past. Here we see one of Japans’ famous tourist landmarks, the Golden Pavilion Temple surrounded by water and on this day its reflection captured on the lake’s mirrored surface was outstanding.
In the evening, we were treated to a performance of traditional musical art complete with string instruments, comedy and dance in the Lion District, famous for its geishas and tea houses.
Our last day, we toured Nijo-jo Castle, where the Shogun of this area held court until 1867 when power was restored to the Emperor of Japan, and then after walking the streets to get our last taste of Japan, we packed our bags for our flight onward to China.
Wandering the narrow streets with our guide, we ate traditional Japanese ‘pub grub’. One more view of the hectic night life and then.......only good memories of this most interesting country and culture.
Next......on to Shanghai, China before returning home.