Outbound to Gufu + Tokyo Japan, Day 10 of 19, October 13, 2017
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Sightseeing in Kanazawa
By: Roz and Russ W.
Tour: Omicho Market, Samurai Houses, Kenrokuen, Kanazawa Castle, Higashi Chaya-gai (Geisha District),
We (Russ & Roz) were up at 5:30 am, finishing up blog work that could not be completed the night before because of technical difficulties with our Internet connection at the hotel. We ate breakfast on the 16th floor overlooking the city
and then were off to Starbucks by 7:00 via underground cross walks and covered walkways.
Over a large latte and a hot chocolate, we worked on updating and posting four blogs, two for us, and two for FFSAC Blog. Internet worked flawlessly, and got everything done by 8:30 am. Then it was time to meet up with the rest of our group for a tour of Kanazawa.
Fish Market
Our first stop of the day was the fish market. We were there before the crowds,
but in no time the place began to fill up as people came to get their daily fish. Here are some photos of the fish market. Surprising to us were the crabs on ice.......still alive and breathing, and the specialty of eel livers.
A few veggies, too.
Samurai Houses - Nagamachi Samurai District
Our second stop of the day was in a ancient Samurai residential area. Samurai were the soldiers during feudal ages but during the Meiji rule when Shogunates were being busted up in order to unify Japan, most of those houses were destroyed.
Today’s Samurai are civil servants. In Kanazawa, many of the original Samurai houses of low and middle ranking samurai still remain and have been restored. The homes are are privately owned by middle class people.
Residences are positioned behind tall walls with imposing gates. The taller the wall and more imposing the gate, the more rank a samurai possessed. Beyond the gates, large courtyards welcome the weary warrior. Tall trees peek over the walls promising a peaceful retreat.
We were able to visit the Nomura Family Residence. The home was very nice, and the court yards, gardens and atriums were lovely.
Samurai were richly rewarded for their service.
Thank you note in 1566 to a warrior Samurai
"We appreciate that you worked so hard to kill one high ranked soldier on the fourth of last month.......We are very happy that you brought us his head."
Between the second and third stop outside of Kenrokuen Garden, we ate lunch in a tea house.
Twine ropes from large pole next to tree trunk reach to the ground and keep snow from piling up on the branches of old trees.
We ate together and enjoyed our time eating the beautifully displayed sushi and sashimi.
Kenrokuen Garden
Stop number three, was the Kenrokuen Garden, one of the top three gardens in Japan. The other two are in Okayama and Tokyo. We saw the one in Okayama, so we have one more to go.
This tree is very old and needs crutch support during winter snow loads.
Kanazawa Castle
As we left the gardens, we spent a few minutes on the Kanazawa castle grounds. The towers are not as tall as some that we have seen, but the building itself looks quite large.
Fish Market
Our first stop of the day was the fish market. We were there before the crowds,
but in no time the place began to fill up as people came to get their daily fish. Here are some photos of the fish market. Surprising to us were the crabs on ice.......still alive and breathing, and the specialty of eel livers.
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| A few veggies, too. |
Samurai Houses - Nagamachi Samurai District
Our second stop of the day was in a ancient Samurai residential area. Samurai were the soldiers during feudal ages but during the Meiji rule when Shogunates were being busted up in order to unify Japan, most of those houses were destroyed.Today’s Samurai are civil servants. In Kanazawa, many of the original Samurai houses of low and middle ranking samurai still remain and have been restored. The homes are are privately owned by middle class people.
Residences are positioned behind tall walls with imposing gates. The taller the wall and more imposing the gate, the more rank a samurai possessed. Beyond the gates, large courtyards welcome the weary warrior. Tall trees peek over the walls promising a peaceful retreat.
We were able to visit the Nomura Family Residence. The home was very nice, and the court yards, gardens and atriums were lovely.
Samurai were richly rewarded for their service.
 |
| Thank you note in 1566 to a warrior Samurai
"We appreciate that you worked so hard to kill one high ranked soldier on the fourth of last month.......We are very happy that you brought us his head."
|
Between the second and third stop outside of Kenrokuen Garden, we ate lunch in a tea house.
 |
| Twine ropes from large pole next to tree trunk reach to the ground and keep snow from piling up on the branches of old trees. |
We ate together and enjoyed our time eating the beautifully displayed sushi and sashimi.
Kenrokuen Garden
Stop number three, was the Kenrokuen Garden, one of the top three gardens in Japan. The other two are in Okayama and Tokyo. We saw the one in Okayama, so we have one more to go. 
 |
| This tree is very old and needs crutch support during winter snow loads. |
Kanazawa Castle
As we left the gardens, we spent a few minutes on the Kanazawa castle grounds. The towers are not as tall as some that we have seen, but the building itself looks quite large.
Higashi Chaya-gai - Geisha District
The last stop of the day was in the Higashi Chayagai, Geisha quarter. Geishas are artisans who make their living through performance art. The girls (and sometimes boys) begin apprenticeship as early as age 15 as a Maiko.
A Maiko learns how to dance, play an instrument, dress kimono, arrange flowers, and conduct tea ceremony. The girls live in a house with a house mother who invests considerable sums of money to train a Geisha. Geishas make a conscious decision not to marry or to live a regular person lifestyle. They are the essence of living culture and art.
It takes five years of apprenticeship to learn all of the Japanese cultural arts and to become a professional Geisha at age 20. We have heard that the oldest Geisha is in her 70’s in Kyoto. Geishas make about $10,000 a month! But they have many costs of elaborate kimonos. Geishas are companions to wealthy men, and should not be confused with prostitutes who are primarily sex workers. Geishas are artisans of culture. Learn more about the Secret Lives of Geisha here.
These young ladies may have just been wearing their kimonos or may have been Maiko.
While we were in the Geisha quarter, we visited a Geisha house. Geisha work during the night, so we did not see any during the day.
Kato, Japanese Harp
Miwa shows us where a Geisha might perform.
In Friendship and Peace
It takes five years of apprenticeship to learn all of the Japanese cultural arts and to become a professional Geisha at age 20. We have heard that the oldest Geisha is in her 70’s in Kyoto. Geishas make about $10,000 a month! But they have many costs of elaborate kimonos. Geishas are companions to wealthy men, and should not be confused with prostitutes who are primarily sex workers. Geishas are artisans of culture. Learn more about the Secret Lives of Geisha here.
While we were in the Geisha quarter, we visited a Geisha house. Geisha work during the night, so we did not see any during the day.
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| Kato, Japanese Harp |
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| Miwa shows us where a Geisha might perform. |
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