Days 11 Akashi 明石 to 湯モール温泉

Great day with the Inaokas! Did breakfast at the house and then left to drive north toward the Sea of Japan. I didn’t anticipate this, but with the three previous days I spent there, it turned out I would be on the sea north of Kyoto for about five days. We drove perhaps two hours to reach a 100+ year-old theater, Izushi Eirakukan, for Kabuki. Before visiting the theater, we did a quick lunch at a Ramen restaurant who’s style is to serve tapas size plates of noodles were upon the patrons. Choose their own toppings and sauces. This style seems unique to the area. Then to the theater, it remained in a period of disuse for 40 years but since has been restored to show movies as well as plays. In addition to seeing the main stage and seating, we also were able to go under stage where we saw most of the original mechanism for rotating the wooden stage above. Of course it was done by hand, and is still in use. Also open were the actors’ rooms for costuming, and an ancient iron hot bathtub where the actors removed makeup after performances.

Back in the car, we continued our drive to the Yumura onsen area. We made another sightseeing stop at Kami-Kasumikuamurabe. This was noteworthy because here a Japanese architect constructed an iron bridge, despite the knowledge that the assault water and wind wood quickly corrode the metal. Before construction, the architect had planned to construct the bridge from concrete and traveled to the US to see a concrete bridge, but none had yet been constructed in the States. Without such guidance, he proceeded with the iron bridge. It did indeed rust, and eventually required replacement by the concrete train bridge, which stands here now.

Next stop was our ryokan, Izutsuya. This place was beautiful, inside and out in the garden. After check-in, it was time to hit the baths, both outside and inside. Dressed in yukata, the three of us having a wonderful dinner together in a private room. After dinner, we did an evening stroll in the garden, lit by ancient- looking fire lanterns. We retired rather early to bed, because the next morning would be an early start.Baca lagi