Yamaguchi

We went to Yamaguchi in early November, 2013.

We flew into Kansai, then slept a night in Osaka.  Next morning we caught the bullet train to Yamaguchi.  The trip was around two hours long.

The population of delightful Yamaguchi is around 200,000.



YAMAGUCHI

On the last evening in town, we walked past a wee building that looked like it could be a restaurant.  I stuck my head in to check, and what a lovely restaurant it turned out to be.

To keep the sake cool, an ice cube is place in the middle of the sake jug.

The two dishes and the sake cost about $75.  There was local art work on the walls. A great relaxing atmosphere.

The tree lined street from the railway station to our hotel.

A canal walk through the suburbs.

Helpers and interlopers at the temple.

Umm the colour may be dullish even if the sun was out ~ ~ ~ ~   but this 5 story temple is revered.




IWAKUNI

It takes a bit over an hour to get to Iwakuni from Yamaguchi.

The bridge below leads to a popular park, with a white snake exhibit, and a cable car trip to the castle up top of the mountain.

HAGI

The bus trip north to Hagi takes about an hour.

The second Sunday every November the town hosts a 'Festival of the Ages'.

At two locations in the town, there are performances by locals in traditional costume, playing taiko drums, etc.

There are lots of food stalls too.

Dancer with his drum.

These 'carts' below had wheels of solid parts of tree trunks.  Even though it was raining and cool in the afternoon the men dragging the carts had quite a sweat built up.

The two senior ladies on this cart directed the men to stop, and move away so they could performs a traditional dance for us. Pity the photographer didn't take better pictures.

These ladies were also senior, however their dancing was lively.

Meanwhile the men were out of the rain trying on their costumes.

AKIYOSHI DO

Akiyoshi-do caves are an hour from Yamaguchi by bus. There is also the stony karst plateau above.

The entry to the caves.

Guess why the Japanese are so fit and live so long ?

The inside trail is a kilometre long.

TSUWANO

Between Tsuwano and Yamaguch runs a steam tourist train. When the line has not been washed away by heavy rain.  We caught a normal train then a bus to Tsuwano and the trip took about an eighty minutes.

There is a ropeway up to the top of a hill where the Tsuwano castle ruins are. It is a fun ride.

And it is better than walking up to the top from the town below.

A colourful temple in Tsuwano.

And a colourful street in Tsuwano.




Lastly, we met a chappie on the railway platform who wanted to practice his English. He had retired from his job, which made parts which were exported to Adelaide for the manufacture of the Holden Commodore.

Small world. 

Remember, if you click on one of the pictures you get an enlarged view AND somehow the pictures are of a better quality.