October 2023

We saw so many crab and octopus signs in Osaka that I gave them their own post.

Note to self: If you plan to meet someone for dinner in Osaka, don’t just tell them to meet you at the place with the big octopus or crab sign out front.Read more

When I think of a castle, I envision a stone building. In Japan, however, castles were often made of wood. For this reason, many are no longer standing, having succumbed to fire and other damage.

In fact, Kochi’s historic castle is the only one in Japan with its tower still standing.

Kochi Castle was in use from 1603 to 1871. It stands high on a hill, and we climbed plenty of stairs to get there.

Visitors must leave their shoes in little lockers before entering the castle. This meant I was barefoot, but I found the tatami mats quite pleasant and cushy.

As you can see, the castle interior is quite sparse. The wall panels were paper in many places, and secret rooms were tucked throughout for guards to hide.

I’ve included a photo of the family crest for the Yamanouchi family, which later was adopted by a guy named Mitsubishi as a hood ornament for his line of automobiles.

The higher we climbed, the steeper the stairs became. It nearly felt like climbing a ladder by the time we reached the sixth floor.

I loved the views up there, not only of the mountains and city, but also of the
“shachihoko.”

Shachihoko are traditional Japanese roof ornaments that look like fish and are based upon mythical Chinese creatures. The top floor offered a good close up view of the shachihoko figures adorning Kochi Castle,

Finally, I had to include a photo of some school children. Every time we pass a group, they call out, “Hello!” “Konnichiwa!” and/or “How are you?” The really brave ones will shout out their names. It’s pretty darn cute.Read more

A tragic love story surrounds a bright red bridge in Kochi, Japan. As the legend goes, a monk named Junshin fell in love with a beautiful girl named Ouma.

This was in the 1800s, however, and at that time monks were not allowed to marry.

When Junshin was caught buying a pretty hairpin for his beloved, the star crossed lovers were punished. Junshin was sent into exile, and Ouma was also sent far away.

These days, the Harimayabashi Bridge is a popular tourist stop. The star crossed lovers never saw each other again, however their story captured local imagination. Images of Junshin and Ouma can be seen all over town, in statuettes, murals, and t shirts. There’s even a Hello Kitty rendition.Read more