16. KOKURA

Hotel room, view from the window (one night).

I keep the Okinawa short trousers in my bag and went out.

Kokura (also named Kita Kyushu) is an industrial harbour.

It was the first target in World War Two although got save due to the weather.

 

It is also the link from Kyushu to Honshu.

 

 

 And a modern city with singular buildings.

Lord Hosokawa Tadaoki built this castle in 1602.

 

It is the town of Musashi, famous samurai, author also of "the book of five rings".

 

Friendly way to advertise very common in Japan.

It keeps a medieval atmosphere on its urbanistic structure with narrow streets that kept the name of guilds.
It is not worthy to show them now, so I choose the toriis of entrance to Tsukimi Tei shrine wiew from the top of the castle.

Into the castle there are some pieces of interest and an small theater that reports about the city in a fun way.

These girls were enjoying a nice spring day under the sakura.

Matsumoto Seicho wrote more than 400 books, crime fiction style. This huge Museum is dedicated to him.

So there are flowers, nature.

And as far as I know in proportion to its size the most industrial city I have ever seen in Japan.

NEXT : MATSUE

15. MUSEUM & ARCHEOLOGIC SITES

                    Yamatogaa well.












Up to recent times the wells were the resource to have pure water.

This one was preserved for consumption of the government officers and leaders.


















                     

 

Miyakojima City General Museum displays archeology, zoology, botanic and the way how Miyako has been developped.

In feudal times they paid taxes with cloths such as "jofu".

To pray for good luck the "paantus" put mud on their body and face once a year.

The Museum reminds this event.

 Tombs from the Chudo family are considered national important cultural properties.

Nakasone Tuyumya Grave. Nakasone was a local chief of the Ryukyans.

Hakuai Memorial Museum is an exact replica of Marksburg Castle beside the Rhine.

It reminds the story of a german ship which wrecked on this coast.

 It is remarked how well the castaways were welcomed.

And stablish a link  of friendship with deutsche people as well as become a turistic resource.

Among the to many and diverse german items (by the way I suggest to fill the displayed bottles with some coloured liquid, because empties don´t give the most apropriate effect) are displayed two real blocks from the Berlin Wall.

Taking care of the flowers on the streets.

Okinawa folklore in a restaurant show.

NEXT : KOKURA

14. FLOWERS - JOFU

I left my room after watching "terebi" for a while, a programm who teach bit of italian, german and spanish. Quiz style. The girl who speaks "español" is colombian and talk about the how many countries speak spanish -20- and then did a visit to Granada.

Harimizu stone paved road from the feudal times lead us to...

Harimizu utaki, the most sacred place where the Gods created Miyakojima.

 

Someone not so far in the harbour is training doing "caballitos" once and again.

I visit a very special artisan workshop.

Miyako-Jofu is a traditional highest quality cloth.

This activity dates from XVI century and is based on ryukyu indigo.

They smashed the hemp and then...












...wet with indigo before to produce the thread,

...and then a process of weaving the linum "choma".

Every part of the process is hand made.

It is an important part of Miyakojima culture as we will see in the Museum.

One kimono needs 13 / 14 meters, it can be the work of 30 days. I see one of this rolls 2.000.000 yens. Depending upon the quality the cost can be even over.

 

Along with Echigo Jofu (Niigata) Miyako Jofu is one of the finest textiles in Japan. It was designated a traditional craft by the Japanese government in 1975.

 

The Miyakojima City Tropical Botanic Garden is a paradise full of flowers, trees, small lake with carps...

But don´t forget today´s beach dose.

This time Sunayama Beach, smaller than Maehama or Yoshino but with very foamy waves.

Coming back I appreciate people loving their gardens such as in Andalucía, different style but same spirit on this particular point. (A common place in so many parts of the world).

NEXT : MUSEUM & 

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES