Kanazawa (a day trip)

Kanazawa is a short train ride from Toyama and it has one of the 3 top gardens in Japan. It also has a castle right next to it, which seems to be a pattern. Every times arrive in a new station I goto the Tourist Information Center. They are so helpful. They have maps and make great suggestions about things I wouldn't otherwise know. And they always speak some amount of English. This one told me of a free english speaking tour at the garden and castle. I thought this would be a novel experience as usually I look around and enjoy things but I have no idea what they mean. So I got a private tour of Kenrokuen Garden and castle. The garden was a samurai garden. Which more or less meant they put things in that they liked even if it meant moving a tree from one part of the  city to there.

It had a light house, bridge, and water that were all supposed to be reminiscent of a Japanese guitar instrument.

It had a large bronze statue of a samurai as a monument to the civil war dead when they de-sworded the samurai. Apparently this was a good samurai. 

It had dragon head rock. (I have no idea how this fits in the theme).

These three icon represent birth, marriage, and death. The report most portent things in life.

It had this really big pine. Quite beautiful and old.

This tree once it was growing they intentionally pulled the soil out from underneath so you could see through the roots.

Got to stick a picture in once in a while that proves I was really there.

It had the oldest fountain in Japan, a model for another fountain in the castle. The amazing this about this is that is uses no motor. It's all about gravity and pressure from the levels of water in the two above ponds. About 3.5 meters high. Ingenious!

It had this crazy winding tree.

Just missed the irises.

Really beautiful place.

This is the oldest building on the grounds. A tea house.

In front of it is a hollowed out petrified bamboo stump filled with water.

Guess where a mom marble went....

Someone will find this one for sure.

The castle was being restored but the tour informed me of some of the functions and the materials. I learned about the rock dropping holes. The purpose for moats. The gun ports. The plasters walls that need to be repaired every 10 years. Chosen because the samurai like the look. Earthquake proof walls. Dove tail joints in rock walls. And the different types of wood used for different parts of the structures.

All very educational.

Upon leaving Kanazawa ( for some reason the name of this place makes me think Shazam), I came upon this fountain that changes images telling the time, place, and welcome in English and I believe Japanese. So cool!

And an amazing architectural gate at the train station. Let nothing be unadorned!