Travel

I traveled Tohoku region. I visited Matsushima, Sendai, Fukushima, Yonezawa, Aizu, Kinugawa during the 6 days 5 nights.



1st day, I got on Super Express Komachi at Tokyo staion. Eating Ekiben(train lunch), I enjoyed landscape of rural area. There were many rice fields, and mountains. I changed train at Sendai station, and arrived at Matsushima.



These are photos I took at Matsushima.





















This is Ojima.



Matsushima is here.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=38.367502,141.068916&spn=0.163392,0.246506&t=k&z=12&om=1



Matsushima is one of three most scenic spots in Japan. Matsuo Basho composed a famous poem that "松島や　あぁ松島や　松島や". It sounds "Matsushima ya, Ah Matsushima ya, Matsu shima ya". All Japanese know this poem. This is the masterpiece among masterpieces. I would mean "Oh, Matsushima, Oh Matsushima!, Oh, Matsushima". For students, this poem is a bit of joke. We used to compose similar poems. For example, Awaji island, oh Awaji island, Awaji island. Walkman, Oh walkman, walkman. Grand canyon, Ah, Grand canyon, Grand canyon.



There are several hundreds small islands in Matsushima. Most of them are very beautiful and some of them are very unique. Oh, Matsushima means "Pine island". There are many pine trees on the small islands.



I love Ojima island so much. Ojima means Men island. O means male. Jima means island. There are much moss, many buddha statues, many rocks, many pine trees on the small island. Even though it was hot day, wind was very cool. Fishes jump up and down in the sea. Other islands which I can see from Ojima were so beautiful.



I said Matsushima is one of three most scenic spots in Japan. Amano-hashidate and Miyajima are the rest of three. I've visited Miyajima when I was 11 years old, and used to visited Amano-Hashidate many times by motor cycle. Each spots are so beautiful, I think. This was first time to visit Matsushima. I was really impressed.



It seems Matsushima is a name of a village. There is a Zen temple too. Ojima is one of temple grounds of the temple. The temple is family temple of Date clan.



All Japanese would know 伊達政宗(Date Masamune). He was a war lord. His TV drama was so popular in Japan. I think the drama was broadcasted 18 years ago. Watanabe Ken acted Date Masamune. I think it was his debut volume. Japanese people spoke very highly of him.



In the temple, there are many small caves. It seems Tendai monks used to practiced Shikan in the cave long time ago. Shikan (止観) 's Shi means "stop", Kan would means outsight in English. That is, it is Zen meditation.



I visited 方丈(Houjyou) of the temple. Houjyou is living room for highest monk of the temple. There was a room for lord of Date clan and for emperor and Shogun. It seems Meiji emperor stayed the room once. but there were much dust in the building. I wonder why.



I with my exhausted legs dropped in a Japanese restaurant. I ordered Soba and beer. It was Yamagata-soba. Yamagata is a name of a prefecture. Very delicious. I didn't order Sendai's food.



I got on a ship which go to Shiogama. I enjoyed to see small islands. There are many beautiful islands and some unique islands. There was a very very small island. Only a pine tree on the island. There was a strange island like deep ocean survey vehicle. Near Shiogama, there was a heat power plant. This was the first time to see the kind of power plant.



I backed to Sendai and stayed a hotel which representation team of World Cup Soccer from Italy stayed. Very nice hotel but Restaurant was bad.



Sendai's seasoning is too strong to me. It was the reason I ordered Yamagata food at restaurant in Matsushima. This was third time to visit Sendai. Always I am uncomfortable with Sendai foods. Sorry to say, lack finish to people in Kamigata(Osaka, Kyoto, Nara). I wonder why people in Sendai don't fall sick. However, un-cooked foods and rice called Sasa-nishiki are delicious. And I guess foods I hate are very delicious to people in Sendai. I think I can't live in Sendai.



McDonald's breakfast I ate next morning was most delicious in Sendai. I bought a One day Travelcard for Bus in Sendai. I visited 瑞鳳殿(Zuihouden), which is a mausoleum for Date Masamune. It seems American air bombers bombed there and the mausoleum was rebuilt. They said it was war-damaged. It is on a mountain and just a temple. Why they bombed? Anyway, the mausoleum was very beautiful and too new a bit.



These are photos I took at Zuihouden.









Then I visited Sendai castle. There is no old buildings. It seems Meiji government broke down the buildings. Sendai castle also called as 青葉城(Aobajyou). Aoba means "green leaves". Jyou means "castle". Green leaves were really beautiful. At a restaurant I ordered Sendai-gyu. Gyu means beef. Sendai is famous for Gyu-tan. Gyu means beef or cow. Tan means tongue. I don't want to deep kiss with any cow. So I ordered normal beef. The beed with Japanese souse was very delicious, rice was also too. But other dishes have too strong flavor. It was a hard job to eat all of them. I ate Zunda-mochi which is specialty in Sendai. But it also has too strong flavor. Hmm, I can't live in Sendai.





This is a photo I took at Sendai castle. He is Date Masamune.



Sendai castle is here.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=38.25183,140.855724&spn=0.005114,0.007703&t=k&z=17&om=1







I took this one at Sendai museum. He is Date Masamune too.



I got on a train which go to Fukushima. I stayed at a hotel in Fukushima. Next morning I visited Yonezawa which is a city of Uesugi clan.



I took the photo at 瑞鳳殿(Zuihouden) in Sendai.



I stayed at Fukushima because I haven't got off train at Fukushima. I ate Ramen at food stall. Next morning I got on a train which go to Yonezawa. Yonezawa is a city Uesugi clan ruled. This is a photo of the train I got on.







This train went to Yonezawa through white clouds. I took these photos from the train.











There are two famous lords in Uesugi clan. One is 上杉謙信(Uesugi Kenshin), the other is 上杉鷹山(Uesugi Yozan). Uesugi Kenshin is a so popular war lord in Japan. It is said kenshin respected justice, and people believe so. But in fact, to charge forward means to depredate in the era. Kenshin was no exception. Yozan is famous for finance reform of Uesugi clan in Edo era.



He is Uesugi Yozan.



Yonezawa is here.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=37.908856,140.104179&spn=0.041106,0.061626&t=k&z=14&om=1











Yozan took over as head of the Family when he was 17 years old or so, and he went ahead financial reform. He completed the reform when he was old man. He is one of the best lords in Edo era. Yozan also had a fervor for education. He established a school where all people can study. Needless to say, such highly-educated situation in Japan contributes prosperity of Meiji-Japan and current Japan.



This is word by Yozan.







なせば成る

なさねば成らぬ

何事も

成らぬは人の

なさぬなりけり



Nasabe naru

Nasaneba naranu

Nanigoto mo

Naranuha hito no

Nasanu narikeri



It means



If you try, you can make it.

You must make what you must to do.

un-completed means you didn't try.





He also made 伝国の辞.(Denkoku-no-ji)



一、国家は先祖より子孫へ伝候国家にして我私すべき物にはこれ無く候

一、人民は国家に属したる人民にして我私すべき物にはこれ無く候

一、国家人民の為に立たる君にて君の為に立たる国家人民にはこれ無く候

右三条御遺念有るまじく候事



It means



1, Country should be take over from ancestor to descendant. Never be a country privately owned.

1, People should belong to country. People should not be private owned.



1, Lords exist for people and country. People and country are not for lords.



I think current school education in Japan lacks education for leader. Schools teach students democratic process but don't teach to act as a leader enough. I think this is also a bad effect caused by communist educators and postwar education. Education and actual condition of this society don't fit well.



I found a beautiful small shrine at Yonezawa castle. This is Kasuga shrine.







Main purpose of my visiting there was Yonezawa beef! I ate Sukiyaki at mansion house of Uesugi clan.







I composed a poem.



米沢牛　あぁ米沢牛　米沢牛

Yonezawa gyu, Ah Yonezawa gyu, Yonezawa gyu



It was sooooo delicious. All dishes were so delicious. Supremeness!







I backed to Fukushima and got on a train which go to Koriyama where Adam san lived. I dropped in Starbucks and bought a cup of cafe-late and got on a train which go to Aizu, where is famous for the castle and Aizu war.



This is the train I got on.









Aizu is here.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=37.583766,139.912262&spn=0.330292,0.493011&t=k&z=11&om=1



After that I arrived at Aizu, I went to Kitakata by train. Kitakata is famous for Ramen.



The sunset color at Kitakata was really beautiful.











What a delicious ramen!



I backed to Aizu, and slept with dream of Ramen.



These are photos of Turuga-jyou in Aizu.















I composed a poem.



鶴ヶ城　あぁ鶴ヶ城　鶴ヶ城

Turuga castel, Oh Turuga castle!, Turuga castle.



I took a photo at the castle tower.







Then, I visited a burial of 近藤勇(Kondo Isami). He was a leader of 新撰組(Shinsen-gumi). I met with an antelope at a temple. It is designated as a protected species. This was first time to see it.







Then, I visited Iimori mountain where 白虎隊(Byakkotai) stab themselves to death. I took a photo at the mountain. You can see Turuga castle.







I composed a poem.



For ever,

covered over by aroma,

Iimori mountain.



Amid the Aizu war between Meiji army and Tohoku army, Byakkotai backed down to Aizu basin. Byakkotai was a troop of teenager samurais. They saw the castle and guessed wrong that the castle was burning. They decided to kill themselves. This story is vary famous in Japan. Many people visited and offered incense sticks in front of burials of them. I also offered incense sticks.



This is Sazae-dou on Iimori moutain.







Then, I visited Sake Brewing Museum and tried to drink many kind of Sake. I found two Sakes are really delicious and bought 2 bottles. And I visited several historic places. At one of them I took this photo. The place is where 山鹿素行(Yamaga Soko) was born in.







Yamaga Soko was a teacher of 赤穂浪士(Akoroushi) of Treasury of Loyal Retainers.



Next morning, I visited other several historical places. And I ate sauced Katsu-don.







This one is very folksily food and delicious. I've got be laughing because it is folksily so much.



I composed a poem.



ソースカツ, あぁソースカツ丼, ソースカツ



Sauce Katsu, Oh! Sauce Katsudon, Sauce Katsu.



In fact, once christian samurai lord ruled this region. This one is restored one.









This is called as 御三階(Osankai). It means 3 floors. It was in castle but it is in Amida-temple now. 斎藤一 (Saitou Hajime)'s burial who was a member of 新撰組(Shinsen-gumi) is in the temple.













I composed a poem.



With hydrangea,

retired from castle,

Osankai



I found a strange automatic vending machine.





It sells canned ramen!



I got on a train which go to Kinugawa-spa.



I took this photo at hotel.







I took this spa.





Kinugawa is here.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=36.818973,139.715452&spn=0.041707,0.061626&t=k&z=14&om=1



Next morning, I got on a express train which go to Asakusa in Tokyo.



It was really nice trip, although I'm very tired. :-)



I took the first photo at 瑞鳳殿(Zuihouden) in Sendai.



In addition,

Tokorozawa is here.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=35.789099,139.474998&spn=0.021131,0.030813&t=k&z=15&om=1



Totoro's forest is here.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=35.780552,139.421568&spn=0.005283,0.007703&t=k&z=17&om=1



This map is very interesting eh?



Here is where I grew up.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=ja&geocode=&q=%E9%A6%99%E9%87%8C%E5%9C%92&ie=UTF8&ll=34.784483,135.631714&spn=1.369222,1.972046&z=9&om=1



Here is where I was born in.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=ja&geocode=&q=%E5%A0%82%E5%B3%B6%E4%B8%80%E4%B8%81%E7%9B%AE&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=addr&om=1



I up loaded those photos onto flickr.com too.



To American friends, congratulations on your nation-building day!