Parque Botânica de Toyama-ken, Toyama Japan. 03/09/2017
Japan Trip 2016 [vlog 2]: Toyama
Joined my mother to visit Toyama for art exhibition stuff.
Music: KOHH - Hiroi Sekai
DYA717 July 8, 2016 Toyama, Takaoka, Johana
6:30 a.m. breakfast at the Takaoka Manten Ekimae Hotel. Then BURA-BURA. Another hot, humid, steamy, wet-sticky-clothes day! After a 20-minute walk from my hotel, I visited Kanayamachi, an area where they have preserved one street of old metal-casters and copperware makers. I mentioned that this city has many copper sculptures on display everywhere. Apparently they’re not afraid of copper DO-RO-BO-s like you know who/where! Copper drains, pipes, sidings, etc are everywhere. Then I walked along Yamachosuji (street lined with storehouses), another street with old preserved buildings, this time merchant storehouses. Most are now residences on top with some kind of store on the street level. Uuuuuuuu, had plenty time so I jumped on the local train, my 1-car limo ride and went one hour to the end-of-the-line city, Johana. The tourist information office didn’t have English brochures but the lady spoke plenty good English. I followed her directions and first walked to Zentoku-ji, a Buddhist temple. This temple is over 500 years old and has many valuable aritifacts. A nice bell tower and a nice statue. Unfortunately I didn’t get an English brochure so I was only able to look around without knowing what’s what. It is worth a visit if you’re in the neighborhood. Then I mosied to a sushi restaurant nearby which was recommended by the lady at the tourist information office. No English menu but the master spoke enough English to help me out. I had a small bowl of I guess chirashi sushi. ONO! I was taking pictures of the restaurant and the chef showed me a special room. Something like his man-cave and reserved for special dining, I guess. He has his New York Yankees memorabilia displayed there and he invited me in. I didn’t get the name of the Yankees’ Japanese player his is a fan of. He mentioned that the city of Johana has an annual Johana Hikiyama festival and pointed me out to the festival floats/artifacts museum. 510-yen to get in. This festival is held on May 5th so maybe that is something to look forward to in 2017. I rushed back to the train station to catch the next local train back to Takaoka. Whew, not much written here but it seems like I did a lot and am tired.
Toyama-shi, filmagem do terceiro andar do escritório.