Chasing The Past - Putting The Spotlight On Traditional Japan
By Janice Strong
Our trip to Japan was fast, so it was very focused. We wanted to see, and experience, traditional Japanese culture. Our journey back in time began with a flight from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to Noto Airport in Ishikawa Prefecture and ended in Gifu Prefecture with a high-speed train ride back to Tokyo. Along the way we saw crafts like lacquer ware, gold leaf, kimono painting; learned about geishas and samurais; ate local cuisine; and stayed in an onsen. Our stops included Wakura, Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go and Hida Takayama. All in four days. Here are 10 places we caught a glimpse of the past:
Credit: JNTO
1. The Ishikawa Wajima Urushi Art Museum in Wajima showcases ancient and modern lacquer works from around the world. A great brochure and video explain all 24 steps in the painstakingly intricate process of creating lacquer ware.
Credit: Janice Strong
2. The Kagaya Hotel is part of the Wakura Hot Spa Resort in Nanao, and offers a true onsen experience. From the traditional welcome to the room attendant who custom fits your kimono (worn at all times throughout the hotel) you truly feel like one of the locals. The hotel boasts separate public baths for men and women, bars, restaurants, a nightly Japanese folk performance, traditional marketplace, and spectacular ocean views. Rooms feature traditional furniture right down to the tatami sleeping mats and pots of tea.
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3. Ninety-nine per cent of gold leaf produced in Japan is manufactured in Kanazawa. Hakauichi is the only manufacturer to create crafts from its gold leaf production and the process and finished products are on display in a fascinating museum. Learn and see how gold the size of a coin is pounded to a thickness of .1 micron. Take a hands-on course and create your own masterpiece.
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4. Higashi Chayagai is the historic district of Kanazawa where geikos (geishas) still walk the streets. Visit Kaikaro, the largest teahouse that maintains the tradition of refusing first-time customers (you have to know someone to get in) and geikos put on traditional performances.
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5. Known to us as fierce warriors, catch a glimpse of the everyday elegance of the life a Samurai at Nagamachi Bukeyashiki Samurai Residence Site, in Kanazawa. The fine craftsmanship of the building and the tranquility of the garden speak to another time.
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6. Discover the fine art of decorating kimonos in Kanazawa at the Naga-machi Yuzenkan Yuzen silk centre where you can decorate our own silk, or have your picture taken wearing a finely decorated one.
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7. Transport yourself back to a time long ago at Shirakawa Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built on raising and selling silkworks and their byproduct, gun powder, the village has maintained a centuries-old way of life high up in the mountains. Tour the Wada House, home to the village â Headmanâ since 1573, and marvel at the efficiency of the three-storey dwelling. The first floor is for living and the top two are dedicated to the silkworms, all heated by a central, first-floor hearth. This is a Gassho-style house built from oak, straw ropes and witch hazel bindings, making it incredibly earthquake-proof.
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8. Festivals have long played an important part in Japanese life. Hida Takayama Matsuri-no-Mori showcases floats of the Takayama Festival, one of the three largest in the country. Gold lacquered screens, marionettes and the worldâs largest drum are also on display.
Credit: Janice Strong
9. Takayama Jinya offers a look into the lives of the government officials who ruled the city until 1868. See their quarters, staff offices, the courtroom and the jail. This is the only building of its time standing in Japan.
