Japan - Kanazawa

 Saturday, September 20, 2025

Rode the bus back to Tokyo.

We went to the Tokyo train station. It is a mixture of old and new.

We bought lunch for the train at the station. Rode the bullet train to Kanazawa. Ate our lunch on the train. Tim had a speed app on the phone and clocked the train at 160 mph. It may have gone faster through the tunnels. Almost half the trip is through tunnels. Japan has many mountains. The population centers are located in the flat areas and are very crowded.

We walked to a department store in Kanazawa to each at a restaurant in the basement. Good sushi. We shared more of our personal history with Remi and Dick. Remi had the initial impression that Tim was still a juggler. She learned more of Tim's history at the dinner.

The group went to an ice cream stand after dinner and then headed back to the hotel. We stayed behind to buy some dried mango. By the time we left, it was late. The escalators had stopped. We went out a stairway, but it was on the wrong side of the building. We went back into the basement and found the correct stairs and exit. The store was closing. We got drenched on the walk back to the hotel. We watched the world track championship and sumo on the TV.

Saturday, September 20, 2025

Kanazawa is known for its Kenrokuen Garden. It harmoniously combines six ideal attributes of a perfect landscape: spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, watercourses, and panoramic views.

It has large, ancient trees; trees that have been manipulated to like a crane; an island that has added features that make it resemble a turtle. 

There are wide open spaces with broad views.

A path that looks like flying geese and a path that is closed. A stone in the middle of a path means path close. No need for ugly barricades and warnings.

A radio tower that was used to house radio speakers so people could gather and hear the news, before personal radios were possible.

Quiet locations with water features.

They prop trees with poles so the snow does not overburden them in the winter.

A maple tree, a tree supported by cables and a self-pressured fountain.

A memorial for fallen soldiers and for a feudal lord.

The group met a couple who were celebrating there marriage. They wanted to be in a group photo with us.

We walked across a bridge over a roadway to the Kanazawa Castle. The walls are original, but the grounds have been redesigned. 

Afterwards, we were dropped at the Omicho Market to buy snacks to be shared by all. We broke into groups and wandered through the stalls looking for something to eat that we could share. Our group bought cookies and chocolate. We stood at a table outside the market and shared out discoveries.

We explored the tea house (geisha) district. A block and surrounding buildings. It still has geisha houses. Some have shows for tourists and some are private and do not have any advertising showing to the public. Other shops sell items for tourists. We looked at a pottery shop and bought a big cookie with bean paste from a baker.

We had lunch at a restaurant that used to be a bank. The wine cellar is the old vault. We had grilled salmon and miso soup. Green tea jelly was for dessert.

We went to the gold leaf place and made postcards. The entrance displayed gold leaf armor and showed the process of beating the gold leaf. 

Tim had several emergency trips to the WC. Either the cookie or the lunch didn't agree with him. He left his postcard in the WC. Bobbi still has her postcard. We weren't confident that we would enjoy the bus ride home. 

Dinner was on our own. The rest of the group went for pasta and pizza with Remi. We opted to try a gluten free restaurant close to the hotel. It was recommended to make reservations, but we just walked over. The door was locked, but people were inside eating. The chef came to the door and communicated "how many" and we indicated ourselves. He let us in. There were 5 tables and maybe two stools at a counter. The kitchen was on the other side of the counter. The entire restaurant was less then 200 square feet. We ordered tofu and vegetables.

Japan - Hakone

 Thursday, September 18, 2025

Breakfast at the hotel.

Bus to A Day in the Life. On the bus ride, we got our official view of Mount Fuji. We drove by a love hotel. Japan is very crowded, including housing. When couples want some alone time, they go to a love hotel

Along the way, it was funny to see something so American in Japan as a Denny's.

Arrived at the Tea and Rice farm and listened to a lecture, translated by Remi. The chairs were a bit wobbly on a dirt floor. At one point, we looked around and saw Donna on the floor. Surprising and luckily, no injury. The day was quite warm. The fans helped keep us cool.

We walked to the rice field. Rob rode the tractor to help cut the rice and shuck it.

Moved to the tea field, where we all pinched tea leaves (for our lunch, later). Fuji was visible in the distance.

Tim rode the tractor to add manure to the field. Many funny comments. Matt drove the tractor back to the barn. Bobbi wanted to drive it, but all the opportunities were gone. 

We made rice balls and ate them. Lunch was tempura tea and vegetables with tofu.

After lunch we could buy kimono pieces and t-shirts.

Afterward, we went to the local community house and explored. Tatami matts on the floors. A beautiful garden. A display of a water wheel from the past.

Drove to Hakone and checked in. Hakone is known for hot baths. Most of us went down for a bath before dinner. Baths are very serene in Japan. Men and women bathe separately. Loud talking is discouraged. Take a complete shower before and after the bath. The baths are fed by local springs. We all wore our kimonos to dinner.

Hot pot for dinner with veggies and tofu. 

Friday, September 19, 2025

Drove to Lake Ashi. 

Hopped on a ferry for a short cruise across the lake.

Passed the location of Tim's "Fuji" photo. Unfortunately, Fuji was not visible on this day either. 

We could see the cables and tower for the gondola as well as the pirate ship on the lake.

Went to the outdoor museum that Tim had visited so many years ago. 

The train station for the Gondola was down the street.

We went to a wood worker who creates the puzzle boxes. The same technique is used to create scenes. We bought a scene like the view of Fuji that would be visible on a clear day. We bought some chopsticks, too. Bobbi bought a lovely necklace. The streets of the town had tiles in the sidewalk that looked like the wood art.

During the time, Tim was given a puzzle box to try. He was able to open it, but not close it.

Lunch at a local hotel with a hot pot of veggies and ramen with rice. The hotel was next to a stream with rapids. The hotel had a koi pond.

Met with two geishas in the afternoon. We had an interesting discussion and were given two dancing demonstrations.

Back to the hotel for baths, watching sumo and a buffet dinner. Most people skipped an optional evening of caligraphy and origami with Remi.