Skip to main content

Hikone Castle

Back in time to the 8th of December...

As I mentioned in my previous post, getting to Hikone Castle on my birthday was a major failure.

However, the following weekend we made it, and quite easily I may add.

First, we took a look at the museum housing the usual artifacts that Japanese castles have; samurai armour, scrolls, tea ceremony items, clothing. It was also in the museum where we were able to see Hikonyan, the cute character I had been waiting for.

We were squashed into a room with about fifty other people clamouring to see this mysterious mascot. When 'it' entered, there were squeals of joy, mostly from the young and elderly women. Some men looked quite interested as well. I wasn't able to get a good photo because people constantly had their cameras and phones right in front of me, so I had to find this one online.



While it was cute, I guess I was expecting a lot more (but of what, I don't really know). It posed for around five minutes, and then we were ushered out to let the next group in.

The castle itself was very beautiful, so I was impressed. There was also a film crew and around fifteen people dressed in kimono. I felt sorry for them, wrapped in their blankets. The wind was ice-cold, coming directly from Lake Biwa, and it never let up.


 photo 8December3_zps4aefcc6e.jpg



Delicious green tea and a Japanese sweet.

 photo 8December6_zpsf264d55e.jpg


Lake Biwa, the biggest lake in Japan.

 photo 8December9_zpsa5eaf683.jpg


Castle beams.

 photo 8December13_zps09e91b07.jpg


Hikone Castle itself.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

君がいなくなると、寂しくなる

The last time I went to Japan, I was really home-sick.  Recently I realised that I never really comprehended that I would actually have to leave .  It was quite silly really, now that I think about it.  However it's easy to do. The original plan this time around was for me to get a job, go over, and D would follow in about a month.  Things changed, and now he's decided to go over three months later.  Initally it was no problem, but now that the time for me to depart is getting closer and closer, once again I'm in the same situation.  Only this time, I'm going to be really alone.  No other exchange students who are in the same situation.  Everyday I think about how awesome and hard this is going to be.  But I know I'm going to a really lovely place, I'm going to be making new friends and my Japanese is going to be awesome...eventually! Plus there's Skype.  And until he gets there I'll keep myself busy and in contact, and time will fl...

Sugiyama Jogakuen Welcoming Party

...it was not a `party`. Today was rainy :( I still haven`t bought myself an umbrella. So when we left, I took one out of the stand. I hoped that whoever owned it wouldn`t be wanting to go out. I`ve noticed Japanese rain is remarkably different to when it rains in Tasmania. In Tasmania, the winds blow, so it`s impossible to use an umbrella anyway. It Japan there is very little, so the rain falls straight down. I actually prefer Tasmanian rain. You`ll hear why later. Sugiyama`s Sunday bus...I guess they don`t expect many people to be going to University. I couldn`t believe how much space there was! So, at 9.20am we arrived at Sugiyama, and I jumped immediately onto the computers. Still no news. There has been no news for a few days now, which is extremely disappointing. When there`s no news, it makes me feel isolated. Once inside CIEP (Center for International Exchange Programs) we became aware that today was going to begin on a formal note. In one of the classroom...

Old Photos - Nagoya Castle, Purikura

I have some semi-old photos I`d like to share which would belong in other posts, but you all might miss them if I put them there. So here they are! Starting with the day we spent with Asami and Yuuko (I took the photos directly from Facebook, so I haven`t been able to make some of them clearer in Photoshop or do any croppping. Sorry!): Oh I did something different for once! The view from my window at night. Left is a 24 hour internet cafe; handy if I ever happen to get locked out after curfew! Top right is apartments I think, and bottom right is a train going past. I never notice them because I`m always so tired. I don`t even remember where this was taken...it must`ve been the second day here because my hair isn`t straight. I think I`m a bit fed up (of some thing ) already. Nagoya Castle: Yes I am in this picture... Hehe it`s me Really, really yummy ramen with lots of vegetables from last night. I al...