Day 7: Travel to Fujikawa (04April)
We had our second travel day en masse to leave Takayama but it was a split adventure! Corey and Margaret set off for Kyoto for three days of sight- seeing on their own. Miya’s crew, Livi and Auntie May rode a bus and train to Fujikawa whilst I rented a car and drove Bachan, Eula and Ty’baby, my girls and Unky D.
The drive was smooth other than me constantly confusing the turn signal for the windshield wipers. Unky D was the navigator. Eula reminded us the tradition of holding our breath through tunnels but these were long mountain tunnels so we couldn’t keep up! Unky D contemplated future baby names that are no more than two syllables and can be pronounced in Japanese and English. Ty’baby refused his car seat and the girls and Bachan sang along to our ‘road trip’ mix.
We lunched at Costco and loaded up on groceries for the next couple days in Corey and May’s wonderful countryside home. It’s two homes actually- a ‘living’ space and a ‘project’ space that might become a community space or home extension. They’ve redone the floors and created their own rock ofuro, a traditional Japanese bathtub, at the back of the second home! Cannot wait to return and see how they continue to transform their home over the years.
The town’s average resident is around 75 years old. The neighborhood ‘bachans’ kept dropping by to see the kids, delighted to treat them to little gifts and snacks. Emiko and Daisuke used their Japanese to introduce themselves and we were all so proud! Corey and May set out a yummy dinner on this first night: a mix of sushi platters, kal-bi beef, Corey D’s famous mushrooms and the tortilla wraps platter from Costco.
That evening, my girls and Bachan headed to Kunimoto Ya– the unagi inn. We were the only guests! We were so happy to experience their ofuro that night after a long day of travel. When May and Corey were originally scoping out their property and the neighborhood, they also stayed at the unagi inn. The innkeeper was curious about why a young couple kept coming back to stay over a series of months. When they bought their house, the innkeeper was happy to welcome them as new members of the community. The innkeeper’s warmth extended to us as well as Corey and May’s visitors.
“Best day ever!” exclaimed Sachi when seeing the tatami mat room set up with four futon on the floor. “It’s just like Satsuki and Mei’s!” she said as she ran around the room with glee.
Day 8: Craft park, the sakura matsuri and masa night (05April)
Eula and I took the kids to Craft park this morning when the other part of our team went to do some morning market shopping.
The 20 minute drive brought us to a stunning park set amidst sakura blossoms and low hanging mountain clouds. The kids found the playground slides all wet from the night’s rain but luckily, there was this silver jellybean- like structure where they could bounce their hearts out!
We also raced through four garden mazes, paused briefly at the monkey enclosure, and then experienced a vending machine grape fanta to quench our thirst.
Ty’Samuel woke up and so we found a little area just his size. Daisuke invited the ‘catch a falling sakura petal’ game. If you catch one, it’s good luck. He later wrote a poem about this in his travel journal. Love that he was inspired by the cherry blossoms!
This was only the first part of the day’s adventure! We reunited with our group and traveled up the hill to Kajikazawa’s local sakura matsuri. I was in heaven just sitting on a blue tarp for ‘hanami’ as this brought back a nostalgia for my study abroad experience. ‘Hanami’ means flower viewing. Many people will sit beneath the sakura blossoms on blue tarps, eating bento and drinking the afternoon away in local parks. The kids loved running around sans adults, buying food and treats from the matsuri stalls.
We caught glimpses of Fuji-san (Mount Fuji) amidst the cloudy day. The local mascots put on a show for the kids and the taiyaki with custard was a family favourite.
One the walk down the hillside, we spotted May and Corey’s newly planted sakura tree. They donated money to the city and the tree planting ceremony was earlier that morning. Now, they’ll take visitors to walk on this path on the side of the mountain to see their tree! It’s got a great spot to see Fuji-san as well.
After our return from the festival, May set the kids up with all sorts of figurines that were left by the previous owner. The kids made fairy houses…no, entire fairy towns!
Meanwhile, Miya and Jose were setting up for a masa-making party!
The preview to this evening was Miya and Jose’s suitcase popping a zipper upon arrival to Fujikawa the day before. I saw them unload a bag of maseca, a freezer bag of beans, and….a tortilla press!? I could see how their ‘Mary Poppins’ suitcase was finally giving in after so many days of travel!
Now, the beans were simmering, Miya was spooning two kinds of salsa into ceramic bowls and Emiko was ready to teach us how to shape the dough balls into various thicknesses and sizes. Jose explained the names of the varied forms that masa takes and how we should adorn or stuff each one.
It was so fun when one of the neighbors came over to try a plate and couldn’t get over all the grandkids running around! Her adult son is brewing local sake so we received a bottle as a treat, too!
Day 9: Travel to Kichijoji (06April)
We said goodbye to the Kajikazawa with a yummy Japanese breakfast. And then had a second round of goodbyes with the neighbors who came out to wish us well. Half our troop rode on the local train and the other drove to return the car. We met up at Kofu station for another round of eki-ben and we geared up for the return to the big city- Kichijoji and Shinjuku (Tokyo) here we come!
l o n d o n f o r r e s t 