Kanazawa Jul 16-17/06

Fake window! at least now it is. Concrete behind a Japanese style sliding "door" and 2 layers of glass. This Ryokan (Japanese style hotel) was the first one I ever went to.



Futon on the floor and covered with tatami mats.


Inside the closet there was a fire escape rope! Never seen this anywhere before.



With the horizontal bar at the top it seemed like custom made for the above act. Recently (May/07) a cabinet member actually did hang himself in a hotel. Japan has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world, around 20 - 25 per 100, 000.



The Ninja temple (ninja dera)! Nothing to do with Ninjas however it's among the most interesting parts of Kanazawa, it's full of trap doors and hidden rooms etc, hence the name.


just outside the temple


Geisha district, too bad no Geishas any more around here!


That day I hung out with my Kanazawan friend who I met in Vancouver.



Inside a model Geisha house. The instruments at the back is called a Shamisen. It's a guitar like instrument without frets, typically played by Geishas. They would sit right where my friend is sitting, and guests would watch from the roon on the left, shown below.


Guest room at Geisha house.



There is so many bad English signs all over this country. This was the restaurant where we had lunch.

Takayama Jun 5