Wednesday, 12 November 2014
Yoshino Mountain
Yesterday we travelled to Yoshino mountain which is outside of Nara. We left Osaka late to avoid the rush hour therefore most of the day was spent on the train. I enjoyed the train journey as it is wonderful too engage with the local people. This provides me with many opportunities to practise may language skills.
The town of Yoshino is a popular place for Japanese people to visit in the Spring time as the mountain sides are covered with cherry trees? These trees were planted in the 7th century by the founder of the Buddhist temple and over the centuries people planted cherry trees all over the surrounding mountains.
We were staying at a tradition Japanese inn called a ryokan and there we ate the local cuisine which consisted of sweet fish, goma dofu a tofu made from sesame seeds and sweet river fish.
We visited the Kinpusenji Temple which was built in the Asuka period as a training centre for ascetic monks. The main hall has been reconstructed and is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world.
From there we walked to Yoshimizu Jinji which is a Shinto shrine. It was a palace for a member of the Genji family. It is a very example of a ancient style of Japanese palace and it looks over to the Kinpusenji Temple.
Sunday, 9 November 2014
Osaka and a side visit to Nara
We have not done much sightseeing in Osaka. Once again Osaka is a huge city and we are staying in a skyscraper hotel which after the small county inns is disappointing.
Today we visited Nara which was the capital before Kyoto. As it was Sunday it was very busy with families bringing their children to the temple for blessings. Japanese families bring babies at three months old and also their small children. The girls are aged three and seven and the boys are aged five. Families give thanks to the gods for the children continued good health. The children were dressed in their best kimonos for the occasion. This festival is called the 7,5 and 3 festival or in Japanese Shichi, Go, San.
The Todiji temple houses a large bronze Buddha is the largest wooden building in the world and is part of a large temple complex. Outside the temple there were traditional dancers and musicians.
Today we visited Nara which was the capital before Kyoto. As it was Sunday it was very busy with families bringing their children to the temple for blessings. Japanese families bring babies at three months old and also their small children. The girls are aged three and seven and the boys are aged five. Families give thanks to the gods for the children continued good health. The children were dressed in their best kimonos for the occasion. This festival is called the 7,5 and 3 festival or in Japanese Shichi, Go, San.
The Todiji temple houses a large bronze Buddha is the largest wooden building in the world and is part of a large temple complex. Outside the temple there were traditional dancers and musicians.
Mountains around Mt Ontake
Mountains stream along the Nakasendo Trail
Small shrines along the Trail to protect travellers
Walk to Tusmago along the Nakasendo Trail
Today the walk was difficult as much of the morning walking was uphill to a height of one thousand metres.
The landscape was mountainous with narrow river valleys. From time to time we were we able to glimpse Mt Ontake, the volcano which erupted about a month ago. Smoke was visible from the summit.
The mountain path was through heavily wooded areas covered in many deciduous tress and cedar pines. The autum colours were magical and I can see why at this time of the year many Japanese travel to see the beauty of autumn.
From time to time we came across small farms, but the rice harvest has finished so many fields were empty. Many farms have their own vegetable patch growin Chinese cabbage, chillies, Japanese radish called daikon. Daikon is a long white radish and is available in Australia.
We stayed the night in Tusmago which is an Edo period post town. This town has been restored and some of the buildings are over three hundred years old.
The landscape was mountainous with narrow river valleys. From time to time we were we able to glimpse Mt Ontake, the volcano which erupted about a month ago. Smoke was visible from the summit.
The mountain path was through heavily wooded areas covered in many deciduous tress and cedar pines. The autum colours were magical and I can see why at this time of the year many Japanese travel to see the beauty of autumn.
From time to time we came across small farms, but the rice harvest has finished so many fields were empty. Many farms have their own vegetable patch growin Chinese cabbage, chillies, Japanese radish called daikon. Daikon is a long white radish and is available in Australia.
We stayed the night in Tusmago which is an Edo period post town. This town has been restored and some of the buildings are over three hundred years old.
Tsumago to Magome along the Nakasendo trail
I have not been able to post the last few days because the Internet in the countryside has not been strong.
We are now in Osaka so I am able to tell you about the past few days as we have journey along the Naksendo trail.
The Nakasendo Trail in the inland pathway between Kyoto, the imperial capital and Edo , Tokyo. Every year the samurai had to make this journey on the demands of the shogun. The inland trail was the women' s trail.
We have found the trail difficult at times as it follows the river valleys and crosses numerous mountains to a height of a thousand metres. The main river valley we followed was the Kiso river which is 229 km long and empties into Ise Bay. Many crops which are produced in this area benefit directly from the river.
We stayed the night at Kiso Fukushima in a traditional inn before catching the train to begin our walk to Tusmago.
We are now in Osaka so I am able to tell you about the past few days as we have journey along the Naksendo trail.
The Nakasendo Trail in the inland pathway between Kyoto, the imperial capital and Edo , Tokyo. Every year the samurai had to make this journey on the demands of the shogun. The inland trail was the women' s trail.
We have found the trail difficult at times as it follows the river valleys and crosses numerous mountains to a height of a thousand metres. The main river valley we followed was the Kiso river which is 229 km long and empties into Ise Bay. Many crops which are produced in this area benefit directly from the river.
We stayed the night at Kiso Fukushima in a traditional inn before catching the train to begin our walk to Tusmago.
Thursday, 6 November 2014
Wednesday, 5 November 2014
Naria - the first post town on the Nakasendo Road
We left Tokyo today to begin our journey along the Nakasendo Road. The Nakasendo Road is the mountain road between Tokyo and Kyoto, a journey that took several weeks during the Edo era 1603 until 1868. Today the same journey can be covered in about two hours by Shinkansen - high speed train.
There are eleven local villages from Niekawa to Magome on the route called the Kiso Road or the Nakasendo Road. We will walk along a small stretch stopping at the towns of Naria, Tsumago and Magome.
Naria is a preserved town and considered a national asset. The old part of the town consist of a Main Street lined with traditional wooden shops and homes. At the beginning and end of the town are they Shinto shrines where travellers asked the deities for a safe journey. Tonight we are staying at Naria in a traditional Japanese inn.
There are eleven local villages from Niekawa to Magome on the route called the Kiso Road or the Nakasendo Road. We will walk along a small stretch stopping at the towns of Naria, Tsumago and Magome.
Naria is a preserved town and considered a national asset. The old part of the town consist of a Main Street lined with traditional wooden shops and homes. At the beginning and end of the town are they Shinto shrines where travellers asked the deities for a safe journey. Tonight we are staying at Naria in a traditional Japanese inn.
Monday, 3 November 2014
Familiar places
Today was a national holiday in Japan. It was National Cultural Day. This day commemorates the constitution that was enacted by the Americans for Japan at the end of WW II. On public holidays all the public buses display the two national flags at the from of the bus.
We spent the day once again going to familIar places. It began at Tokyo Tower which is a popular place for both foreign and Japanese visitors. The Tower was built in 1959 as a communication tower and is 333 metres high. It resembles the Eiffle Tower in Paris, but in the traditional red and white colours of the Japanese flag.
From there we walked to Roppongi where we stopped to have lunch at Starbucks located in a new building complex. I am still overwhelmed at the changes that have taken place in this part of Tokyo. This complex occupies land that once belonged to the Ministry of Defence.
The day ended at Shinjuku with a visit to the Isetan department store where they have the most amazing food hall. It must be seen to be believe as a perfect rockmelon could cost ¥ 54,000.
We spent the day once again going to familIar places. It began at Tokyo Tower which is a popular place for both foreign and Japanese visitors. The Tower was built in 1959 as a communication tower and is 333 metres high. It resembles the Eiffle Tower in Paris, but in the traditional red and white colours of the Japanese flag.
From there we walked to Roppongi where we stopped to have lunch at Starbucks located in a new building complex. I am still overwhelmed at the changes that have taken place in this part of Tokyo. This complex occupies land that once belonged to the Ministry of Defence.
The day ended at Shinjuku with a visit to the Isetan department store where they have the most amazing food hall. It must be seen to be believe as a perfect rockmelon could cost ¥ 54,000.
Sunday, 2 November 2014
Shinjuku Park
A great part of the day was spend in Shinjuku Park. It is a beautiful park in the middle of a busy shopping and night life area. Shinjuku is a fantastic introduction to modern Tokyo with it's swarming crowds, street side video screens and soaring skyscrapers.
Shinjuku Gyoen was completed in the Meiji era in 1906 , but not opened to the public until 1949. Prior to this the park was purchased by the government for an experimental farm to promote modern agriculture.
The garden is composed of three distinct styles. There is an open English landscape garden, a formal French garden and a traditional Japanese garden. The garden is a very popular place to visit on a Sunday. Many families come to picnic, others come to take photographs of the many different kinds of flowers in bloom while others come to escape the busyness of Tokyo.
Saturday, 1 November 2014
Sightseeing in Tokyo
Today was our first day of sightseeing and although it rained most of the day, the day was not spoilt.
We walked to Tokyo Station Hotel where we were to meet friends. At first we walked in the wrong direction, but once we realised our mistake. We turn around and walked for a distance of about four kilometres.
The walk took us through Ginza which is a very expensive shopping areas and therefore not very crowded. Finally we arrived at the Tokyo Hotel. We were not disappointed. It is a beautiful restored building with three ornate domes. As part of this restoration there is a large underground shopping area.
After leaving here we took the subway in the direction of Shinjuku. I was able to locate the kindergarten my children attended while we lived in Japan. It is not longer a kindergarten, but remains a Buddhist temple. There was a model with the school uniform that was worn when it operated as a pre school
We walked to Tokyo Station Hotel where we were to meet friends. At first we walked in the wrong direction, but once we realised our mistake. We turn around and walked for a distance of about four kilometres.
The walk took us through Ginza which is a very expensive shopping areas and therefore not very crowded. Finally we arrived at the Tokyo Hotel. We were not disappointed. It is a beautiful restored building with three ornate domes. As part of this restoration there is a large underground shopping area.
After leaving here we took the subway in the direction of Shinjuku. I was able to locate the kindergarten my children attended while we lived in Japan. It is not longer a kindergarten, but remains a Buddhist temple. There was a model with the school uniform that was worn when it operated as a pre school
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