Springing into Singapore and Japan.

[GarrettM]

For some reason we couldn't connect to the internet here. A real hassle, which caused us some grief as we tried to plan things. But what can you do.
Kanazawa Castle and Kenroku-en were a decent walk away, so we decided to make a good day of it.
WARNING: Going to get seriously pic heavy here.

Crossing the river.


Some cool installations outside the Art Museum.


More wishes tied up at a small shrine next to Kenroku-en.


A very old tree at the entrance to the gardens. Needs a little help staying up I guess.


And some sakura remnants. Pretty.

 

[GarrettM]

We needed a snack.

 

[GarrettM]

Ice cream vending machine. The choc mint - bottom right - was nice.


Another crow.


Pretty. The wife really got carried away with her panoramas.


More supported trees.

 

[GarrettM]

It's a nice place.

 

[GarrettM]

After the gardens we decided to head across the to Kanazawa Castle, which is connected via a flyover bridge so you can avoid the busy traffic.

It's an imposing sight as you walk up the path.


And across the bridge.


And through the Ishikawa-mon Gate.


Note the arrow slits? The outer gate and the main gate are perpendicular. Designed so that any invading force would have to turn to use a ram on the main gate, giving them bugger all momentum. Plus defending archers could create some serious carnage in that enclosed area.

 

[GarrettM]

An inner gate, the Kahokumon I think.


There are some wide open spaces inside.


The armoury. Not one of the places they let tourists in sadly. Again the windows. From here defenders could pour boiling oil on their attackers. There's a moat down there too. The stones were carved here as much for look as strategic requirements.


And through another interior gate, the Hashizumemon.


The actual residence was destroyed by fire several times, the last being in 1881. This is where it would be if it still stood.

 

[GarrettM]

The Hashizumumon is a particularly ornate gate. Also expertly crafted using joinery only. No nails, screws, or other fasteners of any kind.
This is all part of the 19th Century restoration.

 

[GarrettM]

We joined a free English speaking tour of the grounds. I'm just going to post lots of pics for you to enjoy. Or ignore.

Inside the Ishikawamon gate.




And looking out as the defenders would have back in the day.


Some other views from the windows.

 

[GarrettM]

And some more of the general areas.









And a bit of a look at the architectural techniques of the feudal era. It was pretty complicated.

 

[GarrettM]

 

[GarrettM]

Our explorations had made us pretty hungry, so we walked back across the bridge to the tourist shops and found a place to eat.
Certainly nothing fancy.

Tasty though. Just a pity it wasn't a place that kept smokers separate.


After our lunch we had another short walk along the shopping strip, and eventually decided to indulge in some gold-leaf icecream. As you do.
Kanazawa was a major gold centre, and they keep some traditions going.







Bub enjoyed it.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

View attachment 97873

What is that dude doing?

Love the pictures of Hashizume-mon.

I was there back in 1988 just before the University got kicked out of the castle grounds... that was a very nice campus.

 

[GarrettM]

Two more random Kanazawa pics.

I wouldn't recommend anyone stay at the Shammy Hotel.


And a vending machine on the main drag, complete with ladies undies, vape accessories, condoms, and sex toys for the gals. These Japanese!

 

[GarrettM]

The next installment of this long-running saga will be our trip to the Fukui Prefecture Dinosaur Museum. Prepare for a lot more pics

 

[GarrettM]

What is that dude doing?

Love the pictures of Hashizume-mon.

I was there back in 1988 just before the University got kicked out of the castle grounds... that was a very nice campus.

That does sound pleasant. I think the bloke might have been setting up a picture? Or playing with a kid. Quite a few families about that day. The weather was glorious. I got sunburnt, although not too badly.

 

[GarrettM]

Not long after we'd decided to visit Japan I discovered the Fukui Dinosaur Museum was a relatively short trip from Kanazawa, so it was very quickly added to our must do list.
Turns out it's not such a short trip. You have to get to Kanazawa Station, get on an Osaka bound JR Thunderbird to Fukui, and then get on the privately owned Echizen rail line to Katsuyama, at which point you board a bus to the museum itself.
All up, including waiting times for the two trains, the trip out there took us about three hours, almost twice as long as Google Maps had predicted. A serious mission.

So I was determined to make the most of it.

Some pics from the trains first.
Jibo Kannon at Kagaonsen, as the Thunderbird comes into the local station.


A slightly dubious bub eyeing off yet another elderly admirer, on the Echizen train.


Passing some random town that seems to be famous for spring onions...


Lots of rice fields of course.

 

[GarrettM]

And as we approach Katsuyama, there's no mistaking the sight of the museum.


The station at Katsuyama is tiny, and there's no doubt what the main attraction in town is.


Here's the community bus for the museum.


But before we get on there's time for another eki stamp.


And a snap of some local specimens.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

Passing some random town that seems to be famous for spring onions...
View attachment 97997

Those are actually garlics. It's a play on words between the "Ninki" in the place name Ninki-no-Sato and the word for garlic (ninniku).

 

[GarrettM]

The scenery is nice, nestled in amongst the mountains.


And once on the bus the museum again looms.


Oh it's still Golden Week! What do you know the place is unbelievably busy. Groups of school kids, families, tour groups. It's crazy. But I don't care. Let's do this.\

The place is huge.


Once in the door you head down the long escalator to the bottom floor, which is full of fossils from some of the earliest known life forms. It's not JUST for dinosaurs this place.
Some very old aquatic specimens here.

Orthacanthus is a long extinct species of shark.


It's a little dark so hard to get too many decent pics.

 

[GarrettM]

Those are actually garlics. It's a play on words between the "Ninki" in the place name Ninki-no-Sato and the word for garlic (ninniku).

Well there you go. I guess if I'd bothered to translate it I might have figured that out. Cheers!