Carving out a sake cup.
18. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Travelled by coach today to Takayama. On the way we stopped in Inami.
Inami, in Toyama Prefecture, is well-known for its skilled wood carvers and sculptors.
There are 120 wood carving workshopsLes mer
No land unused.
18. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
With only 30% of the land available for living and agriculture, none of it goes to waste.
It seems that all available space is very efficiently used for rice paddies or growing vegetables.
Shirakawa-go
18. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Shirakawa-go (Shirakawa Village) is a Japanese mountain settlement in what was once considered a wild and unexplored region. Because of the area’s natural environment, with high mountains and heavyLes mer
More Shirakawa-go photos.
18. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Miyagawa mkt & Takayama Festival Floats.
19. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
The Miyagawa morning market happens every morning. There are many stalls along the riverside with shops on the other side of the narrow street.
The stalls sell fresh fruit and vegetables, local craftLes mer
Takayama Jinya
19. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Takayama Jinya is a former government office dating back to the Edo period. It is the only one of its type still remaining.
The main work of the office was to handle legal cases and tax collection.Les mer
Daio wasabi farm, Matsumoto.
20. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
After a two hour drive from Takayama we arrived at Daio (King) wasabi farm. We walked around looking at the growing process.
An essential requirement is lots of fresh, clean flowing water.
The rootLes mer
Monkey business at the Monkey Park.
20. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Jigokudani Yaen-Koen is home to the Japanese Macaques, also known as snow monkeys.
Jigokudani literally translates as 'hell's valley' because of the steam and boiling water that bubbles out of smallLes mer
Matsumoto Castle.
21. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
First today, a visit to Matsumoto Castle - sometimes called Crow Castle due to its black exterior.
It dates back to the 16th century and is the oldest wooden castle in Japan.
As with all theseLes mer
Miso and mail.
21. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
From Matsumoto Castle we were driven to a miso factory where we had the fermentation process explained.
It is a three year process and uses soya beans, salt and malted rice. The beans are mashed, andLes mer
Oh, what a dinner!
21. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ 🌙 15 °C
On the drive to Suwa, Inage explained that we would all be supplied a casual kimono to wear to dinner tonight. He said he would demonstrate how to wear it in reception when we arrived at theLes mer
Suwa - Mt Fuji - Tokyo.
22. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C
Below is an excerpt from our itinerary for today:-
“Travel approximately one and a half hours by road to Hakone. The region is spectacular with the calm waters of the five lakes, formed by pastLes mer
Lake Ashi Ferry & Gondola ride.
22. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
On arrival at Lake Ashi, we de-coached at a ferry terminal at Motohakone.
The lake was formed after Mount Hakone's last eruption, 3,000 years ago.
We took the ferry a little way around the lake toLes mer
Mt Fuji and Tokyo.
22. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Yes, we did get good views from the top!
Then we had a two hour trip into Tokyo. After arriving at Hotel Grand Nikko at 6.00pm, we had to meet at 6.45 to go into Tokyo for dinner.
We caught theLes mer
Hamarikyu gardens.
23. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
A drive around Tokyo pointing out notable buildings and areas took us to our first of today's visits, Hamarikyu gardens.
Hamarikyu gardens are a beautiful example of Japanese garden and it is rightLes mer
Sushi making.
23. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
In order to have lunch today, we would have to make our own and we would be taught by a master sushi chef.
Chef presented a tuna for us to appreciate and then filleted it. Some was first sliced forLes mer
Asakusa and Sensoji Temple.
23. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Asakusa is the centre of Tokyo's Shitamachi (old town) district with traditional craft shops and street food stalls.
Walking through this district leads to Sensoji Temple, an ancient Buddhist templeLes mer
Sunset over Tokyo.
23. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
For dinner, we walked to a nearby shopping centre for a buffet.
Tokyo turned on a beautiful sunset for us on the way to dinner and a light show on the way back.
Around Tokyo.
24. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
First today was a visit to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The 243 metre tall building has two towers, each of which houses an observatory at 202 metres.
The views across Tokyo areLes mer
Dinner cruise on Tokyo Bay.
24. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Caught the local train to the bay cruise jetty. Boarded the Symphony Classica at 7.00pm. We had our own dining room and ate a four course western style dinner.
During dinner we cruised around TokyoLes mer
Bullet train northwards.
25. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ 🌬 17 °C
Today we travelled from Tokyo to Sendai by bullet train - 305kms in less than two hours.
We left the hotel at 8.00am and went by coach to the station. There was a train at the platform when weLes mer
Miyagikyo Distillery and Matsushima.
25. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ 🌬 20 °C
After lunch we were coached to a whisky distillery. Masataka Taketsuru built this distillery in 1969 in the pursuit of the perfect whisky.
It was very interesting to look at the history and theLes mer
Zuigani Temple, Matsushima.
25. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Zuigani Temple is one of the most famous and prominent Zen temples in the Tohoku region. It was originally founded in 828.
It was restored in 1609 and is famous for its beautifully gilded and paintedLes mer
Sendai to Hakodate.
26. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
7.30am start today. Walked to the station and caught the 8.00am bullet train (our last) to Kikoni which is as far north as the bullet train goes. To get from Kikoni to Hakodate, we took a 15 minuteLes mer
Gondola ride to Mt Hakodate.
26. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
A big attraction in Hakodate, for both locals and tourists, is to take the gondola (the Hakodate Ropeway) to the top of Mount Hakodate.
The view from the top is really spectacular but most people goLes mer

















































































































































































































































Candice ColeWhat a great memory & momento