Our Last Day in Japan

This morning Robyn and I packed and checked our bags in to collect later. We met Margaret and headed for our adventure for three to the Institute of Nature Study at Meguro, just three train stops from the hotel.

The park has been left to just grow naturally with wetlands and forest areas. Of course there is a path through the park but it was so peaceful. The numbers are limited each day but it is not top of the tourist list so it was just great to get away from the crowds. Just to prove it is all quite natural a snake slithered across our path on our way out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back on the train to the hotel where we all caused problems again with the staff by sitting anywhere we could (not enough seats).

I did a little bit of sashiko stitching for Karen and spent time chatting for a few hours before it was time to collect our bags and board our bus for Narita airport. The trip only took an hour (very quick apparently) so we got there very early and had time to wander and have some dinner.

 

As the flight did not leave until 8:50pm we were all ready for a sleep when we boarded for our long flights back to Sydney via Singapore.

Home exhausted but happy. Wow! What a fantastic trip. Thank you Lynn and Deborah.

 

Nappori Fabric Town

We woke up this morning to absolutely clear skies and a fantastic view of Mt Fuji. Except for the layer of smog it was as clear as we had seen it. After we returned from breakfast it was even clearer.

 

Today we took the train to Nappori Fabric Town. We wandered the long street of fabric and clothing shops and meeting others of our group along the way. Robyn, Lynn and I had a coffee in Cafe Bird which was a wonderfully relaxing experience. Fantastic atmosphere after the bussle of some of the shops.

Back by train to buy some late lunch which we ate in the hotel room. Then we packed and took our bags down to weigh them – plenty of room left!

This was followed by a wander through the shopping arcades where I bought a pair of shoes – very soft and comfortable! We met Karen and Margaret so joined them for coffee then headed back to the room to get off our feet for a while.

We all met to go for dinner as per our booking. After sorting out a misunderstanding with the booking we enjoyed our last meal together.

 

Yokohama Quilt Show Day 1 & 2

The breakfast queue today was quite long but eventually we enjoyed a hearty breakfast and came back to our room to sort and fill in time until our bus left for the quilt show.

Robyn decided to open the curtain and see what the day was like and there was Mt Fuji in full view!

We were able to see it from the bus on the way to the quilt show as well so we feel quite privileged to have had a clear view with not even clouds hiding the top.

The quilt show is slightly smaller than the Sydney show I think but the crowds were huge and there was very little seating area.

I bought some lovely fabrics and odds and ends and was able to see all the exhibition quilts. Luckily I took my stick or I would not have been able to stand on concrete all that time (10am till 5pm).

At afternoon tea Robyn and I sat next to 3 Japanese ladies. When I offered them some of my cinnamon biscuits they then shared their chocolate and gave us a mandarin each. We had a long chat in sign language and laughs about their patchwork bags and water bottle holders.

When the bus dropped us back at the hotel we sat on the floor in one of the open spaces (much to the disturbance of the staff) and had a show and tell of all our purchases and activities. We then dumped our bags and six of us arranged to meet for dinner – Karen, Margaret, Wendy, Lynn, Robyn and I. We went to a local Italian restaurant and enjoyed some comfort food – pasta.

Time then to buy lunch for tomorrow and return to our room to settle in.

Friday 9 November – Yokohama Quilt Show 2

This morning we met at the bus after breakfast for our next day at the quilt show. I wandered around looking for a particular item and eventually found it after lunch. Robyn had bought me something similar as well.

I was completely over quilt shows and was pleased to sit and chat to some of the others to fill the time until our bus picked us up at 3 pm.

Back to the hotel for a rest before meeting for dinner at 6:30pm. This time Lynn, Deb, Robyn and I went for a Japanese meal – okanomiyaki and yakisoba. On the way back I found Hi Soft caramels at last.

 

Tokyo Tour

Breakfast this morning was in a huge hall, buffet style. Then to our bus and guide Keiko again for our Tokyo Tour.

First stop was Tokyo Tower where we went up 150m and had a reasonably good view of Tokyo.

Then on to our second stop at Happo En gardens and tea room for a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. There we also had an opportunity to see some couples having wedding photos taken. The gardens were delightful with a large display of very old bonsai trees (the oldest were 520 years old).

 

 

 

 

 

Stop three was at Roppongi Hills (rather a misnomer as it was actually a series of high rise buildings. We were taken to an Italian restaurant and the meal was huge but really delicious.

Stop four was at Asakusa Temple and Shrine. There was quite a complex of shrines and temples with a long market street that we were instructed not to stray from or we'd get lost. However, Robyn and I were brave and went down a few side alleys (tut tut!). This was a great move because I found a lovely coat in Japanese style fabrics and when I was hesitant in my decision to buy the lady kept lowering the price. I am pleased with my purchase as is everyone else.

Back to the hotel by about 5:30pm to unpack and show off purchases before meeting again for dinner.

This time we hit the food hall of another DJs style shop at the station and browsed for our very light dinner (custard in yet a different edible wrap) and lunch for tomorrow. We also bought a bottle of wine as we hadn't had any for a few nights. As the wine had a cork the girl at the bottle shop opened it for us and gave us instructions to carry it back carefully.

Back to the room to collapse, email, diary then bed.

Hakone to Tokyo

This morning we woke to the sound of rain and bird calls above the rush of the river. Mist hung low in the valley with little hop of lifting to see Mt Fuji. After breakfast the decision was made not to drive to the Mt Fuji fifth station but to visit the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum on Lake Kawaguchi at the foot of Mt Fuji.

What a magnificent museum displaying the fabric art of Itchiku Kubota in the form of kimonos. They are glorious! I was even tempted to buy fabric to remind me of his work as we were not allowed to take photos inside the museum. The garden and buildings (inspired by Gaudi) were also awe inspiring, especially as the autumn foliage colours were so intense.

 

 

To top off the whole visit, as if we hadn't already taken too many photos, Mt Fuji came into view just as we were about to leave. Quite breathtaking even though there was a bit of cloud hiding the summit.

Reluctantly we boarded the bus to go back to the lake for lunch. The view became even better and our lovely driver manoeuvred the bus so that we could get some amazing pictures.

Lunch was in a restaurant overlooking the lake and we had teppanyaki – fine slices of pork and vegetables to be cooked by us on the hot rock plates accompanied by rice, miso soup and green tea.

 

We then headed back through the mountains enjoying our last glimpses of Mt Fuji, to Odawara to catch our next bullet train to Shinagawa, a southern 'suburb' of Tokyo. While waiting on the platform two bullet trains when through at full speed and were incredibly fast. It was only a 20 minute trip but by the time we walked across the road to the hotel we were all so exhausted that we decided not to meet for dinner but just buy essentials and collapse.

Unfortunately the air conditioning in the room doesn't seem to work and it is extremely hot as it has been in every room we've had. At least last night we could open the balcony door for a bit of fresh air.

Robyn and I went out for milk and dinner supplies from 7-11 then had dinner in the room. I did my last washing and created our normal chinese laundry. We eventually worked out how to get the TV in English but got sick of US elections so spent time on emails before getting into bed. We also got the airconditioning working at last so were quite comfortable under our doonas.

Nagoya to Hakone

Off to the bullet train to catch the 9:24 to Odawara, just over an hour away. There we were met by our new guide Keiko who directed us to buy picnic lunch to take with us.

We then boarded our new bus and drove up the steep windy road to Harkone and enjoyed our lunch by Ashi Lake watching tour boats come and go and the locals fishing.

After lunch we boarded one of the tour boats that looked quite incongruous in the setting. This tour was very pleasant and dropped us at the far end of the lake where we took the cable car up to Owakudani Hot Springs. The smell of sulphurous fumes from the springs was quite noticeable. Eggs were being slow boiled in the hot water and came out as black eggs that are supposed to extend your life by 7 years when eaten. I chose not to do so but did enjoy the walk to the springs. Mt Fuji was supposed to be visible from there but the low cloud meant it was not.

By the time we were ready to leave the bus had arrived and drove us back down the very steep hill to the Yomoto Fujiya Hotel in Hakone. We had time to dump our things in our Japanese style room then headed across the river into town (one long street). After a walk to see the shops (mostly food shops) Robyn and I went back to freshen up and sort out.

Dinner was another fantastic Japanese meal with 8 courses, ending with tea. It was then time for our communal hot bath in traditional Japanese style. This was a most relaxing experience that 8 of us enjoyed.

By the time we came back to the room we were both well and truly ready for our hot drink and bed!

  

Nagoya Patchwork

This morning we had a lovely sleep in and a relaxed breakfast as we have the morning off. Robyn and I then went down to the foyer for Robyn to catch up on emails. She decided to go to the Aeon Mall with some of the others while I went back upstairs to sort bags for the next few days.

I went out shopping to look for Japanese caramels. I did buy another choux pastry with custard for lunch. I also had time to update the blog.

Our afternoon and evening activity was to visit the Catpatch Quilting group at Kumarki just north of Nagoya. That was a fabulous experience! We all made a silk camelia with much laughter all round and very little english. Luckily our interpreter came which did help a little.

Next was show and tell. I showed my two coats. The Japanese ladies had made lovely quilts using Australian fabrics and themes after Lynn's previous visit a few years ago.

Then came gift exchange. We drew Australian animal names from a hat and were thus matched with a Japanese person. Such a range of lovely small gifts of fabrics and hand made items.

Then followed the most delicious dinner made by the ladies who had each brought a plate of home cooked food ('mother taste' food). It was delicious (except I avoided the sushimi). My favourite was grapefruit jelly – so fresh. Other interesting tastes were hard persimmons and a Japanese 'brownie'. However, everything I tasted was delicious.

After much chatter and laughter we headed back to the hotel (a half hour drive) and collapsed into bed.

 

 

 

Nagoya Shibori

After breakfast we met our new guide Makiko ('Kiko') in the lobby. While waiting for her our bus driver from Kyoto arrived to meet another group and recognised us all. Many smiles and nods all round!

Our first trip was to the Arimatsu Shibori Centre south of Nagoya where we all made a shibori decorated handkerchief. Quite a slow process for our novice hands . Once they are dyed they will be sent home to us. Of course the centre had a shop where I was able to find a small piece of fabric and a handkerchief both dyed using the shibori technique. The centre is on the old western highway, a very narrow minor street now, that is flanked on both sides with original buildings that were the main shibori district of Japan for hundreds of years.

Next we went to the Nagoya Castle, the tower of which has been rebuilt after it was bombed in WWII. It is now a museum with a viewing area on the top floor and 6 museum floors below. There was a chrysanthemum show on but the bonsai chrysanthemums were very impressivel

 

 

We were then dropped at our hotel for a free afternoon but we were first desperate for some lunch. We headed for the food hall under the 'twin tower' station building then Robyn and I sat outside to eat our chicken. It was very windy!

Back into a large DJs style department store called JR Takashimaya where we were astounded by the goods available. A fabulous science section with plastic embedded skeletons of very tiny fine animals, an art section with every conceivable art material then a tiny fabric section. Exhaustion set in by mid afternoon so we headed home to put our feet up and have a coffee – ahhhh!

I left Robyn to have a nanna nap while I went down to the foyer to update blog and catch up on diary writing.

A number of us met at 6:30pm to find dinner. I left most of mine as I am not feeling very hungry this evening. Hopefully it is not a sign of things to come! Robyn, Lynn and I then did a quick trip to the mini mart for something sweet to have with our tea and some more milk for tomorrow.

Back 'home' to collapse.