Sightseeing in Hamamatsu

(For April 28) 

I had a very early start today to catch the shinkansen to Hamamatsu (the birthplace of Honda!). 

I made it to the station with plenty of time to spare and tried to get some good shinkansen photos for Ulla to show to her school class.  The trains come and go so quickly, it’s difficult to click at the right time but I managed a few shots.  The advantage of the shinkansen is that it looks exactly the same from both ends, so it doesn’t matter if it’s coming or going.

For the record, this one was arriving

 

I settled in to my comfortable shinkansen seat – which is like a plane seat, but with more leg room – and soon we were hurtling our way to Hamamatsu.  I had to change trains at Nagoya, so I was careful not to nod off.  This was the easiest train change I’ve ever had to do.  I got off the first train, which then went on its way, then my second train arrived at the same platform.  I wish every change could be so simple.

I arrived in Hamamatsu and my penfriend Toshi was there to meet me.  We dropped off my bags at the hotel, then hired a car to go sightseeing.

We went for a long drive up to Harunocho in the mountains.  The scenery was beautiful with many rivers and steep tree-covered mountains.  Toshi pointed out patches of light purple flowers among the greenery.  They were ‘fuji’ or Japanese wisteria, often seen in the headwear of geisha.  They were really lovely growing out in the natural landscape.

We visited the large Tengu mask – a bit of a fierce looking character (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tengu if you're interested in this red-faced long-nosed guy.)

Tengu with Toshi and with Kate

 

This place was also the birthplace of Tetsuzo Shirai, a famous director of the Takarazuka Revue.  There is a statue and a small museum showing some early photographs, posters etc.  We took a bit of time looking around the area.  There was a ‘gang’ of scooter riders who arrived, reminding me of our earlier journeys in Japan.

 

A nice view from the front of the Tetsuzo Shirai Museum

On the way back down from the mountains, we dropped in to a roadside stop with a shop and the lovely smell of cooking food.  We had a really nice rice ‘thing’ for a snack.  It was cooked rice moulded into a shape around a flat stick.  This was then dipped into a delicious sauce and cooked over coals.  It was really tasty!

Our delicious morning snack

 

Now that's my kind of vending machine!!

Our next stop was to be the preparation for the Kite Festival which will be held next weekend.  This festival is held every year in May at the Nakatajima Dunes in Hamamatsu and attracts a very large crowd.  I hope to be able to make a trip to see it one day.

We were a little too early for the kite preparation, so Toshi took me to the Book Off store that we’d seen earlier.  I was able to find a couple more books for the collection.

We then went around to the area where the kite was being prepared, which was a short walk from Toshi’s house.  There was a large group of people working on the kites, and some young people who blow trumpets and bang drums during the Festival.  It must be very exciting to see and hear.

Preparing the kite

The kite had bamboo struts and had to have strings tied across it to bend it, and then the strings for flying it were attached.  It looked like a very skilled operation that has to be done properly to enable the kite to fly properly.  It was very interesting to see the kite close up and to see what was involved in preparing it.  Once it was ready, it was put in an upright position (and tied to the balcony of the house so it didn’t blow away) and photos were taken.  Someone then brought around small cups of sake and everyone yelled ‘kampai!’  Toshi will put some photos on Facebook after the Festival so I’ll be able to see how it went.

The finished kite

 

After that, we drove around the Lake Hamano area and past the sand dunes where the Kite Festival will be held.  There is an amazing white bridge which we crossed over.  Unfortunately, my photo doesn’t really do it justice, but it was a very unusual design.  During this part of the outing Toshi stopped and bought a taiyaki, which is made from a batter cooked in a fish shape with sweetened bean paste inside.  It was really nice.

A very unusual bridge

 

Really?

We went back to our starting point and I checked into the hotel and took my bags upstairs, before heading off to a nearby izakaya.  We had edamame, gyouza, sashimi and an egg dish.  Oh, and of course, beer!  I also had a very nice mikan (Japanese orange) flavoured drink which I’ve forgotten whether it was sake or shouchu.  I believe it was shouchu, but I'd already had my giant beer by then, so I forgot.  “What’s the difference?” I hear you ask.  Sake is brewed and shouchu is brewed and then distilled.  It was similar to our Bacardi Breezers or Vodka Cruisers and I’m sure that if I’d had more than one I would have really regretted it.  One was very nice and it was a nice way to end the day.  I was so very grateful to Toshi for taking the time to show me around and I hope that we can return the favour one day.

KAMPAI!!