Up North

 With Naomi we made a four day trip up through Chichibu and  on through the North Coast. Then we crossed over the central mountains of Japan to the other coast and home through Fukushima.

The autumn colours were in full flight and once you get outside the cities the rural areas of Japan are incredibly wild and beautiful.

One of the joys of the Chichibu area is the food. At this time of the year you get mountain vegetables and leaves as tempura.




Even tempura of autumn leaves.

At this time of year you get the little river fish, Iwana, dipped in salt and charcoal grilled on a bamboo skewer.
 One of the delights of life.

View from our bedroom window at the inn.

Ready for winter.

The tough North West coast where the Siberian  winds blow. The fishermen here earn their catch the hard way.

Fresh sea urchin sushi. A delicate flavour of jasmine flowers and not at all fishy.

Daikon, Japanese radish drying in the cold wind.

 

Trees being trussed up and protected so the branches do not break under the coming heavy winter snows.

Old rice warehouses in Sakata, still in use.

The snow starting in the central mountains.

The local little drinking shop in Fukushima, the yellow tin on the counter is where all the spare change goes for the earthquake victims.











                                    A very lucky shot of the drinking shop mama adjusting the lantern outside. Normally when you take their photo Japanese stop whatever they are doing, line up, and make ridiculous V for victory signs.

Good things

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