The next morning began fairly early as we were still struggling with jet lag and this was my breakfast ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140482 and Suzanne's ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140483 with my fruit ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140484 and Suzanne's cappuchino ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140485 and my dried fruit ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140486 and Suzanne's omelet ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140487 and salad ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140488 complete with morning fish ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140489 and more fruit. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140490

After breakfast, Seiichi and Jisuk came to take us on a tour of the old part of Kanazawa ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140491 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140492 as we went into the first store ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140493 and then they posed ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140494 and then I joined the photo ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140495 as we found a nice backdrop ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140496 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140497 as we continued to explore and rains began to fail ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140498 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140499 before we entered an old tea house and went to the top of the stairs ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140500 before we began to explore the building ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140501 and the meaningful areas ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140502 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140503 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140504 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140505 and the musical instruments ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140506 and further directions ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140507 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140508 before we found the quiet room ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140509 which was well presented ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140510 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140511 and we then went to another room ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140512 and as we made our way, we looked down upon a garden which will be described below ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140513 and then a room for geikos to prepare ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140514 with models ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140515 and a low table ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140516 before we saw a sign explaining the green stones we had seen above ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140517 and continued our path through the building ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140518 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140519 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140520 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140521 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140522 before we reached the gold room since as we later discovered, Kanazawa is responsible for the gold leaf that coats many things in the country including the gold room we saw later that day and the Golden Pavilion that we saw a few days later in Kyoto ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140523 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140524 and then we settled in for our own tea ceremony where biscuits were served with tea ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140525 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140526 and we all posed perhaps happier because we had discovered that we could put our legs into holes under the table and so we didn't have to kneel as uncomfortably as previously ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140527 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140528 and so we could eat ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140529 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140530 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140531 before discovering these shoes as we put our own shoes back on and prepared to go back into the rain ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140532 which we did at the gold room ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140533 with the requisite bamboo protection ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140534 as we saw the gold ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140535 and garden ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140536 with the gold stone ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140537 outside the gold room ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140538 with its description ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140539 before we went back outside ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140540 and posed against the elegant backdrop. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140541 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140542 After noting this building ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140543 we went into this shop where gold is made into thin sheets. We heard about how one kilogram of gold is pressed flat enough to make gold leaf to cover an enormous area (whose size I forget) and saw some of the process ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140544 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140545 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140546 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140547 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140548 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140549 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140550 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140551 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140552 before I visited the men's room which was done in platinum, the women's room (for which there isn't a photo) being done in gold ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140553 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140554 and then we went into the store where they sold numerous golden owls, one of which we brought home. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140555 Next we went to Omicho, home of an amazing market ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140556 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140557 where we saw fish ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140558 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140559 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140560 vegetables and fruits ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140561 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140562 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140563 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140564 and then more fish ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140565 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140566 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140567 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140568 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140569 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140570 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140571 fruits ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140572 and fish ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140573 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140574 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140575 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140576 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140577 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140578 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140579 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140580 before we caught an overview ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140581 and recorded the signs ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140582 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140583 and then it was back to fish ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140584 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140585 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140586 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140587 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140588 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140589 vegetables ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140590 and desserts. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140591 It was squash ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140592 edamame ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140593 and wasabi in root form ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140594 before we came upon the drink machine ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140595 where Suzanne posed. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140596

Lunch was next and this was the table service ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140597 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140598 as the various courses were brought out ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140599 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140600 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140601 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140602 before Suzanne and I ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140603 and the teachers were recorded. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140604 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140605 Next, we headed to the train station where the group purchased tickets that let them come onto the platform and see us off. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140606 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140607 Then, we were on the train and on our own but we knew the system ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140608 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140609 and took a few photos of signs ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140610 and rice fields ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140611 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140612 before we came to Kyoto and arrived at the ryokan where we were staying and this was the only furniture ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140613 except for our small alcove overlooking the garden ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140614 and the bathroom with a different form of modern toilet though we were embracing a very traditional Japanese way of life. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140615 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140616 Tea was brought for us ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140617 by Tomoko who was to be our room attendant for the next 2 days ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140618 and she took this picture of us in our Western clothes ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140619 as she brought our cloths ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140620 and a taste ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140621 and our container for kimonos ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140622 along with this instructive sign ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140623 while Suzanne read the bar menu ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140624 and on our return from our evening bath, water was waiting for us ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140625 even as Suzanne ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140626 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140627 and I had embraced the local way of dressing ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140628 and we settled in ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140629 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140630 for our meal ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140631 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140632 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140633 for which this was Suzanne's menu ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140634 and this was the beer we decided to share ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140635 as many courses of food were brought our way. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140636 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140637 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140638 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140639 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140640 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140641 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140642 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140643 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140644 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140645 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140646 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140647 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140648 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140649 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140650 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140651 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140652 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140653 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140654 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140655 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140656 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140657 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140658 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140659 After our dinner, Tomoko returned to roll out our futons and set us up to sleep for the night. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140660