We got a bit fed up of visiting places which are put up there as must-see. Although have no regrets having seen them I wanted something that depicted normal life so we stuck the tail on the donkey so to speak and came up with this little town on the south coast. When we arrived and looked out of our hotel 10th floor room window it ticked all expectations. A shopping mall, arcade, a bus depot, car park etc, perfect.
Was really exited to go out and explore Japan’s mediocrity but that didn’t last long. Much to our surprise just round the corner from my lovely bus station and fast food outlets stretched one of the cutest of little old towns we’ve visited so far. Oh well I can’t complain but will take a rain check on shopping malls and car parks for another time.
After our walk we were totally gobsmacked, so pretty, old houses on lantern lit canals with willows, little bars and old stone curved bridges.
We came across another of Japans serious hobbies being exhibited “Ikebana” to us it’s flower arrangement. It happened when we entered a courtyard to escape the rain and were greeted by Japanese ladies in kimonos, we were then given the full explanation, in Japanese of course and asked if we would like to look around.
To our surprise much of the display wasn’t classical but quite different.
We got the Shinkansen, which is the bullet train the next day, click the video to see how slick these trains are.
I’ll just have to wait for another town before I find my Japanese equivalent of the modern side of Antwerp or even Milton Keynes. We are off to Hiroshima on this train maybe that holds some promise.
mmmm… bullet train…
Hi Aren
You like the bullet train?? Better start saving your pocket money so you can buy a ticket one day. Next week we are going to travel on a ginormously huge container ship called Hanjin Ottawa. We will take a photo of that too.
All the best and say hello to Evangeline
Malene and Nick
Very beautiful…