Aussie Wendy
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2008
Continued
We wandered north from here and came across Oyama Shrine, built in the early Meiji period and famous for its stained-glass windows that is a fusion of Japanese and Western architecture.
Really scary looking guardians here
Some important dude on a horse with what looks like a pumpkin behind him
Mix of old and modern sculptures and a garden with bridges- finally one where you could play on them-yaay-so we did!
From here we popped out at the back of the castle. Kanazawa-jo dates from the 1580s but the main keep and most of the buildings have been burnt and not rebuilt. They are slowly rebuilding some of the historic buildings but have no plans to rebuild the main keep. Its built up on a high hill overlooking the town (and those snow capped mountains.) It was getting close to closing time for many of the buildings and since we had been inside Hikone and these were just rebuilds we didnt go inside but its distinctive white tiles were impressive. It is said these are not only fireproof but if under siege, they could be melted down and cast into bullets.
How the walls are made
As we were leaving under the impressive Ishakawa-mon Gate we could see large birds of prey (eagles?) circling over the keep-quite atmospheric.
We walked back to the hotel-it was now getting on for dusk-and checked in. DD had her own single room here and we had a twin bedded room (because I had read Japanese doubles are mostly semi-doubles, for us westerners not much bigger than a single). It was small but still fitted a desk and small table and chair with the usual step-up wet room style bathroom. We loved it had an openable window so we could get fresh air in the night. This is the view.
and inside
We were also enchanted by the origami birds left on the beds-a signature of this hotel (maybe the chain?).
Dinner tonight we headed into the back streets and found a place I had read about that was recommended a German style bar with an upstairs restaurant called Pilsen. It was great-German style timbers and beer steins (I KNOW-why didnt I take any pics? Why havent I learnt by now I want all these pics when I get home??).
We sampled some beers (of course) and shared a plate of German style hot potatoes and bacon while waiting for our meals (OK I thought these as side serves might come with the meal-but anyway). As usual DH got his meal first-a very good pizza (German style??) and had finished it whilst we were waiting and waiting but when DD and I meals finally arrived piping hot they were excellent. We both got lamb chops done in some delicious creamy herby sauce and served with a small salad on the side. No pics sorry but they tasted very good. Thanks to the fizz from the beer and all those potatoes couldnt fit in desert though they had several options I liked the sound of (and cant remember now-see I should have learnt from Princess in Oz and took a pic of the menu as an aide to others-ah well-guess well have to go back ).
Walked back through Katamachi fascinated by all these slick Japanese youth in black suits handing out girly club cards to all the straight-faced Japanese business men. Yes we were in the middle of the club district and guess where all the business hotels were .on the Thursday night it sounded quite lively outside at one stage but it was all perfectly safe and for sightseeing was handy to everything including a swag of great restaurants.
We wandered north from here and came across Oyama Shrine, built in the early Meiji period and famous for its stained-glass windows that is a fusion of Japanese and Western architecture.
Really scary looking guardians here
Some important dude on a horse with what looks like a pumpkin behind him
Mix of old and modern sculptures and a garden with bridges- finally one where you could play on them-yaay-so we did!
From here we popped out at the back of the castle. Kanazawa-jo dates from the 1580s but the main keep and most of the buildings have been burnt and not rebuilt. They are slowly rebuilding some of the historic buildings but have no plans to rebuild the main keep. Its built up on a high hill overlooking the town (and those snow capped mountains.) It was getting close to closing time for many of the buildings and since we had been inside Hikone and these were just rebuilds we didnt go inside but its distinctive white tiles were impressive. It is said these are not only fireproof but if under siege, they could be melted down and cast into bullets.
How the walls are made
As we were leaving under the impressive Ishakawa-mon Gate we could see large birds of prey (eagles?) circling over the keep-quite atmospheric.
We walked back to the hotel-it was now getting on for dusk-and checked in. DD had her own single room here and we had a twin bedded room (because I had read Japanese doubles are mostly semi-doubles, for us westerners not much bigger than a single). It was small but still fitted a desk and small table and chair with the usual step-up wet room style bathroom. We loved it had an openable window so we could get fresh air in the night. This is the view.
and inside
We were also enchanted by the origami birds left on the beds-a signature of this hotel (maybe the chain?).
Dinner tonight we headed into the back streets and found a place I had read about that was recommended a German style bar with an upstairs restaurant called Pilsen. It was great-German style timbers and beer steins (I KNOW-why didnt I take any pics? Why havent I learnt by now I want all these pics when I get home??).
We sampled some beers (of course) and shared a plate of German style hot potatoes and bacon while waiting for our meals (OK I thought these as side serves might come with the meal-but anyway). As usual DH got his meal first-a very good pizza (German style??) and had finished it whilst we were waiting and waiting but when DD and I meals finally arrived piping hot they were excellent. We both got lamb chops done in some delicious creamy herby sauce and served with a small salad on the side. No pics sorry but they tasted very good. Thanks to the fizz from the beer and all those potatoes couldnt fit in desert though they had several options I liked the sound of (and cant remember now-see I should have learnt from Princess in Oz and took a pic of the menu as an aide to others-ah well-guess well have to go back ).
Walked back through Katamachi fascinated by all these slick Japanese youth in black suits handing out girly club cards to all the straight-faced Japanese business men. Yes we were in the middle of the club district and guess where all the business hotels were .on the Thursday night it sounded quite lively outside at one stage but it was all perfectly safe and for sightseeing was handy to everything including a swag of great restaurants.