We have had very limited access to the Internet so I am a bit vague as to the date last Thursday but that was when we left Kyoto and went by train to Kanazawa, where we started out in the Geisha district -Higashi Chaya-gai which has been very tastefully restored. Next the Kenroku-en Garden begun in about 1620 and taking 220 years to complete. The snows will be coming soon so all the ropes to support the tree branches were in place. We had a full Japanese tea ceremony tea in a tea house in the gardens and finished the day at a modern art gallery near the gardens.
In the morning we went to the Omicho market which has been in existence for more than 200 years. Not surprisingly fish in all sizes are the dominant produce, but also lots of vegetables and some fruit including 5 bananas for 100 yen!. We also visited the Nomura residence showing how the Samurai used to live. Finally after lunch we set off by train to Takayama. We started in fine style on a bullet train - 18 minutes for 80 km. We slowed down after that, two more trains to cover the next 80 km. In Takayama we are staying in a Japanese style hotel. It is lovely but we cheated and ordered western style beds.
Road to nowhere. View from Shinkansen. Shin means new and you can see where the new rail line just cuts across existing roads.
Waiting at a change of train.
Higashi Chaya-ga
Kenroku-en Gardens
Dressed for the job maintaining the gardens.
School uniform in Kanazawa has a nautical look.
In one of the galleries of the Modern Art gallery next to the gardens.
Fine Sashiko hanging.
Enormous carp in the garden of the Nomura residence.
Persimmon
Beautiful fruit in the market.
Buying fish in Omicho market. They also sold enormous oysters at an enormous price nearly 2 dollars each.
Enough for today as I must go to bed.
Beautiful pictures, Kate!
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