Thursday, December 10, 2015
Back in Tokyo for some gloriously Sunny days. Staying on the Ashkusa area on the 21st floor with a spectacular view over the endless city. On clear days you can even see Mount Fuji on the opposite side of the metropolis.
Got a bit closer to the mountain by climbing one of the foothills yesterday. Took the chair lift half way up, which is kind of cheating, but I am getting on. Was quite exciting gliding through the trees.
The top was rather crowed, but at least the mountain was visible, so the climb was worth it.
No more train journeys. I'll miss the way the conductors bow to the carriage when they enter. I wonder if British Rail could adopt the practice. Everyone bows here.
Finished with a long walk through the streets amid the hustle and bustle of the lanes and carriageway taking in some magnificent gardens.
Monday, December 07, 2015
Heading back towards Tokyo now and taking in a few castles as I go.
The first was in Himeji, where the castle towers over the city below. It is the original, having survived the ravages of World War II and very popular as the queues into the main keep testified. The staircases are almost vertical, like the typ you find in ships, but that didn't seem to stop half the OAP's in the province racing for the top.
The view was worth it, as was the view from the garden next door. The Japanese certainly have a way with gardens and the juxtaposition of tree and water, grass and gravel is staggering in its simplicity and beauty.
Nagoya also boasts a castle, although this one is a replica as the original was fire bombed and destroyed. Good news is they put a lift in which eased the way to the eight floor.
Nagoya also boast the JR museum fill of all types of train you could imagine. It's pride and joy is the bullet train and the interactive displayed give you an insight into just Ho it all works so slickly.
Friday, December 04, 2015
V
Arrived in the port city of Nagasaki, on the island of Kyushu. It's stands at the head of a long fjord, a beautiful position with the prospect slightly marred by the lashing rain that enveloped the city as I arrived.
To get there you need to take the regional train. Quite beautiful winding around the coastline and quite a contrast to the mad dash of the bullet train. Life in this corner of the island is remarkable sedate.
Nagasaki was for many years the only interface between Japan and the rest of the world. Contact took place via Dejima, a small man made island that stands on the edge of the harbour. It was to this island that the Dutch traders were confined and all contact to and from Japan passed through its gates.
Later on the foreigner compound was extended and the hillside boasts the Glover garden, build by a tea trader from Fraserborough. Certainly a beautiful spot with views over the bay.
Not sure if the 26 martyrs who were crucified on the hills overlooking the bay enjoyed the view. Probably other things on their mind. They were executed in the 17th century following the banning of Christianity by the Shogun. The youngest was just twelve. The Catholic Church later made them all saints and a shrine stands where they were killed.
Following the opening up of the country the biggest church in Asia once stood in the city. It took twenty years to build, and just three seconds to be demolished when it found itself at the epicentre of the Worlds second, and so far last, atomic bomb to be used in anger. The museum is again sobering with many mormories of ordinary lives wiped out in the massive explosion that enveloped the valley. Very moving testimony.
