Tono is the capital of folklore and set in a quiet valley surrounded by wooded hills - very rural and beautiful.
The author of the famous (in Japan) book of folk tales collected them in and around Tono, they even moved his house from Tokyo to be part of the museum! Very entertaining interactive displays. They even have their own version of Jack and the beanstalk.
Their most famous folk character, a bit like the Irish leprechaun, is the Kappa, a water sprite that conveniently sits on rocks in front of the station!
There are also a couple of reconstructed villages with houses brought from around the area, so hired two e-bikes for the day to cycle the valley. Had perfect weather.
And included a couple of temples.
Declined the offer of a 4am start to watch the sun rise over the valley but did watch a rehearsal of a children's dance for the Tono festival - next weekend, so we'll miss it!
Then to Kakunodate which is famous for its Samurai mansions, but we had to walk around them in the pouring rain.
But lovely woodwork.
Getting quite blasé about taking the bullet trains now- two today, two more tomorrow when we head south and west.
No comments:
Post a Comment