Japan – Before Frida

Japan – Early April

9-10 April 2013, Nikko

We came to Japan in search for cherry blossoms – to be wrapped in a pink universe of flowers and let our minds drift away. Instead we woke up to this! It seems that also in Japan, April is a tricky lady, every other minute she likes to change her dress!

But we also came to Japan to eat and on the culinary side we had much better luck than with the cherry blossoms! 

And we went to Nikko, to the mausoleums of the Tokugawa Shoguns, which are sitting in a beautiful cedar forest north of Tokyo. 

The guards were happy to see us……

Some of the cedar trees are enormous and the colours are beautiful.

Heavy chinese influence is obvious in the elaborate carvings.

The yak and the irbis!                

The famous monkeys, saying that the young should hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil.

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Onsen, Yukata, Sashimi and Fuji-San

A weekend trip to Nishi-izu, 13-14 April 2013

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Sakura and Asado

20-21 April 2013, Lake Yamanakako

Finally we found cherry blossoms in Japan, sakura! We went to Lake Yamanakako at the foot of the magnificent Mount Fuji. Unfortunately, the Fuji-San was hidden behind a thick cover of clouds but the cherry blossoms were beautiful, they bloom a bit later here at almost 1000 m above sea level. 

In the afternoon it started raining and towards evening the rain turned to wet snow. But this did not stop us from making an argentinian barbeque, asado!

Claudio and Niko by the barbeque.

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Central Japan

Our photographic impressions from one week of driving through Central Honshu Island, from Tokyo to the Sea of Japan. Route: Matsumoto – Hotaka – Kisa Valley (Narai – Tsumago – Magome) – Takayama – Ogimachi – Ainokura – Kanazawa

24-29 April 2013

This seems very strange! Marco driving on the “wrong side” and not in Frida!

This requires a quick management decision! Driving through Tokyo on the expressway.

MATSUMOTO – The weather was grey when we arrived to Matsumoto, but it did not make the sixteenth century samurai castle Matsumoto-jo less impressive. 

We ate a lunch which was a pleasure both to the eyes and to the tongue. It included of course the local speciality sasamushi – eel steemed in rice wrapped in bamboo leaves.

HOTAKA – we visited the Dai-o Wasabi Farm in Hotaka just north of Matsumoto, a wonderful place where they are growing the precious wasabi roots in the river bed. You can also sample a wide range of wasabi foods including quite strong wasabi icecream and wasabi beer.      

Wasabi fields in the river.                      

Tending to the young wasabi plants.                       

And finally the fresh wasabi root for sale.

KISO VALLEY – South of Matsumoto we entered the beautiful Kiso Valley with the classical Edo-era villages Narai, Tsumago and Magome. Here we are strolling through Narai early morning. 

Small stone figures at the temples and shrines.

All dressed up!                                          

On our way through the Kiso Valley we passed these beautiful Koinobori – carp shaped flags – for the traditional celebration of the children’s day on 5 May. The flags fluttering in the wind symbolize the carps swimming upstream as an analogue to wishing the children happiness and good fortune in life. 

We arrived in Magome in the soft light of the afternoon – Magome is another well preserved Edo-era village.

Beautiful sakura by the temple.                                         

The central fireplace in a traditional Edo-era house.

From Magome we walked along the old post-road to Tsumago, a 7.7 km hike through beautiful forest and small villages. Occasionally you are requested to ring a large bell hanging along the path: “Ring the bell hard, against bears!” 

A beautiful traditional home on the road from Magome to Tsumago.

Sakura! 400-years old weeping cherry trees in blossom. 

Safely arrived in Tsumago, we meandered through the small streets of the old village.

Traditional wooden house in Tsumago. 

A small shrine.                                                         

Japan is a pleasure to the eye. How can you not fall in love with this country!

We stayed overnight in a small minshuku guest house in Magome. An enormous japanese dinner was included.

TAKAYAMA – From the Kiso Valley we crossed west over the Japanese Central Alps to Takayama, a town of well preserved old houses of rich merchants. Dark wood was the fashion.

As usual, we did not miss the chance to enjoy the local food!

OGIMACHI – North of Takayama we visited the village of Ogimachi (Shirakawa-go district) with its beautiful gassho-zukuri houses, a rare type of architecture which is specialized for the very heavy snowfall in the region of the central japanese alps. 

The thick and steep thatched roofs are made of the native susuki grass and have to be replaced every 20-30 years. Here an old house with a new roof. 

AINOKURA – We continued to the village of Ainokura further north to see more of the beautiful gassho-zukuri houses.

Here at around 600 meters altitude they had not even started preparing the rice fields yet. It was close to freezing point at night. In the winter they get many meters of snow. 

There were still patches of snow leftover from the winter and the cherry trees had just started to blossom. 

KANAZAWA –  We drove further west to Kanazawa which is almost down at the coast of the Sea of Japan. In Kenroku-en, one of the top three japanese gardens in Japan, we found the most beautiful cherry blossoms! 

The joy of sakura!                  

Kanazawa is a great place to stroll around through the old neighborhoods of the geishas. Some of the old tea houses are still preserved and here they still practice the traditional training of the geishas.

Kanazawa is full of small interesting shops. Here a shop selling and producing japanese lamps. 

And it is full of temples, shrines and small saints!

But probably the best thing about Kanazawa is the food – fresh seafood of exceptionally good quality!

And strange looking vegetables from the mountain regions. 

Lunch at a small restaurant close to the market – 5 different versions of cold soba noodles. 

And the highlight of the day – the spectacular evening meal!

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Golden Week

3-6 May 2013

We just finished the Golden Week in Japan, a week of 4 public holidays where all of Japan goes on the move to enjoy the holidays as much as possible with the family and friends. The weather was perfect and so we joined the 127 million Japanese and went out to enjoy!

With the Tocco-Watanabe family on the train to Kamakura.

The streets were packed with tourists…some of them more uncontrollable than others!

Marco Japanese style, fully enjoying the Golden Week!

First we visited the Hokoku-ji temple. The temple is rightfully famous for its beautiful bamboo garden.

Admiring the tall bamboo trees and the small new bamboo sprouts.

The art of zen gardening.                 

In the tea house inside the temple garden, the ladies were busy making matcha tea.

 

Then we visited the temple of Sugimoto-dera, a very old and important buddhist temple which hosts three beautiful statues of the Kannon goddess (no photos). 

As usual, we were greated by the friendly temple guards.                          

And finally, we visited the tranquil zen buddhist temple of Engaku-ji, one of the most important zen buddhist temples in Japan.

The monks were out and about. Here a gardening monk.

Offerings of sake and beer to the temple.

We also spent some time walking (and shopping) around Tokyo. Here are a few photographic impressions.

Tokyo Sky Tree.                                                                      

Who is watching who?                   

In the neighborhood of Asakusa.      

Plastic beers…!                                     

And plastic food.                              

Yokohama China Town.