Kon'nichiwa my friends!
Welcome to my fourth/last full week in Japan. I'm grateful to have the gift of your time to check in on my latest week of adventure!
I've LOVED my four weeks in Japan, starting to feel like home! I've had my share of ramen noodles, sushi and sashimi.
How have you been? What new appreciation do you have for the people in your life? What have you done to demonstrate your appreciation?
 |
| Shomyo Falls - Japan's tallest waterfalls |
I'm so blessed the universe continues to shine its benevolence on me and my travels. I've met the most extraordinary people over the past week! I have the ongoing reminder of how much thoughtfulness and kindness there is irrespective of the differences that we think may divide us. I encourage you to greet your world with an open heart, each and every day! Perhaps, you may experiment in the next few weeks with how you respond to the question 'How are you?' I like to enthusiastically say that 'It's the best day ever!'and see how the questioner reacts!!!
Apologies for the belated posting this week. I'll blame my Mongolian travel schedule. We are driving 4 -5 hours/day along with changing our accommodations daily. It's taken me a few days to adjust to the new daily 'lifestyle'!
May the universe bring endless blessings and moments of magic 🦄 to you and your loved ones in the week ahead. 🙏
Travel Administration
What a difference the two new double wheels make! I can readily and easily navigate my suitcase in the desired direction. The repairs were done as agreed and on time. A privilege with my IHG platinum status I've grown to appreciate is the 2 pm check-out time. Here's an example when the extended check-out made an important difference as the Suitcase Ambulance shop opened at 10:30 am. The extra three hours on check-out eliminated any last minute scrambling and helped me avoid making luggage storage arrangements.
 |
| Wheel 1 - Bent axle and bent base |
 |
| Wheel 2 - Bent axle and bent base |
 |
| New double rollers on my luggage |
 |
| So much better now! |
Travel Update
My Kyrgyzstan itinerary pondering is now somewhat time bounded with Jane's confirmation she is expecting to be in Osh on July 22. I'm considering taking the overnight bus from Almaty to Tashkent on July 19 with an overnight stay in Tashkent. I'd then head to Andijan by train and take a bus from Andijan to reach Osh. Just a matter of figuring out the timing for the connections and determining the overnight stays in addition what I have initially planned for Tashkent. I'll bring my Kyrgyzstan visit to an end on August 2 or 3 with a flight to Astana, Kazakhstan from a destination TBD.
Travel Maps
I went to the Ise area on Sunday and Monday. Why twice? I messed up with my plans to visit Asama Mountain View on Sunday so I thought I would correct the error of my ways on Monday. Thank goodness I compounded my error as I had the most extraordinary conversation on my return trip to Nagoya (see Friends below). I took the bus to Toyama on Tuesday with plans to camp out for the next four nights. I was off to a hotel near Narita International Airport on Saturday afternoon for an overnight stay in advance of my flight to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital, on Sunday afternoon.
Japan: June 2 to June 28, 2026
Chiryu
Chiryu is about a 25 - 30 minute train ride away from Nagoya Station. As you can see in the photo below, choosing the right time of day is important (which I obviously mistimed on Monday morning) when traveling on the local trains.
 |
| Monday - 7:53 am |
 |
| Japan Post delivery cycle |
I had two destinations in mind for my Sunday travel to Ise and area. The Wedded Rocks was a popular tourist and religious destination I intended to visit. Asama Mountain View Point was also on my itinerary which was located in a scenic mountainous area just outside Ise.
Unfortunately I missed out on visiting the View Point due to my misreading the bus schedule. I was blessed with receiving detailed instructions after visiting the Futami Visitor Information Centre which I accidentally discovered on my way to the Wedded Rocks. I thought the bus I needed to take would interfere with returning to Chiryu at a reasonable hour. If I had read more carefully, I could have taken an earlier bus preserving my return trip schedule.
BTW - the woman at the information centre was amazing. She numbered the three different schedules I need to have to visit the viewpoint along with highlighting the bus stop locations and appropriate times on the bus schedule. It was these highlights that threw me off from investigating better travel options!
En route
I intersected with Visitor Info Centre due to a fortuitous decision to follow a less busy road to the Rocks. With maps and schedules in hand, I was off to the Wedded Rocks.
 |
| Futami welcoming committee |
 |
| Walkway leading to Wedded Rocks |
 |
Guarding the seawall path to
Wedded Rocks |
 |
| Walkway to Wedded Rocks |
 |
| Celebrants returning from | Wedded Rocks |
 |
Celebrants returning from
Wedded Rocks |
 |
| Celebrants returning from Wedded Rocks |
Wedded Rocks
'The rocks serve as a torii gate to visitors offering prayers to the sunrise and to a sacred rock 700 meters offshore from Meoto-iwa. Many visitors come to pray to the sunrise especially on the Summer Solistice when the sun rises right in the middle of the rocks. Since ancient times the waters of Futamiura, as this section of the sea is called, has been the scene of misogi, a ritual immersion performed prior to visiting Ise Jingu.'
I think I was blessed to have missed the multitude of celebrants who were leaving the Wedded Rock area as I was arriving. How unpleasantly crowded it would have been!!
 |
| Approaching the Wedded Rocks |
 |
| Wedded Rocks up close |
 |
| Wedded Rocks up close |
Ise
I headed to Ise from the Kintetsu-Toba Isuzugawa Station where the bus for the View Point departed for the six minute train ride to the JR Iseshi Station after aborting my bus ride to Asama Mountain View Point. My main objective was visiting the city that Samuel had lived in for three years. I walked from the train station to Toyouke Daijingu to explore the religious grounds while awaiting the train's departure.
I returned to Ise on Monday so I could complete my mission to visit the Mountain View Point only to discover the bus that runs to the viewpoint is limited to weekends. I'm happy I stopped at the Ise Tourist Information Centre to review the bus schedule where I was quickly advised that taking an expensive taxi ride was the only way to reach my destination.
I updated my travel itinerary. I sat outside the local 7-11 with my coffee in hand. I was blessed to have the 7-11 clerk lead me to the coffee machine and proceeded to prepare my coffee. While I was waiting outside, a mother and son stopped by to chat. The son had worked for a year in Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon territory. I learned about his stay, how he caught a lake trout and how he enjoyed his time in Canada. We had the conversation given his mother's encouragement. After about 30 minutes of conversation, they said their goodbyes.
About Town
 |
| I thought Samuel would recognize this photo! |
 |
| Street leading from station to shrine |
 |
| Leaving station plaza |
I walked to/visited the shrine given the time on my hands until my train's departure on Sunday.
'Geku is dedicated to Toyo'uke-no-omikami. The abundantly green precincts of Geku extend over about 89 hectares. Enshrining Toyouke Omikami, this outer sanctuary is dedicated mainly to industry and food, clothing and shelter. This part of the sacred circuit can feel like a relaxing stroll though dappled light under the trees.'
Magatama-ike Pond
My personal highlight in visiting Geku was discovering this pond and surrounding garden where the beautiful flowers in the photos below were growing. Enjoy nature's unadulterated beauty!
 |
| Garden |
Toyama
I headed to Toyama, by motor coach, on Tuesday afternoon. My most appreciated blessing was a bus stop was a five minute walk away from my hotel! The underlying urgency during my visit was to visit the Kurobe River Gorge and Shomyo Falls before the rain appeared on Friday!
About Town
 |
| Afternoon sky |
 |
| Toyama Castle ruins - across from my hotel |
 |
| Downtown Toyama - Saturday mid-day |
 |
| Looking in opposite direction |
 |
The young women of Toyama took collecting
these stuffies to a new level! |
Manhole Covers et al.
Toyama utilities also took manhole cover design into a new artistic direction. There are a number of Pokemon manhole covers to discover and photograph!
Haircut
I intersected with this barbershop around 6 pm on Friday evening. The couple were the sweetest people as we worked through, with Google Translate, just exactly the type of haircut I wanted. After several minutes, I settled in the chair for my haircut, completed entirely by using scissors. One of the best haircuts I have had in the longest time. They also refused to the tip I offered.
The Glass Art Museum, which is housed in the public library building, was a highly promoted must-see destination for locals and visitors. Unfortunately, photography is banned while visiting the exhibition.
 |
| Library exterior |
 |
| Library interior |
 |
| Library interior |
Please click on the above link to see examples of the glass work on display. It is beyond belief what artists can achieve with blown glass. 😃
'This exhibition revisits the expressive material possibilities of glass via works from the Toyama Glass Art Museum collection, selected with such knitting and weaving in mind. From lace glass that spreads in the manner of a color palette knitted together, to works that construct spaces through the layering of lines, and fragments that when combined take on a garment-like appearance, the pieces here do not merely display technical skill, but reflect how manmade objects have come to be, and to resonate with our ideas and sense of relationality.'
Guest Exhibition
I also had the chance to visit a guest art exhibition while visiting the library. Takumi, the artist, was kind enough to spend a few minutes with me to explain the sources of his inspiration for the art on display. I'm always keen to learn where and how artists of all types get their inspiration and how they transform this inspiration into art.
 |
| Takumi Azechi - local artist |
 |
| Inspired by African art |
 |
Microwave turned on the figurines inside
would rotate. Ingenious! |
 |
| Magnet above the mirror |
 |
Reminded me of Canadian Indigenous
art |
 |
| More reminders of Canadian art |
 |
| Social commentary??? |
 |
| Glass figurines |
Glass Art Garden - Permanent Exhibition
'Installations by the great master of contemporary glass art, Dale Chihuly, are in display. Five pieces from Chihuly’s representative art series, such as the “Persian Ceiling” and “Mille Fiori” are in this exhibition.' I took photos of the three art pieces I found most appealing!
Kurobe River Gorge
Mission #1 for visiting Toyama was visiting the Kurobe River Gorge as recommended by my local guide who I met at the Kanazawa station in the previous week. Sadly, repairs were still underway on the railroad to repair earthquake damage so the ride was abbreviated. There is promise for the full track to open in September 2026.
Enroute
I had the most welcome surprise of meeting a hotel employee, Rimi, who was traveling on the same train as I was. When she approached me to say hi, I had to do a double take as it is extremely rare for someone to both recognize me and say my name. I had complimented her earlier that morning on how well she spoke English (making my life so much easier!). Rimi appears in the Friends section below!
 |
I've noticed so many ferris wheels
throughout my international travels |
Unazuki Onsen
Getting to the Gorge involved three train connections. The last stop was Unazuki Onsen where I bought my train ticket for the two hour return trip on the special electric train. This small town is famous for its hot springs including foot baths and a hot spring fountain adjacent to the train station.
I received the gift of support from the woman running the station store when I was purchasing my return train ticket. In spite of her guidance on what ticket to buy, I insisted on doing something different. In the end, she had the station agent refund the express train ticket I bought in error. The universe continues to watch over me throughout my adventures!
 |
| Train station |
 |
| Train station signpost |
 |
| Public hot springs fountain |
 |
| Public hot springs fountain |
Our Electric Train
Important train seating type decision to make - sitting on a bench in an open car or a single seat in an enclosed car. Beautiful day so I opted for the open bench seating!
 |
| Our train engine |
 |
| Station staff and open bench seating |
 |
'V' sign seems obligatory in photos
these days |
 |
| Staff staff generously offered to take my photo |
Gorge
Beautiful ride in a beautiful gorge. I was left wishing the train would stop periodically during the ride so we could take photos. I seemed to do okay in spite of the train being in constant motion.
 |
| Water color was mesmerizing |
.jpg) |
| Beautiful cascading river |
 |
| Ski slopes |
 |
I stayed on the train during this
brief stop! |
 |
Yes, we do need to remind visitors
to use 'common' sense! |
 |
| River dam |
 |
| Unique tree formation in center of photo |
 |
| Unique power plant structure |
Mission #2 for visiting Toyama was visiting Shomyo Falls, Japan's highest waterfall, which was about an hour's express train ride away from Toyama. The return trip was on a local train which took about 20 minutes longer. Important note: You need to depart on the Toyama Chiho Railway Main Line from the Dentetsu-Toyama Station, to reach Tateyama Station.
Enroute
Tateyama Station was my initial destination. I had to catch a local motor coach at the station for the 15 minute ride to the Falls drop off point. Tateyama Station is the western starting point for the Alpine Route that I had explored from the Ogisawa Station on the eastern end during the previous week.
 |
| Our 'express' train |
 |
| Mountains in background |
 |
| Mountains in background |
 |
Photo op at Tateyama
Station |
Shomyo Falls Museum
More Falls facts and figures from the museum located near the bus stop and parking lot.
To the Falls
The waterfalls was about another 30 minute walk uphill from the bus stop. I was grateful for the:
- asphalt road,
- electronic sound system the officials had installed to deter bears from visiting the area around the falls.
- bear bell that the bus driver kindly lent me when he learned about my bear angst! Kindness abounds!
 |
| Bear deterrence system |
 |
| Trailhead info |
 |
| Trailhead info |
 |
| I think this says to keep out! |
 |
Bridge to hiking trail you are asked to avoid
using! |
Shomyo Falls
 |
| Info board |
 |
| Info board |
 |
| Viewing area - upper left |
 |
| Falls hiding on left! |
 |
| Clear blue water! |
 |
| Leading to falls |
 |
| Mist from water |
 |
Two more falls appear in spring or
after rain storms! |
 |
| Valley leading to falls |
 |
| Valley leading to falls |
 |
| Valley leading to falls |
 |
| Long distance falls view |
 |
| Long distance falls view |
Fauna
More birds' nest and feeding time within the station's station waiting area by tracks. The poor lighting prevented me from taking better quality photos! 😞
 |
Waiting for the sound of their
returning parents |
 |
| Feeding time |
 |
| Feeding time |
 |
| Parent was faster than a speedy bullet |
Famous Bridge
The train slowed so the passengers could take photos of this famous bridge. Guess who forgot to record the bridge's name (and bridge souvenirs were being sold on the train!).
Friends
Casual acquaintance
I was unable to resist the temptation to take photos of this young woman and her very cute puppy!
Lifa and Mari
The unexpected blessing of my aborted trip on Monday to visit the Mountain View Point was meeting Lifa and Mari on the return trip to Nagoya. It was only through a combination of multiple fortuitous coincidences that I met my newest friends. It all started with messing up the bus schedule so I missed going to the viewpoint on Sunday. I also arranged to catch an earlier train for my return trip to Nagoya. Add on the fact I wanted a window seat with the only option being sitting where two rows of seats facing each other. Plus - sitting across from a person who spoke fluent English. Wonderful example of avoiding rushing to judgement when an apparently negative event happens. Who knows what the future holds. Reminds me of an old
Taoist parable about a farmer and his horse.
We had the most fascinating and engrossing conversation during our journey. Lifa had spent 15 years in the USA before returning to Japan. Lifa, Mari and their two daughters were returning to Tokyo after a weekend spiritual retreat in Ise. Life and Mari met through their daughters school relationship. Lifa was slowly returning to her business life by working a few days/week in the family business. Her daughter Sofia has been her primary focus up to now. The 2.5 hour train ride seemed to be over in a flash! I was blessed with the chance to exchange contact information with Lifa. I left an open invitation to be a tour guide when Lifa and her daughter decide to visit Canada. I must admit this is one conversation that ended too soon and I would liked to linger over.
 |
| Wait for it! The heart is coming! |
 |
Ah, there's the complete heart!
Lifa is sitting on the left side. |
Rimi
Rimi is one of those special people I am blessed to meet on my travels. She exudes an extraordinary amount of positive energy that is impossible to miss! My first chat with Rimi was the same evening that I had checked into the hotel. She was kind and gracious in her hospitality, wearing a friendly smile and making my life easy with her fluent English. The following morning, we spoke briefly with me complimenting her on her English skills. She stopped to say hi as she passed me while I was sitting on the train. I was impressed with her courage to stop and have a conversation with me. The following day she came to her colleague's rescue when he was struggling to confirm my extended check-out time. All this positivity led me to giving Rimi a pendant that was ideal for a situation like this. Joanne, my friend from Barbados, had made the pendant for me using a combination of
seaglass I had picked and a small turtle medal. Simultaneously, Rimi gave me a wonderful note she had prepared knowing she was on days off when I checked out. We took the memory pic below. And there's more! I discovered an envelope at my door later the same evening. Rimi had printed the two photos she taken onto a letter sized page with the kindest and most thoughtful note that I've ever had given to me. Thank you to the universe for this incredible blessing! 🙏
 |
| Rimi with turtle/seaglass pendant. |
Next Week
The Mongolian adventure is imminent! I fly to Ulaanbaatar late Sunday afternoon, just in time to be picked up at 8:30 am Monday to start my
small group tour. I'm uncertain how much time I'll have over the next two weeks to post weekly blog updates given the busy travel schedule. Please be patient with me! 🙏
.jpg)
.jpg)
Comments
Post a Comment