On our 2nd day in Himeji, the good weather that we had been enjoying broke and it was overcast, rainy and gloomy. BUT onward we forged anyway. Takeo had a trip to Mt. Shosha planned and it wasn't raining hard enough to scrap the plans.
After breakfast, Takeo picked us up in his car and we headed out to Mt. Shosha. We took a cable car up to the top where Shoshazan Enkyo-ji is located. This is a Buddhist training center that is very well-known. There are 33 different statues of incarnations of buddha on the way up the path- it's sort of a pilgrimage. And the film The Last Samurai was filmed here as well. The Yakushido is the oldest building dating from the 14th century Kamakura period. Even though it was drizzling, we still enjoyed the peace and tranquility of the mountain setting. Somehow, to me, the rain enhanced the calm feeling. I have to say that I cannot stand Tom Cruise, but I may have to rent The Last Samurai now just to see the way the buildings were filmed.
Takeo had picked up on Mom's interest in fabric and textiles the day before and had arranged for us to meet with his friend, who runs an indigo shop. HIs family deals in cotton and dyes its own fabrics. He was a gracious host and the shop was really lovely. Even with the language barrier, Mom was able to make a new friend through their love and appreciation of textile work. While he looked for a panel that Mom wanted to buy, we ventured across the street to a little bakery/cafe for lunch. Then we headed back to the shop to pick up Mom's purchases (and a cute scarf for me!). I'm so glad we were able this- such an unexpected treat for Mom.
As it was still raining out, Takeo decided we should go for a drive. We headed out of HImeji and towards Kobe and the Inland Sea coast. Our destination was the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge. Also known as the Pearl Bridge, it was completed in 1998 and is the world's longest suspension bridge. It links Kobe on the mainland of Honshu to Iwaya on Awaji Island. It is part of the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Project. It was very impressive, even though we could only see part of it due to the rain and fog!! After a quick soaking while standing outside, we headed to the island of Awaji and the Awaji Westin. It was designed by the famous architect, Ando Tadao, and the landscaping he designed was amazing. He sought to create a man--made natural environment. I can only imagine what the grounds would have looked like if it had not been raining out! And when all the flowers were in bloom!! Still the stark modernist lines of the building was quite the contrast to all the old buildings we had been looking at and would be delving deeper into soon.
Rain-soaked, we headed back to Himeji. We were set to have Shabu-Shabu for dinner that night. Shabu-shabu is kind of like fondue, but with just water instead of broth. Shabu-shabu is the sound of the beef being drawn through the water. I was sooo excited because I'd been dying to try it since coming to Japan and the time had finally arrived. And it did not disappoint!!! So good!! I must have it again soon!
That night was another tournament of Uno and watching the classic movie, Titanic, before hitting the pillow.
In the morning, we checked out of the hotel, sending some of our luggage ahead to Kyoto. We left the hotel and went back to Himeji Castle. We went to enjoy the Himeji Castle Nishi-Oyashiki-Ato Garden, Koko-en. The garden was created in 1992 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Himeji. It is composed of 9 separate gardens built on the former site of where Nishi-Oyashiki (the Lord's West Residence) and other samurai houses once stood. All of the gardens show the uniqueness of the Edo period. The gardens are spectacular and with Himeji Castle in the background you really felt like you had traveled back in time. We went to Cha-no-niwa, the garden of tea, to enjoy a traditional tea ceremony. Again, what a special experience. Usually they just serve the guest tea already made, but Takeo had asked if the women would actually make it in front of us like in a real tea ceremony. The scenery was just beautiful!!
We headed to Osaka again and had lunch. After we walked around the Namba District and Dotonbori for a bit. This area is a really popular/famous shopping/ entertainment area in Osaka. We didn't have much time but we did get to experience some of the craziness that is Osaka. And we got to see the huge blowfish that are outside all the restaurants. Blowfish are deadly if not prepared correctly and they are a speciality of Osaka. But it was busy- just a mass of people, neon signs and pachinko parlors!
Leaving the crass commercialization of Osaka behind us, we headed out for the austerity and silence of Koya-san....
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