Kanazawa

 This morning we boarded a Shinkansen(Japanese high speed bullet train) for a three hour ride to Kanazawa.  These trains are incredibly smooth, clean and quiet.  We speed by beautiful countryside and even caught a glimpse of Mt. Fuji.


Upon our arrival we boarded a small bus to Higashi Chaya which is a Geisha district with traditional Japanese streets.  People rent traditional Geisha costumes to have their photos taken in this area.  We saw several groups that had done this.  The stores on this street had some beautiful handicrafts along with some touristy junk.  It was a pleasant place for a stroll.



Our next stop was at a marshal arts school where we were able to observe and shoot a group of kids practicing Kendo.  The disciplined nature of the Japanese was quite apparent here.  I enjoyed watching the practice even though the photography was difficult in the large gym.



Our Hotel in Kanazawa was the Hyatt near the train station.  A perfect location, the shopping mall next door offered a variety of dining options for this evening.  We opted to have a relaxed dinner in the hotel before crashing for the evening.

Tomorrow: A Lovely Park and an Evening with Geishas 


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