Matsuda-Machi (near Odawara): Toured Nakazawa
Sake Brewery, and then headed into town to visit
friends and family.
Unazuki Onsen: Just east of Toyama, we caught the
cog train to view Kurobe Gorge and enjoy a short
nature walk with great vistas of the mountains.
Takaoka: Full day tour to see the Great Buddha,
Castle Ruins, the old houses on the main street, the
Zuryuji Temple and the sea cost. Lunch featured the
local specialty- Konbu Meshi Gozen (Kelp).
Kanazawa: Took the loop bus to the major attractions
including the Omicho Market, the Castle, Kenroku-en
Garden, the Samurai District, the old Geisha District,
Museums and more.
Hokuriku, Koyasan and Tokyo
For my 13 th visit to Japan, I wanted to maintain the
tradition of seeing and experiencing as many new places
as possible.
For the first time, I took the Air Canada flight to Haneda
Airport. After getting my luggage and clearing Customs, I
caught a Limousine Bus to the Courtyard Marriott Ginza.
It was good to be back home. I still maintain that this is
one of the best places to stay in the city, based on its
convenient downtown Ginza location and the quality of
the rooms, not to mention the friendly staff!
I met Mitsuru Sasaki, my Associate Editor, and we set out
to explore a new Oyster Counter in Shimbashi. The next
day we started out early to visit a Sumo Stable. These
are ‘training gyms” where Sumo wrestlers prepare for
upcoming tournaments. Five other ‘visitors’ were already
there when we arrived so we quietly took our place and
took out our cameras. Actually we enjoyed it so much
that we returned the next day. But we also had the
opportunity to attend a Sake Tasting in Ningyocho—which
is an old neighbourhood with small shops and very
popular restaurants. The tasting took us around the area
from one sake bar to the next and along the way,
surprisingly, we met many locals who’d been to Canada.
Wajima: Morning market, great sushi restaurant, the
1000 Rice Fields and visit sake shops
Kaga:
Stayed
at
Yamashitaya
Royokan
Hotel…visited the local temple…very relaxing
Fukui: Our base for travel to the incredible temple
complex of Eiheiji, the castle-town of Mariuoka, and
the unbelievable land formations at Tojinbo
Kumagawajuku: An old lodging town—one street with
picture perfect houses and friendly locals, on the way
to Tagarasu: stayed at a B & B—discovered a secret
cove, had incredible seafood.
Amanohashidate: One of Japan’s 3 beauty spots.
We walked the sand bar to the end and back.
Koyasan: The famous temple town founded in 815.
Stayed overnight at the Jimyo-in. Very rewarding
experience - great vegetarian food with “Hanya-to”.
Tokyo: Found the streetcar, made plastic food in
Kappabashi,
wandered
around
Oshiage
neighbourhood (SkyTree), enjoyed great food.
A few more days in Tokyo allowed us to visit our old
haunts—Books at Kinokunya, Clothes at Muji and Uniqlo,
chatchkas at the 100 Yen store, afternoon snacks at
Gin(stand-up sake), dinner on one night at Tsuzuku (a
wonderful Izakaya) and at Tokudawara, a tasty one-hour
stand-up seafood bar.
And then it was time to explore further afield and we did
so much. Here’s a quick summary. Enjoy the Read!
M