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Pivot East: Japan Traveler
Higashi Hongan-ji
April 9 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F
I jokingly called this Tokugawa Ieyasu 's spite temple. Established in 1602, Ieyasu split the Jodo Shinsu sect to lessen their power. The sect had previously challenged strongman Nobunaga, and had been slapped down. The side that gave in was rewarded by Nobunaga's successor, my boy Hideyoshi, with the Nishi Hongan-ji. Ieyasu gave the other faction the land to build this one, after wiping out Hideyoshi 's son. So, spite temple, but not really.Read more
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Kanazawa Castle
April 10 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 68 °F
Kanazawa, a city made rich and beautiful by the powerful Maeda family during the rule of the Tokugawas. The Maeda were the richest family in Early Modern Japan, controlling a vast amount of land and most of the gold leaf production.

They were also smart and politically savvy. They knew the Tokugawas were extremely jealous of their power, and wouldn't hesitate to crush a perceived rival. So the took their wealth and invested in the arts, in beautifying the city, public works projects, and a really nice castle.

That's where we're starting, with what's left of the castle after countless fires, seizure by the Meiji government when they decided to end feudal privileges, and its eventual loss through decay and misuse.

Only some of the gardens and the first line defensive structure has been restored. They're working on the palace, and it sounds like it will be beautiful. There was a lot of information on how the castle was built and restored. Nice place.Read more
Traveler Is this the Maeda family?
4/14/26Reply
TravelerNo, but Steve was sure the father was harkening back to his Axis days
4/14/26Reply
Traveler St.George looking for a tiger
4/14/26Reply
Traveler🤣
4/14/26Reply
TravelerGood spot with the iconography. And I, the one time Orthodox, missed it.
4/14/26Reply
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Kanazawa Samurai District and lunch
April 10 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 68 °F
Kanazawa day 1 part 2

Lunch and the Samurai District

Lunch was in a little local Iocal place that served the local specialty, jibuni, which is a duck stew with vegetables, and for good measure we got some tempura. It was all amazing. Will definitely have to learn to make it.

Then on to the samurai district

The Maeda were a rich and powerful family, with many retainers. The samurai class was divided into various ranks, much like European nobility. Each rank had its own duties and privileges. As the rule of the Tokugawas went on, the war fighting role of the samurai decreased, and they became administrators rather than warriors. Except of course, when it came to foreign wars.

The samurai district still has its high walls, and many houses still bear the traditional gates. The shape of the gate, the size of the house, etc was determined by the owner's rank.Read more
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Samurai House
April 10 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 72 °F
The house of a middle ranked samurai, including household goods. There's also a letter thanking one of the family for killing an important enemy and "bringing his head to us". Needless to say, Steve thought that was hysterical.

It started raining really hard after the visit, so we went to a café and got some coffee, a black sesame latte, and gold leaf ice cream. Yes, you eat the gold leaf. It's a thing here, as over ninety percent of Japan's gold leaf comes from Kanazawa.Read more
TravelerYes I'm with Steve - it IS hysterical 😀. Really? It rained?! 🙄
4/16/26Reply
Traveler Looks cute 🥰
4/16/26Reply
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Samurai District and Saigawa Shrine
April 10 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 72 °F
Another samurai house, and a small shrine by the river, Saigawa Shrine.
Traveler Japanese Nessie?
4/16/26Reply
TravelerJust a duck that wouldn't let me take a good picture.
4/21/26Reply
Traveler Ok... Interesting perspective
4/16/26Reply
TravelerThey have a lot of interesting water projects in Japan, let me tell you.
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Curry and Crows
April 10 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 64 °F
...or maybe ravens. There always seem to be a lot of them around the Shinto Shrines, and this evening, a ton of them around the castle.

Kanazawa curry for dinner, which is a darker, deeper version of regular Japanese curry. Really good. Ordered with the machine at Turban Curry.

Night views around the castle park.

Ishiura Shrine, with its adorable dog mascot, Kima-chan, and 101 torii gates. Also where Esteban Akula lost his hotel key card, but we found it on the rail the next day. So thank you, nice person.Read more
Traveler Better call Al(fred)
4/16/26Reply
Traveler Ah... Stunning 😍
4/16/26Reply
Traveler 😍
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Kenrouken Garden
April 11 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
This garden was built by the Maeda family. It's considered one of the three grea gardens of Japan. Some of the highlights, several ponds, the oldest fountain in Japan, and a famous two legged lantern. And of course, acres of cultivated trees, flowers, paths, and bridges. Also, the Sakura are still in bloom.
The garden was developed over centuries starting in 1620, and given its name in the 1800s as it embodied the six attributes of an ideal landscape: spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, water, and panoramic views.Read more
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Kenrouken Garden 2
April 11 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
Part two of the garden, the shrine right by it, and a nice chocolate snack we had outside.
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The Geisha Districts
April 11 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
Back to the Ishiura Shrine for day views and lunch (Japanese fried chicken, American long potatoes, and a dark chestnut beer), some cute snacks and two of the three Geisha/ Tea districts
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Shima geisha house
April 11 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
We visited an okyia, which is/was, a house/business establishment where geisha/geiko something live, and often entertain. While it's not necessary to live in, it is apparently necessary to be registered with an okiya in order to do business.

We visited the Ochiya Shima, which was built in 1820. Pictures come from the camera phone, as no regular cameras were allowed. Interesting information presented, though nothing I didn't know already.Read more
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Oyama Shrine
April 11 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
The Oyama Shrine is dedicated to Maeda Toshiie, the first Maeda clan ruler of the Kaga domain. It was moved to its present location in 1873, and the front gate with the stained glass was constructed. Nice views of the sunset from the steps, but I missed the chance to get the sun going down in between the pillars.

Also, some pizza and cheesecake. By this point, we needed some home comfort food, and since there was no biscuits and gravy or chicken and dumplings, well, pizza it was.Read more
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