Wed 10/19: Just a short way from our hotel, we visit Jigokudani, "Hell Valley", in Noboribetsu. About 10,000 years ago a mountain collapsed when a volcano erupted within it. The area is still active with green and arid landscapes, steam vents and the smell of sulphur. Some steaming locations gurgle and pop. Anne walked up the path and saw a lake high above which supplies the local hotels with their therapeutic baths water. About an hour north, we learn about the Ainu people, the indigenous people of Northern Japan. At the Upopoy National Ainu Museum we see replicas of their homes and craftsmanship. They have no written language. We heard a story told in Japanese about them and their spoken language. Then we heard their haunting songs and watched dances. During one dance, women in native costumes moved and flapped their winged sleeves imitating cranes. Then another dance was in celebration of a successful year. Their dress and songs resemble some similar native tribes in Central Asia and North America. A song was played by women on an idiophone similar to a mouth harp; it was marvelous. You can google Sinot Inomi to see some performances from this traditional performing arts program. We moved on to Sapporo, where we toured the Sapporo Brewing beer museum. The original brewer had learned the craft by studying in Germany. Our next stop was the Sapporo Clock Tower, built in 1878 in the western style with help from Americans who came to teach farmers modern agriculture techniques. It's the oldest clock tower in Japan. A couple blocks away is the Odori Park, about eleven blocks long in the middle of the city. It's the site for annual snow sculpting contests. Around a corner is the red light/entertainment district. Billy takes us into a Pachinko parlor at our request, where we promptly lose 1,000 yen (less than $7) in less than five minutes. It's like a pinball machine on steroids. Glad we saw it. At a nearby pharmacy, we bought some packets of bath salts so we can have our own therapeutic bath in the privacy of our own home.
Thurs 10/20: Our first stop on this ideal fall day is at Otaru, facing Ishikari Bay and the Sea of Japan, known for its canals and glassblowing. Its port was opened for trade with the UK and the USA in 1899. Now it's beautifully restored, and the former warehouses hold cafes, shops and museums. They also make some chocolates and cheesecakes here. Billy tells us the 1972 Winter Olympics were held in this area. Our last stop is to the historical village of Hokkaido, similar to Greenfield Village. The weather couldn't have been better. We say thanks and goodbye to our driver Sato-san and bid a fond farwell to Billy. He flies to Tokyo tonight and begins another tour in the morning. We are spending the night in Sapporo and fly from here to Tokyo in the morning. Then we fly to Detroit in the afternoon, arriving, like I said, before we left Japan. Today while Anne was in the smoking room she met a guy from Indianapolis here in Japan on business. Instead of getting her “Scrabble” fix, she chatted for 45 minutes. Amazing how many Americans we have met throughout our travels.
Anne and I are so very fortunate to be able to travel as we do. We have met great people and experienced much kindness from people in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, South Korea and Japan. The people we've met have all had their troubles during Covid, and they've all been so resilient. We've experienced so much and learned a lot. Thank you to our home team (Allan, Andy, Roddy). Thanks also to Marcia for the travel TP. It came in handy. Hope to see you all soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment