Saturday, September 15, 2007
Bitchu-Takahashi
This weekend was supposed to be one where I traveled to Osaka to spend the long weekend in the presence of so many amazing stores and also go to my favorite…Cirque du Soleil. That didn’t happen though, the show was sold out, so we will try again for another weekend. There was no getting us down though because it was, after all, a 3 day weekend and I was determined to do something entertaining and cultural!
My friend Meghan and I decided that we would go somewhere in Okayama prefecture and see something Japanese. There is a castle there, the Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, and it is well known for being the highest altitude castle in Japan. We decided to go there and check it out since it was only about an hour away, if that.
When we got to the city, we say this HUGE map and we couldn’t believe how far away the castle was. We were going to have to ride a bus to get there and by the time we navigated ourselves to the bus station and communicated to the lady where we wanted to go, we saw that the bus wasn’t leaving for an hour and then the castle would be closing in only a few hours anyway. Instead we got a map of the city and did some other cultural things, vowing to go back on another day to see the castle.
Our other sights were pretty interesting. First we stopped in at a historical museum. Every sign that we saw on our walk to the museum gave it a different name, but I am comfortable with naming it the historical museum. The first floor was full of antique things like books, pianos, phones, clocks, etc. It also had many records of things that had happened in the city in the past. It showed pictures of what must have been an earthquake that left the people in much devastation. The pictures reminded me of Katrina.
The entire upstairs was full of farming equipment, machinery, etc. that they used to use. It was all very interesting but there was no air and we were about to get rain so it was Alabama humidity times ten. We had to get out of that little place.
When I think about our museums, even ones that house things like antiques, I just think about how valuable they are and how the temperature is controlled, etc. I wouldn’t even store my things in a storage building unless it was climate controlled before I left for Japan…I wouldn’t even begin to be able to handle it if something happened to all of my books and furniture! Here there is no air and it’s humid and they have these treasures out, some not even in cases. It amazes me.
After that we walked along and found a temple. I don’t always feel good about going in the temples because they are a place of worship for people, but we went in…and the lady gladly charged us 300 yen! It was nice, nothing like what I am used to at home. Although if Japanese people came and toured my church I’m sure they would say the same thing. There was a lot of gold, but not nearly as ornate at the temple of one of my principals. In the back was a Zen garden. There was music playing and it was so peaceful. I could have sat there all day and been content. It was so beautiful.
Next we went to an old samurai house. It is empty now, but it is apparently quite unusual architecturally and is a cultural landmark in the little town. It was too dark to take pictures inside and there were no lights, but I did get a brochure. J
A little ways down there was a warrior’s house. As soon as we walked in Meghan and I both flipped out because there was a man bowing to us from the corner. Come to find out, he was not real and he was motion censored but he looked as real as you and me and he was creepy. Anyway, this house was build 170 years ago and unlike the other house, this one had fake people in it. We were very careful to look for motion censors in every room. Again, no pictures, but I have the brochure!
Our last stop in the town (besides the Seven Eleven…I am not kidding) was at the Origin of Ikegami Mansion. It was like a little museum that had a ton of things like old machines, tools, newspapers, etc. This town was big into making soy sauce apparently and from what I gather Mr. Ikegami was a rich man who owned a big house and a big place to make sauce. If you know anything about this and can tell me more, feel free.
We caught the train and headed to Wake for dinner with Amy (we picked her up on the way). We ate at Pizza King, very famous here in Okayama. It smelled delicious. Afterwards we had some time to kill and we weren’t ready to say goodbye so we thought we’d go to the tearoom that was recommended by a friend and have coffee before the train.
Bitchu-Takahashi
This weekend was supposed to be one where I traveled to Osaka to spend the long weekend in the presence of so many amazing stores and also go to my favorite…Cirque du Soleil. That didn’t happen though, the show was sold out, so we will try again for another weekend. There was no getting us down though because it was, after all, a 3 day weekend and I was determined to do something entertaining and cultural!
My friend Meghan and I decided that we would go somewhere in Okayama prefecture and see something Japanese. There is a castle there, the Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, and it is well known for being the highest altitude castle in Japan. We decided to go there and check it out since it was only about an hour away, if that.
When we got to the city, we say this HUGE map and we couldn’t believe how far away the castle was. We were going to have to ride a bus to get there and by the time we navigated ourselves to the bus station and communicated to the lady where we wanted to go, we saw that the bus wasn’t leaving for an hour and then the castle would be closing in only a few hours anyway. Instead we got a map of the city and did some other cultural things, vowing to go back on another day to see the castle.
Our other sights were pretty interesting. First we stopped in at a historical museum. Every sign that we saw on our walk to the museum gave it a different name, but I am comfortable with naming it the historical museum. The first floor was full of antique things like books, pianos, phones, clocks, etc. It also had many records of things that had happened in the city in the past. It showed pictures of what must have been an earthquake that left the people in much devastation. The pictures reminded me of Katrina.
The entire upstairs was full of farming equipment, machinery, etc. that they used to use. It was all very interesting but there was no air and we were about to get rain so it was Alabama humidity times ten. We had to get out of that little place.
When I think about our museums, even ones that house things like antiques, I just think about how valuable they are and how the temperature is controlled, etc. I wouldn’t even store my things in a storage building unless it was climate controlled before I left for Japan…I wouldn’t even begin to be able to handle it if something happened to all of my books and furniture! Here there is no air and it’s humid and they have these treasures out, some not even in cases. It amazes me.
After that we walked along and found a temple. I don’t always feel good about going in the temples because they are a place of worship for people, but we went in…and the lady gladly charged us 300 yen! It was nice, nothing like what I am used to at home. Although if Japanese people came and toured my church I’m sure they would say the same thing. There was a lot of gold, but not nearly as ornate at the temple of one of my principals. In the back was a Zen garden. There was music playing and it was so peaceful. I could have sat there all day and been content. It was so beautiful.
Next we went to an old samurai house. It is empty now, but it is apparently quite unusual architecturally and is a cultural landmark in the little town. It was too dark to take pictures inside and there were no lights, but I did get a brochure. J
A little ways down there was a warrior’s house. As soon as we walked in Meghan and I both flipped out because there was a man bowing to us from the corner. Come to find out, he was not real and he was motion censored but he looked as real as you and me and he was creepy. Anyway, this house was build 170 years ago and unlike the other house, this one had fake people in it. We were very careful to look for motion censors in every room. Again, no pictures, but I have the brochure!
Our last stop in the town (besides the Seven Eleven…I am not kidding) was at the Origin of Ikegami Mansion. It was like a little museum that had a ton of things like old machines, tools, newspapers, etc. This town was big into making soy sauce apparently and from what I gather Mr. Ikegami was a rich man who owned a big house and a big place to make sauce. If you know anything about this and can tell me more, feel free.
We caught the train and headed to Wake for dinner with Amy (we picked her up on the way). We ate at Pizza King, very famous here in Okayama. It smelled delicious. Afterwards we had some time to kill and we weren’t ready to say goodbye so we thought we’d go to the tearoom that was recommended by a friend and have coffee before the train.
Stairs to the temple
Zen
more Zen
a Zen lizard
The scary man in the warriors house. Motion censors are so terrible...We went inside and sat down, but things just didn’t seem right. When we tried to order coffee and water, the lady kept insisting on beer. We kept telling her no, water and coffee but she seemed confused. We were completely confused so she was in good company! Finally Meghan and Amy got a Chu Hi each (like a wine cooler) but I still only wanted water. We waited and waited and thought that she sure was taking a long time to go get to cans and a glass of water…and the next thing we know she’s coming out with our drinks and a plate of cheese and crackers! Keep in mind that we had JUST told her that we didn’t want food because we had just eaten at Pizza King. THEN she comes back out with some more snacks.
It seems as though we had stepped into a tearoom/BAR! Amy, Meghan, and I were so confused. We didn’t know what was going on exactly but those people seemed to love us. They wanted to speak to us in English and know all about us. It was really funny. After a little while we figured out that the two ladies that were working were sisters.
We were still trying to figure out how we had come into a bar when it said tearoom on the door when they brought out more snacks and…KARAOKE! They wanted these Western girls to sing Celine Dion, “My Heart Will Go On.” Wow, it was quite entertaining for us all. We sang a few songs and then it was time to head out.
We told them that we had to leave and they were all so sad. They tried to get us to stay and sing some more but we had a train to catch. When the bill came, it was for 5000 yen!!! That’s about $50. The only thing we can figure is that maybe it was namihodi (all you can drink) and karaoke. $20 per person. We think that because it was 6000 yen but scratched out to 5000 yen and I didn’t drink anything but water so maybe they dropped the price.
Whatever it was, it was way too expensive but it was a hilarious night. We got to the train station and we were all three still stunned but we couldn’t stop laughing at our experience. Oh, Japan…
Our drunk waitress with a tamborine
Meghan
Me
Meghan and Amy
The food we did not order...next up? The 5000 yen bill!
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