RHS'69
Tomodachi Tour IV - 2019
A charter bus heads to Kyoto and returns by the Akashi Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world. Stops include the famous Awaji Ningyo-za Puppet Museum, the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum in Kobe (samples included!). Then back to the hotel for the night.
The next morning it's explore the Arashiyama area, including a visit to the Kintano Tenmangu Shrine. Lunch is in a bamboo forest where richshaw rides await for those interested. Following that it's the AEON Mall for shopping and back to the hotel, probably for a nap - then eat and prepare to move on tomorrow.
Tomadachi IV - the fourth tour to Japan is two weeks in length. We have three reporters covering the trip: Lani Harrington, Vincent Yim (RHS'69) and Bobby Imoto (Kalani'69).
This is a "rolling blog" so each day's events are posted as they come in. Check back often for the latest.
Saturday and Sunday, March 2-3, 2019
Events added daily through Monday, March 11th
Breakfast is being served
Today is Girl's Day in Japan. After last night's special dinner at the Naruto Renaissance hotel, the guys gathered for a secret craft session where they made their own kokeshi dolls for their wives. Note: not all were in the true likeness of their loved ones. They also made some for girls who traveled alone.
It's a surprise! Girls will receive their dolls today, Girls Day, on the bus ride to Kyoto.
Kokeshi are simple wooden dolls that have been crafted for hundreds of years as a toy for children.
The were first produced by kijishi artisans proficient with a potter's wheel, during the middle of the Edo period (1610 - 1868) to
be sold to people who were visiting the hot springs in the north-east of the country.
Headed over the bridge from the hotel to the Awaii Ningyo-za Puppet Museum.
Ninyo-joruri, literally meaning puppet and narrative is one of the representative Japanese traditional theaters along with kabuki which has been popular among ordinary people for 400 years.
The technique and style of Awaji has puppets handled by three manipulators and the recitative accompanied by shamisen (a three-stringed lute) or with the koto (a zither with thirteen strings), and a taiko drum often making a contribution. A significant role is played by women artists, who include remarkable chanters and musicians, imparting an added attraction to these performances.
Lunch.
Now everyone is ready for Kobe and the Sake Brewery Museum - with the free tasting!
It was, no doubt, the most eagerly awaited excursion of the tour.
Like Christmas morning, the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum in Kobe has been on each member's personal calendar on months.
To see how it's made is treat enough - but free samples! It could only set one's heart all a-flutter.
Our travelers patiently toured the various displays as they slowly worked their way to the ultimate goal, the tasting room.
They turned the last corner and success was almost in their grasp when they were met by this...
Sweet dreams became harsh reality.
Seriously. Grab a microscope and just look at the size of those cups.
A happy ending is needed and one presented itself.
They stepped up to the counter and bought a few bottles of sake.
That followed the museum's plan so it was happy. The tour folks got some of the good stuff and they're happy.
All's well that ends well.
Everyone is back on the bus and headed for the hotel. The rest of the day is free time for sightseeing, eating and shopping.
This is the bus driver and the bus hostess. Fun people.
Looking for a place for dinner
Found a place for dinner
Also found one of those spitting places.
See the video on Day 3.
Japan has art where you least expect it.
Several thousand exceptional works of art are right under foot.
Check it out here.
Today's weather report for Kyoto.
7:00 AM.
Breakfast.
Somebody looks tired. Chin up - you're only at the halfway point of the tour.
Waiting for the charter bus to take them to the Arashiyama area and a visit to the Kintano Tenmangu Shrine.
Who would turn down a rickshaw ride through the bamboo forest of Arashiyama?
Certainly no one in this group.
So hop aboard.
Here's how this works...
At every rest stop everyone has to buy something. It can be something they haven't tried before or something they like. Whatever.
Then, back on the bus these goodies are handed out.
As of this 7th day of the tour, there are now over 20 sweet, sour, salty and chewy snacks being passed around. Heaven comes in many forms.
Close your eyes for a moment.
Imagine Ala Moana Center on steroids.
You now have AEON - Kyoto.
They're no small outfit. 626 stores, 313 malls selling just about everything.
It is amazing to consider the amount of shopping the group has done and still have room in their luggage,
Anyway, this is the final stop on the way back to the hotel.
Everyone is back in Kyoto.
At the Kitano Ten Mangu Shrine Bobby Imoto tied an "Ema" wooden plaque to a rack with hundreds of others asking for good health for all.
The backside of the plaque lists the names of those in the Tomodachi group.
A day without eating or shopping is like a day without...
Never mind. It simply wouldn't happen.
First - lunch.
One can not shop properly if one is not fueled properly.
Tomorrow the gang shuffles to Kanazawa on Japan's West Coast.
They'll be a stop along the way to learn how to make washi paper.
Wrapping up the day with a walk to the Gion District, finding a nice restaurant for dinner and then catching a cab back to the hotel and crashing.
The end result is something really nice. This Kokeshi was made by Bobby Imoto for Lynn Sekiya.
She was thrilled.
Photos/video by:
Bobby Imoto Kalani'69
Lani Harrington RHS'69
Cheryl Osumi RHS'69
Vincent/Wendy Yim RHS'69