The last days in Kyoto - and goodbye Japan

My last day has arrived, and I have been walking the streets focusing on the everyday life of Japan today. It is hard to say goodbye to such a beautiful country, and such a complicated but sweet people as the Japanese.


My last touristic event was to see the castle of Nijõ-jõ - surrounded with water where the walls mirroered themselves very pretty in the stillnes of the water.


Around the water the red berries seen everywhere in and around Kyoto made a nice contrast to the green of the bushes.


I am going to be off very early tomorrow, my taxi picks me up at 05.10 tomorrow morning - in the middle of the night really, and then I am catching a shuttle bus to the local airport, to fly to Narita. From there straight to Copenhagen - and then back to the Moor to find myself in the time zone of Europe, before starting work on Wednesday.

Snow and Zen in Kyoto

After a day where we almost had spring, the next day turned out gray and full of snow. I met with the two Americans early, and we decided to go and see the park surrounding the Imperial Palace. The weather kept changing, sometimes sun sometimes snow. and sometimes both..

I had good company, so even if it was a little cold and unconfortable at times, it was still nice just to walk trough the city, discussing all sorts of stuff on the way.

North of the park we went to see a temple, and there I got to see my first Zen garden, it was just as fantastic as I have always imagined it to be - I really would like to spend some time in a Zen-monastery some day.

After the temple we headed in the direction of Philosophers Path, a path close to the mountains that should be very pretty. But before that we really needed to rest our feet, and found a sweet little café where we had some nice tea.

It was a long walk to the path, but it was certainly worth it - a winding path next to a small river with shrines and temples and beautiful sceneries. We visited a second hand kimonostore and I found a wonderful black one to add to my growing collection.

It was again such a nice day, and in the end we said out goodbyes.. the two are going to Tokyo and then back to school in the states - I had to promise to stop by, next time I am in NY.. and I certainly will.

Kyoto day two - and great company

What a great day - I went out in town again, this time determined to see a little more than yesterday, and at the first temple I met two very nice American guys who was great company the rest of the day.. I really enjoyed sharing the experience of it all with them.

On my way to the first temple, I finally made my first picture of the Japanese crane, in the river that runs trough Kyoto there were several of these sweet birds.


The Temple up on the mountain, where we went together. The view from up there was amazing, and the weather had improved from a rather grey morning to a feeling of almost spring.



After a long day full of exploring and fun, we ended up in a small restaurant and had a nice meal. A great day and SO good company..

Kyoto day one

It has been one of those fantastic days where the sun is on a blue blue sky, and everything seems a little lighter and a little sweeter than on a cloudy day.

I went out to just meet this town, where I will be in this week, quickly deciding just to walk and be, and not set any goals today.

First I went to a Temple close to where my hotel is, and met a temple-bird so sweet - he was such a blessing :)



I walked the streets and bought some books, made my first Japanese prayer at another smaller temple late in the afternoon, bought myself a coupple of sandwiches, to eat in my room while reading and relaxing.


Tomorrow I am going to go a little further out, and be a little more focused - without loosing my sense of relaxing and being - I hope.

Takayama and traditional Japan

No connection and a lot of time

A couple of days away from my precious Internet, and I finally finished my book. It has been a couple of days of real winter here in Japan, most of the days below zero, and till today not much fun being outside.

My first day here was not really suited for any outdoor activity, and since that was the only thing I had planned for this small town, I had to settle with some shopping and then back to a warm room again.

I walked the town under my umbrella, unable to see much, but I finally found a normal sandal-shop, where I got my Japanese shoes. As a normal western woman, my feet are very big for such shoes, but they DID manage to find ONE pair that fitted and another that was almost big enough. Such sandals are fitted on the spot, so I had to return and buy them after the Shuster had finished making them ready for me.

While I waited I found a second hand shop, and just had to buy another kimono and obi, so in the end I mailed another packet for Denmark, realizing all the shoes and kimono-stuff would fill my luggage over the edge.

After my visit to the mail office, the snow was pouring from the sky, so I went home to my “Shosuke” ( a traditional Japanese Inn) to just read and enjoy doing nothing for once.

The Sunday morning brought a change of weather, the sun was shining from a sky with only a few clouds, so after an early breakfast (there is only breakfast till 8 in the Shosuke) I went into town, eagerly wanting to take some pictures of this old town. I had to wear a lot of clothing to endure the cold, it was still freezing, but it was worth it.

I walked towards the part of town I had read so much about, where the Edo-period still was supposed to be alive, and on the way I passed a shop with woodcarvings, these shops have craft that is very well done, so I stopped to look and heard a flute, a traditional Japanese bamboo-flute, sounding from inside the shop. I looked in and saw a man in the back of the shop, playing the flute. He saw me and beckoned me closer, so I was invited in and had a concert all of my own. He did not speak anything else other than Japanese, but we managed to communicate anyway, and I even tried the flute myself. Once again I met the country, in a very unique way.

On my way to the old streets I also stumbled over the morning market, and had a slow stroll along the many different tents and places where people were selling all kinds of things, from traditional sweets and fish over cakes and sweet rice-balls, to expensive woodcarvings and Japanese dolls.

The ancient Japan, with narrow streets and small houses with the typical sliding doors of ricepaper enfolded before my eyes. I did walk those streets the first day, but saw nothing of it, because of all the rain and snow. Now in the sun it was clear that I walked in the middle of history. I went onto a museum to look at the craft from long ago, and had to close my eyes to the fact that there were tourist stuff everywhere. It was just like being in Odense near the house of Hans Christian Andersen. Neat but a little too much.

After 6 hours of wandering in the town I was cold to the bone, so I went into a familymart and got myself a couple of nice sandwiches, and went home to the cosiness of my room, my good book and a cup of coffee.

I ended my day with another fantastic and exotic meal here at the Minshuke, traditional Japanese food, prepared very well, and served at a low table sitting on a pillow on the floor.

Fuji-San

A short and tired note.. It has been the most wonderfull day - and we have seen the mountain... Fuji-San is so fantastic... only an image can get near to the feeling we had.


The next coupple of days I spend in a very old and traditional place, and with no Internet, so blogging will start again when I land in Kyoto on monday.

Nikko - Sun and lots if walking in the mountains

My last day in Nikko, and finally a completely clear sky from early on. Full sun to totally show off the shrines and temples.


I walked up to the Toshogu Shrine, where one of the important rulers of the Edo period had his Mausoleum built. A stunning presentation of wealth and beauty, and still full of the quiet spirit of Japan. While I was there I head drumming several times, where the shinto-priests are conducting some kind of ceremony.


I had looked at the map, and found a shrine dedicated to a female deity, so there I went. It was a long walk trough and up into the forest behind the Toshogu shrine.


Actually it was a shrine on the edge of the maountain, and there was a fantastic view from there.
When I walked back I was not sure if I had the power to go to the falls aswell, and first I had to get something to eat. After a good meal, I was rested and full of power again, so I decided to give it a try. Nikko is settled in a deep valley between high mountains, so the sun sets early. I did not want to get caught in the darkness away from the city.


On the way to the falls I had a coupple of great shots on the fantastic mountains that surround Nikko


The roadsign said 2 km, but I didnt know that it would be such a climb. I went up and up and up, and the street narrowed into almost nothing. I met noone and it was a very nice and quiet walk, just being one with nature, watching the sky and feeling the serenety of the old old forest.


There were several times where I almost gave up, but in the end I finally made it. I met the spirit of the falls, in a buddha on the foot of the last stairs to the shrine next to the falls. He promised me to protect me, and I promised him a token on my return ;)

Shinkyo - The Red Bridge

I walked pass this bridge several times - very pretty


One of the famous sites here in Nikko is the bridge where ledgend says the founder of the town crossed the river to found the city. I walked by there several times yesterday on my mailing-crusade, and made these pictures of it.


At night the bridge is illuminated and very pretty - almost like something out of a fairytale

Kimono

Today I finally got my very own kimono. A small shop here in Nikko sells them second hand, and I bought 3, two on sale, very cheap, and one that is a little more classy - as you can see on the picture.


I had the woman in the shop show me how you wear it right, and then she took my picture.

They are quite heavy such kimonos, so I decided on the spot, to go to the mail office and send it to Denmark right away. It was quite a hassle to get it done, getting a box, packing it all, and then finally carrying it all back to the office to mail it. In the end the package weighed almost 5 kilos, which i don't need to carry all the way - nice!


It took quite a lot of walking to get this done, and the weather did not really improve, it kept being cloudy, so I decided just to wander and look today. Nikko is a spectacular town - even without visiting shrines and temples.

Nikko and Shinkansen

A true adventure again. Today I left Sendai to have my first ride with the famous Shinkansen train, not a very long trip, but still exiting.

It is a very nive train, but also very filled, and since I had a seat away from the windows, I didnt see much of the landscape we were driving trough. It was fantastic weather, so I did see some of the many mountains, but not at all in compare to what happened when I got into the small local train that took me to my final destination - Nikko.

On this local train, I had a great view of the landscape, and it is stunning here. We drove trough forests and mountain-landscapes that were no less than breathtaking. It was late in the afternoon when I finally reached my "Hotel" a small inn just under a mountain next to a river.



I was given a tiny traditional Japanese room, and rushed out to take some pictures before the sun was all gone. I am truly looking forward to staying here a couple of days, and getting to go up into the mountains.

This is the view from one of my windows, a very unique one with the ongoing sound of the river in the background.

Before the sun was setting behind the mountains, I managed to make a series of images in the dusk, the mountains really make you feel quite small here

There is a shaky connection to the Internet here, so no skype or MSN - only e-mail, till now that is.. of cause I am going to try to get it all working, else it would not be me :)

Rural Sendai

The sun gave an opportunity to go out and look trough the lens, at the very different Japanese way of living .


So before my departure from Sendai, I went out on a photo-session with Lea, in her neighborhood.


The sun was setting while we walked around in the small streets and took a lot of pictures of houses and shrines and temples..


Its been a nice week here visiting Lea and seeing some of her friends and her surrounding. Tomorrow I will be leaving for Nikko, for a coupple of days in the mountains, between temples and fantastic nature.

The train leaves at 13.14 - and hopefully I will have just as much access to the internet there, as I have here.

Kareoke

What a wonderful way of playing. I was with my daughter and her friends to Karaoke in the evening yesterday, and we had SO much fun.

The concept of Karaoke is invented in Japan, and is not at all like we know it in Europe.

You go there with a group of friends, and get your own room where you sit all evening singning songs - a small room, only your friends. And all can participate!

We sang all kinds of songs, anime surely, but also old classics and Nightmare before Christmas.


Lea and I tried out the Madonna hit "Like a Virgin" - LOTS of fun... wigs including.

Drumming

I was lucky this morning - walking the streets, mainly focusing on getting some small things for presents for the ones at home, and all of a sudden there was a group of young people playing the traditional big drum of Japan.

Even though the streets were bustling with people, and there was a lot of noise, they managed to create a very special feeling, and the deep sound of the big drums was fantastic. Just like that they made me feel very much in Japan.

New Year!!

Happy New Year to all!!

I was lucky to have a very special New Years Eve, with the friends and relatives of my daughter in her place here in Japan.

We had an exotic meal of different premades from Seven Eleven - no restaurants open on new years eve - its a very traditional family-thing in Japan. So in the kitchen of the dorm, we ate and talked and had fun all night.


Joakim and Lea had bought a bottle of Pernod Absinth, and we had several of them, nicely done with burning sugar. A sweet and magic taste of mystery..


I had the very special experience of meeting someone extraordinaire, a very deep and unique meeting that made my evening almost enchanted. I am sure 2008 could not have gotten a more perfect beginning.

After a long night we went to the beach to greet the first sun of the year. In Japan it is believed to bring a lot of luck to see the first sunrise. (see Eric I CAN find the right word ;)

Most of the day before was snowy and very cold, but the morning turned out to be very beautiful, with only a few clouds decorative scattered over the horizon.When the sun was up, the sky was almost completely clear and we walked back to the train in full sun.


I could not have dreamed about a more perfect celebration of the new and exiting year of 2008