| Pages | ||
|
Tsumago Listed as one of The Most Beautiful Villages In Japan by the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages In Japan. What do you think?
| |||
| Arrive Tsumago | Morning Stroll #1 | Tsumago to Magome | |
| Toson House | Overnight at Kameyama Menshiku | Morning Stroll #s | |
|
The Kiso Story Stepping off the train in the afternoon at the edge of this exquistely preserved townscape, we are in Tokugawa Japan. A lot of other 21st century tourists are there with us. Unlike Suwa this locale is as tourist-hungry as can be. As one admires every detail one wonders, "where are the Nihohjin?" This seem less intereting to natives. | |||
|
_19apr11-0107_nn.jpg  |
_19apr11-0108_nn.jpg  |
_19apr11-1719_nn.jpg  |
|
_19apr11-1828_nn.jpg  |
_19apr11-1941_nn.jpg  |
_19apr11-2150_nn.jpg  |
|
_19apr11-2201_nn.jpg  |
_19apr11-2206_nn.jpg  |
_19apr11-2211_nn.jpg  |
|
_19apr11-2214_nn.jpg  |
_19apr11-2216_nn.jpg  |
_19apr11-2216_nn0.jpg  |
|
_19apr11-2219_nn.jpg  |
_19apr11-2351_nn.jpg  |
_tsumagowalkingmap.jpg  |
|
While the others are still asleep Bruce strolls the road ahead and back.
| ||
|
_19apr12-b_0652.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_0654.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_0654a.jpg  |
|
_19apr12-b_0654b.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_0655.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_0659.jpg  |
|
_19apr12-b_0700.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_0704.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_0705a.jpg  |
|
_19apr12-b_0705.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_0723.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_0723a.jpg  |
|
We walk the old Nakasando post-town road from Tsumago to Magome.
| ||
|
_kisojourneyannotatedmaptophalf.jpg  |
_kisojourneyannotatedmapbottomhalf.jpg  |
_19apr11-b_1746.jpg  |
|
_19apr11-b_1747.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_1057.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_1144a.jpg  |
|
_19apr12-b_1157.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_1240.jpg A stream parallels portions of the path.  |
_19apr12-b_1421.jpg  |
|
_19apr12-b_1422.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_1423.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_1432.jpg Roof tiles will stay put in high winds but wood shakes will not. They need be weighted.  |
|
_19apr12-b_1436a.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_1436.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_1436b.jpg  |
|
_19apr12-b_1437.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_1543.jpg An exhibit in a tiny museum explains how the residents harvested lumber long ago.  |
_19apr12-b_1544.jpg Explanation of lumber harvest in the Tokugawa era.  |
|
_19apr12-b_1600.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_1600a.jpg Noriko explains stuff to Bruce.  |
_19apr12-b_1602.jpg Streetscapes. These are original, merely refurbished.  |
|
_19apr12-b_1602a.jpg A pre-vehicle town constructed on a slope.  |
_19apr12-b_1609.jpg Not an amusement park; thjis is authentically old.  |
_19apr12-b_1613.jpg Fish farming, a still-viable cottage industry along this road.  |
|
_19apr13-b_0635.jpg Probably this water wheel is no longer doing work but is maintained for the pleasure of tourists.  |
_19apr13-b_0901b.jpg  |
_19apr13-b_0901a.jpg  |
|
_19apr13-b_0901.jpg  |
_19apr13-b_0902.jpg  |
_okuyaattsumagoexplanation.jpg  |
|
_tosonmuseumbrochure.jpg  |
||
|
In Ootsumago, about 1.5 km from Tsumago. Originally a farmhouse, enhanced a number of times. Run by one window who rents two rooms. Except for electricity and the usual portable room heaters it is not upgraded to the 20th century. Bruce enthusiatically snaps the iroir - firepit - from every angle.
Two Korean women were co-lodgers the night we stayed. The older, age 48, is a 3D animator. They were in the midst of a "Your Name" pilgrimmage. | ||
|
_19apr12-b_1802.jpg  |
_19apr12-b_1804.jpg It doesn't get better than this.  |
_19apr12-b_1804a.jpg  |
|
_19apr13-b_0729.jpg  |
_19apr13-b_0731.jpg The other guests.  |
_19apr13-b_0805.jpg The proprietess.  |
|
_19apr13-b_0811.jpg  |
||
|
While others are still asleep Bruce walks to Tsumago and back.
| ||
|
_19apr13-b_0639.jpg  |
_19apr13-b_0640.jpg  |
_19apr13-b_0647.jpg Jizos are always worth savoring. No two old Jizos are alike.  |
|
_19apr13-b_0656.jpg A tiny, rather old hydro station.  |
_19apr13-b_0702a.jpg  |
_19apr13-b_0702.jpg  |
|
_19apr13-b_0703.jpg  |
_19apr13-b_0706c.jpg  |
_19apr13-b_0706b.jpg  |
|
_19apr13-b_0706a.jpg  |
_19apr13-b_0706.jpg  |
_19apr13-b_0707.jpg  |
|
_19apr13-b_0707a.jpg  |
_19apr13-b_0709.jpg  |
_19apr13-b_0711.jpg  |
|
_19apr13-b_0716.jpg  |
_19apr13-b_0718.jpg  |
_19apr13-b_0719.jpg  |
|
_19apr13-b_0720.jpg  |
_hydrosystemwizard.jpg  |
_hydrosystemmapbottomhalf.jpg  |
|
_hydrosystemmaptophalf.jpg  |
||