Part 3
Day 6
Our day started with two cable car rides up Mount Hotaka in the Japanese Alps.
At the top it was -9'C!
It was so beautiful and peaceful walking through the snow.
I had to make a snow angel!
Back down the mountain, so travelled to Takayama.
This city has lots of buildings dating form the Edo Period.
We tasted some sake in one of the shops
and I bought some sashiko threads in another.
There was wild koi in the river.
We visited the shogun's residence, which is now a museum.
Then headed back to our hotel, another ryokan with an onsen.
Fabulous view from our room.
Dinner was a Japanese banquet, where everything is set out before you & you choose the order you eat it in.
Hida beef for the carnivores and lot of vegetables and tofu for me. Other people in our group were missing their vegetables on this holiday and started eyeing up mine! :)
The tempura was delicious.
Day 7
A pre-breakfast walk around Takayama.
We visited a shine.
After breakfast it was time to catch a bullet train to Kyoto.
At the station we bought bento box lunches for the trip.
All aboard and soon speeding towards Kyoto.
As we travelled around the bends at high speed, the buildings seemed to lend in towards us, but of course it was us leaning, we just weren't aware of it as the trip was so smooth whilst we ate our lunch.
Arriving at Kyoto, our first destination was Fushimi Inari Taisha, where 1,000 torii gates line the path up the mountain.
Our next stop was Gion in Kyoto.
These maiko, apprentice geiko, happily posed for a photo.
Kiyomizu Temple
The infamous, 13m high, balcony from which people once threw themselves, believing that if they survived their wish would be granted!
In the evening, watched a performance of traditional Kyoto arts at the Gion Corner Theatre.
Chado - tea ceremony
Kado - flower arrangement
Gagaku - court music
Kyomai - Kyoto style of dancing
Bunraku - puppet play
There was also Koto - Japanese harp and Kyogen - ancient comic play, which was very entertaining!
Day 8
Kinkakuji Temple
Ryumon-baku waterfall, meaning Dragon-gate waterfall, with the 'carp' climbing the waterfall.
Ryoanji Temple and Rock Garden
The famous Zen rock garden.
Tsukubai, wash basin with the inscription 'I learn only to be contented'.
Nishijin Textile Centre
Here we were treated to a show of beautiful kimonos.
I couldn't resist buying this beautiful kimono when I saw it in the textile centre shop.
I also purchased these traditional adornments, a temari ball pin and silk cocoon flowers.
The final organised visit of our day was attending a tea ceremony.
We were given a sweet cracker to eat before drinking the tea.
Then we drank the matcha tea
and took the time to admire the craftsmanship of the bowl. There was a particular way to drink from the bowl and to look at it afterwards.
S and I then walked through the cherry blossom parks where lots of people were having picnics
and headed into the shopping district where I wanted to visit a needlemaker's shop, Misuyabari. This family has been the needlemaker to the emperor's palace since 1651.
I bought these very dainty pins.
We then dashed, as it was nearly closing time, towards Walnut.
We made it just in time!
After that dash, we took a leisurely walk back to the hotel!
Our day started with two cable car rides up Mount Hotaka in the Japanese Alps.
At the top it was -9'C!
It was so beautiful and peaceful walking through the snow.
I had to make a snow angel!
Back down the mountain, so travelled to Takayama.
This city has lots of buildings dating form the Edo Period.
We tasted some sake in one of the shops
and I bought some sashiko threads in another.
There was wild koi in the river.
We visited the shogun's residence, which is now a museum.
Then headed back to our hotel, another ryokan with an onsen.
Fabulous view from our room.
Dinner was a Japanese banquet, where everything is set out before you & you choose the order you eat it in.
Hida beef for the carnivores and lot of vegetables and tofu for me. Other people in our group were missing their vegetables on this holiday and started eyeing up mine! :)
The tempura was delicious.
Day 7
A pre-breakfast walk around Takayama.
We visited a shine.
After breakfast it was time to catch a bullet train to Kyoto.
At the station we bought bento box lunches for the trip.
All aboard and soon speeding towards Kyoto.
As we travelled around the bends at high speed, the buildings seemed to lend in towards us, but of course it was us leaning, we just weren't aware of it as the trip was so smooth whilst we ate our lunch.
Arriving at Kyoto, our first destination was Fushimi Inari Taisha, where 1,000 torii gates line the path up the mountain.
Our next stop was Gion in Kyoto.
These maiko, apprentice geiko, happily posed for a photo.
Kiyomizu Temple
The infamous, 13m high, balcony from which people once threw themselves, believing that if they survived their wish would be granted!
In the evening, watched a performance of traditional Kyoto arts at the Gion Corner Theatre.
Chado - tea ceremony
Kado - flower arrangement
Gagaku - court music
Kyomai - Kyoto style of dancing
Bunraku - puppet play
There was also Koto - Japanese harp and Kyogen - ancient comic play, which was very entertaining!
Day 8
Kinkakuji Temple
Ryumon-baku waterfall, meaning Dragon-gate waterfall, with the 'carp' climbing the waterfall.
Ryoanji Temple and Rock Garden
The famous Zen rock garden.
Tsukubai, wash basin with the inscription 'I learn only to be contented'.
Nishijin Textile Centre
Here we were treated to a show of beautiful kimonos.
I couldn't resist buying this beautiful kimono when I saw it in the textile centre shop.
I also purchased these traditional adornments, a temari ball pin and silk cocoon flowers.
The final organised visit of our day was attending a tea ceremony.
We were given a sweet cracker to eat before drinking the tea.
Then we drank the matcha tea
and took the time to admire the craftsmanship of the bowl. There was a particular way to drink from the bowl and to look at it afterwards.
S and I then walked through the cherry blossom parks where lots of people were having picnics
and headed into the shopping district where I wanted to visit a needlemaker's shop, Misuyabari. This family has been the needlemaker to the emperor's palace since 1651.
I bought these very dainty pins.
We then dashed, as it was nearly closing time, towards Walnut.
We made it just in time!
After that dash, we took a leisurely walk back to the hotel!
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