Tea Ceremony
This time we joined the meeting "TRY CHADO" by UIA(Urasenke International Association) at the tea room inside Sato Memorial Art Museum. Urasenke is one of the various schools of tea ceremony.
First we learned about basic manners. Two kinds of sweets are used in the tea ceremony, dry sweets called "higashi" and moist sweets called omogashi or namagashi. This time moist sweets were served. After finishing eating sweets, we enjoyed tasting matcha Japanese tea.
Oh very small entrance! This is "Nijiriguchi" or crawling-in entrance. The Japanese traditional tea-house have two entrances; one is regular door the other one is very small entrance(65cm×60cm) called "Nijiriguchi". We guests have to go in and out through this entrance. This is my first experience. Very dificult!!
Next we learned how to use "chasen" or tea whisk and made matcha tea!
After eatindg two types of "higashi" , we checked matcha tea made by ourselves. Oh it's nice!!?
Thank you for giving us the wonderful opportunity!
8th December 2024
Tour1
I guided an American around Toyama Castle. First we visited Toyama Castle. Thiis building is now used as a Toyama Municipal Folk Museum.
There is a tea room in the Toyama Castle park. We enjoyed delicious sweets and Japanese tea.
This is a nice photo spot! But unfortunately there is no water in the pond!
Then we climbed the obsevation deck of City Hall near Toyama Castle. You can enjoy 360-degree panorama!
After visiting Hie Shrine, we enjoyed watching glass arts. The bottom part of the vase looks like a wave.
Last we went to a traditional medicine shop, Ikedaya-Yasubei-Shoten.
14th November 2024
Tour3
I guided four Americans around the port town Iwase. They came to Iwase by Fugan Suijyo Line, so we started the tour from Iwase Port.
FIrst we climbed up the observatory (about 100 steps, no elevator!).
In front of the observatory, there are some nice photo spots. This is the gate of the Italian restaurant.
These Torii gates are made of crossties.
In the middle of the nostalgic street, you can see a model of Kitamae-Bune. After storolling the street, we visited the Baba residence and enjoyed nice beer!
3rd November 2024
Tour1
We guided a man from England. First we went to Toyama KIRARI by tram.
Ｈe bought some glass works of his favorite Toyama's Glass artist.
We went to Toyama Castle, and looked around Japanese Garden, stone wall and Chitose Gomon Gate.
This is Chitose Gomon Gate, nice photo spot!
At Matsukawa Cafe, we enjoyed drinking Maccha.
9th October 2024
Tour2
It's rainy season in Japan, but fortunately the rain stopped in the morning. I guided 2 Americans around Toyama Municipal Folkcraft Village. They came to Fushiki Port by ship. FIrst we visited Thatched Roof Art Museum.
Next we went to the Clay Doll Studio. Luckly we saw a part of Clay Doll making process. A layer of clay was pressed into a mold.
This time they chose a Hina-doll and a piggy bank of owl.
Next we went to Enzan-An, a tea house. We enjoyed delicious sweets and Japanese tea.
Today's sweet is "green persimmon"!!It's very nice to feel the season from Japanese sweets. Last we visited Five Hundred Stone Statues, called Gohyaku-rakan. I hope they enjoyed this village tour.
4th July 2024
NOUSAKU
I took part in the NOUSAKU's workshop in Matskawa-Chaya in Toyama city.Matskawa-Chaya is a cafe and the Matsukawa sightseeing boat terminal near Toyama Castle.
NOUSAKU is famous for 100% pure tin tablewares, ornaments and so on.First we learned about characteristics of 100% pure tin. Very soft. The ornament(left) is made of 100% pure tin, so it can be folded easily. You can pull or bend it and it can be transformed into a basket(right).
Tin has high heat conductivity and it's said that tin removes bitterness of Japanese sake. Tasting time. Oh delicious!
Let's make a small plate.First we decided a shape. I tried to make a squre plate. Next punched my name & birthday. Very easy to engrave on the tin sheet,just press by hand. Using a wooden box, I made a plate.
"Oh it's nice for medicine" said my friend. I thought for nuts!
If you want to experience the traditional tin casting, please check the website.
9th june 2024
Tour4
We showed five Americans around Takaoka on May 29th.
First, we visited the Great Buddha of Takaoka, one of the Three Great Buddhas
in Japan.
Next, we went to Kojo Park, a small zoo in the park, and Imizu Shrine.
They tried praying in a Japanese Shinto style and drawing a fortune slip
called mizumikuji, one of the kinds of fortune telling spread onto the
water.
Then we went to Yamachosuji Street by the Manyo Line tram and visited the
Mikurumayama Museum.
They tried wearing the costume of the Mikurumayama Festival.
After that, we had chicken cutlet curry with rice for lunch.
The last destination was Zuiryuji Temple, which is a national treasure.
I asked them their favorite places today, and most of them said drawing
a fortune slip was so much fun,but one of them said, " Drawing a fortune
slip was interesting, but lunch was my favorite !"
I was glad I chose that restaurant.
29th May 2024
Tour4
I showed two Americans around Takaoka on May 16th.
First, we visited the Great Buddha of Takaoka, one of the Three Great Buddhas
in Japan.
Next, we went to Kojo Park, a small zoo in the park, and Imizu Shrine.
They tried praying in a Japanese Shinto style and drawing a fortune slip
called omikuji.
Then we went to Yamachosuji Street by the Manyo Line tram and visited the Mikurumayama Museum.
It was pretty hot in the morning, but it started raining while we were eating lunch.We walked to Kanaya Town in the rain but it was fun having a chat while walking.
The last destination was Zuiryuji Temple, which is a national treasure.
They seemed to be so impressed with the magnificent Zuiryuiji Temple.
I was also impressed with their strong interest in Japan. They asked me
a lot of questions during the tour !!
16th May 2024
Tour4
I showed two Americans around Takaoka on May 1st, which is the day of an
annual event, Mikurumayama Festival.
First, we visited the Great Buddha of Takaoka, one of the Three Great Buddhas
in Japan.
Next, we went to Kojo Park, a small zoo in the park, and Imizu Shrine.
They tried praying in a Japanese Shinto style, writing their wishes on
a wooden tablet, and drawing a fortune slip called omikuji.
The next spot was the highlight of the tour, the Mikurumayama Festival.
We saw the gorgeous floats and many street stalls lined up on the main
street of Takaoka.
We had lunch after enjoying the festival.
The last destination was Zuiryuji Temple, which is a national treasure.
It was such a cold day but I hope they enjoyed experiencing Japanese cultures including the Mikurumayama Festival.
1st May 2024
Tour2
We guided 2 guests from Italy. First we visited Thatched Roof Folk Art Museum.
Next, we went up to the Observation to see the panoramic view of the Tateyama Mountain Range and Toyama Plains. But unfortunately the mountains disappeared from the view behind the clouds. But after a few minutes walk, the mountains came out from behind the clouds. Lucky!
Then, we visited Five Hundred Stone Statues called Gohyaku-Rakan. We saw colorful ribon loops called wagesa.
Next we went to the Clay Doll Studio. This studio is one of their destinations in Toyama! So they really enjoyed painting dolls.
Very beautiful and cute!!
Last we went to Enzan-An, a tea house. We enjoyed having powdered green tea (matcha) and Japanese sweets. I hope they had wonderful memories in Toyama.
24th April 2024
Tour4
I guided six people, an American couple and two British couples.
They came to Fushiki Port by ship, Westerdam.First, we visited the Mikurumayama
Museum where you can see the floats throughout the year.They seemed to
be impressed by the huge real float.
After that we had a late lunch at a coffee shop in Yamacho-suji Street, where wealthy merchants used to live.
Next, we visited the Great Buddha of Takaoka that is one of the Three Great Buddhas of Japan.But this Buddha is the most handsome of the three !
The next spot was the highlight of the tour, Kojo Park.We were so lucky
to see the lovely cherry blossoms in full bloom in such nice weather !!We
also visited Imizu Shrine in Kojo Park.They tried praying in a Japanese
Shinto style and drawing a fortune slip called omikuji.
Then we took the Manyo Line tram and went back to Takaoka Station.
I hear they are still going on a journey and will leave Japan this weekend.
Travel safe !!
7th April 2024
Tour1
Today I guided 4 guests from Australia. First we went to a traditional medicine shop, Ikedaya-Yasubei-Shoten.
After a demonstration by the shop staff, they experienced making pills. Oh, it's an excellent performance!
Next we visited the Glass Art Museum. They enjoyed beautiful Dale Chihuly's art works there.
Then we headed to Toyama Castle Park. This is the Chitose Gomon Gate, built in 1849.
At the end of the tour, we had powdered green tea(matcha) and Japanese sweets while viewing the Japanese garden. It's cherry blossom season now in Toyama. So today's sweets were cherry blossoms. Very delicious!
6th April 2024
Research Trip
This time we went to the eastern part of Toyama Prefecture. First we visited Nissekiji temple in kamiichi, about 30 min from Toyama station by car. This temple is famous for Magaibutsu, literally means "Buddha carved on a cliff", built in 725. In ancient times, this temple flourished through Tsurugidake Mountain Worship.
This is Mt. Tsurugidake, 2999m (9839ft) above sea level. It is a part of the Northern Japan Alps. This mountain is for advanced trekkers only, because there are several steep ascents and descents. So many people worshiped from this temple.
This is Roppon-daki, 6 waterfalls from 5.5 meter (18.04 feet) high spouting points. The number 6 has special meaning, a set of such human organs as eyes, ears, nose, mouth, body and mind. You can experience Takigyo" here. Takigyo is Japanese waterfall meditation. Let's try! Water is very cold and water-pressure is very high, though.Our guide said that a record holder of visiters was a tourist from America, 12 min! This area is famous for Somen. Do you know Somen? Somen is a Japanese noodle, made of wheat flour. It's white and thin.
Next we visited here. What do you think it is? It's a cylindrical water tank. Through this tank, water from the river can bedistributed equally to 3 agricultural irrigation canals. This place was designated as a tangible cultural property in 2020.
Sake Brewery! Thanks to the nice rice and water for sake brewering, there are 33 Sake Breweries in Toyama Prefecture. We visited one of them in Uozu sity, about 45 min from Toyama station by car. This was my first time to see these mashing-tanks closely. Oh tasting time! Freshly pressed sake, very tasty!
22nd February 2024
Gokayama
This time we went to Gokayama, southern part of Toyama prefecture. Gokayama is famous for World Heritage Site, but this time we visited Kaminashi region near World Heritage Site. First we visited Murakami family's house. This house was built about 400 years ago and designated as a national important cultural property.
The master of this house explained about the history of Gokayama and the famous traditional Japanese folk song "Kokiriko". It is said this folk song is the oldest folk song in Japan.
What do you think this is? It's a Tofu, Gokayama tofu. Gokayama tofu is characterized by its density and firmness. So you can carry it tied with a rope, like this. Oh of course it's delicious.
Next we enjoyed making a traditional music instrument , called "Sasara". This instrument plays the main role in "Kokiriko" dance.
First it was very difficult to weave wooden plates. But it was fun to dance with my own handmade "Sasara".
Lunch time! Soba, deep-fried Gokayama tofu and tenpura. Yummy!
22nd January 2024
