Central Japan Tour Day 5

Fujifilm X100VI 23mm f/2: 1/250s, f/8, ISO800 (the island is a turtle!)

Sorry for the excessively delayed post! I lost what I thought was saved so I have to rewrite and reorder the galleries in this post. Day 5 began with the usual hotel Western/Japanese breakfast buffet after which we boarded the bus to the first of many stops: Nagamachi Old Samurai Town

From the bus stop, we took a short walk to the Nomura’s Samurai House. In the Edo period it was a house belonging to the named Samurai family (complete with a secret hidden room). The house is known for its preservation of the Samurai house stylings, and its beautiful garden. You can see the rope cones already put up in preparation for protecting the trees from infamously heavy snow that blankets the area in the Winter.

Next we reboarded the bus to make a stop at the Saisho Candy Store that produces Arare and other confectionery treats sold all across Japan, and made even more famous by Los Angeles Lakers player Rui Hachimura who shared his favorite shrimp-flavored "beaver rice cracker” with his teammates. Our group went a little crazy filling our bus storage and bringing some of the store’s staff to tears (hopefully happy ones) with the amount of sales they made! I’ll never not miss how many of the Japanese places we leave have staff wave happily at our bus as we leave them. Also, this is when I got a chance to take a picture of the very cute teru-teru-bōzu dolls our bus driver and tour guide had made which were largely effective at keeping the rain away!

After waving back at the teary-eyed staff of the Saisho Candy Store from our seats on the bus, we were transported to Wood Carving Hall where we walked through a gallery or incredibly detailed art created out of wood. I took a lot of photos here but I decided to just share some of the highlights.

Fujifilm X100VI 23mm f/2: 1/125s, f/4, ISO6400

Then lunch. The local delicacy was “Firefly Squid,” a small, bioluminescent species (we didn’t get to see glowing ones…"). I “when in Rome” at all parts of all of my meals in Japan, but I, personally, was not begging for seconds for the squid.

Post lunch and a bus ride, it was time to walk through the beautiful Kenrokuen Garden. I could honestly spend a whole day here. Our group split into smaller factions so that it was easier for us to listen to the English-speaking tour guides. Yes, that’s right, they spoke English! Sadly, there were very few stops on the walk to really settle in for artistic long-exposures, so I carried the tripod around for nothing. But if I’m ever here again…

Finally, we were returned back to the hotel to explore the surrounding area for shopping and for food. My family and a few others from the group ventured past the holo-holo spots to find our first Pokemon Center (to shop for something for my sister holding down the fort at home). I galavanted a bit to get some tourist photos of the Kanazawa train station gate and a water fountain clock. Mom was a bit tired of Japanese food at this point… at least the deep-fried stuff (and she doesn’t eat Raw stuff either), so we ended up at an Italian restaurant. I know, right?! Don’t get me started about the time we went to House of Prime Rib in the Bay Area because a friend had recommended the place to me, and she thought about ordering chicken. Anyway, this Italian place ended up being quite good! The pictured Caesar salad was a shocker for sure… no anchovies or croutons, but onions, lotus root, kabocha, smoked-salmon, and whatever else you see there. It ended up being REALLY good! Also pictured is a mushroom pizza with truffle oil, a pork with fries dish, and a baked vegetables in tomato sauce topped with cheese thing that I can’t remember the name of. 💯 would recommend this place. That’s a wrap for Day 5!