On a bright and frosty morning, we set off from the ryokan in Tsumago, to catch a train to Kanazawa, on the west coast of Japan. The city of Kanazawa, sometimes known as 'Little Kyoto' has a rich history and has maintained much of the historical atmosphere which can be seen in the winding streets of the old tea districts and where Samurai families still live.
(The breakfast table at the ryokan in Tsumago)
(Lots of thought was put into the presentation of each plate...)
(Including the heart shaped egg)
(Nagiso)
(A view of the Japanese Alps from the train)
On arrival in Kanazawa, we set out to explore one of the old tea districts where many tea houses were previously located. These tea houses provided a place of respite for weary travellers and wealthy merchants who would enjoy the food and entertainment provided.
(Women dressed in kimonos. They may have been tourists in rental kimonos or
locals who were on their way to a special event.)
The bullet train line was brought to Kanazawa in March 2015 and as a result, has significantly increased the number of visitors to the area. A local sushi restaurant that we went to that evening was so enamoured with the bullet train, that it even included a special bullet train track above it's sushi conveyor belt to deliver specially requested meals to a customer's table.
In the picture below, you can see the bullet train rush by above the sushi conveyor belt. All customers sit in booths alongside the conveyor belt and choose from the dishes that come directly from the kitchen. Special orders are placed on the iPad at each table and then delivered by the 'bullet train'. The plates are different colours, with a cost assigned to each colour - the cost is based on the type of food on that plate. Your bill is tallied up at the end once all your used plates are accounted for.
The following day we explored the famous Kenroku-en gardens and Kanazawa Castle. Kenroku-en is considered one of Japan's top three gardens and was a beautiful setting for a stroll, even on a grey winter day. In the garden, many of the trees were strung up by 'yukizuri' a form of support for the branches that is put in place prior to heavy snowfall.
The castle was built in 1583 and while great lengths were taken in the design of the buildings to protect them from earthquakes, many of the original structures were destroyed over the years by fires. The store house was recently renovated using historical construction methods, taking nearly five years to complete.
(Kanazawa Castle)
From Kanazawa, we headed south to Kyoto, the old capital, where we are currently spending four days. While we have experienced a variety of different settings so far in Japan, one constant has been the kindness and politeness of the Japanese people. It's really made every interaction so enjoyable and we never hesitate to greet someone or ask for help, knowing we'll get a warm response. Arigato Japan!
No comments:
Post a Comment