Monday 7th – Tuesday 8th April, 2014.
Frances and I were both a bit off-colour in Kyoto, so in contrast to the hectic schedule of the previous few days, we spent a fairly quiet time, relaxing around JEE, the perfect place for a rest.
Hosoki came around in the morning with some pickled cherry blossom tea, with traditional healing properties.
An electric foot-warmer.
Hosoki gave this to Frances to use like a hot water bottle when she was sick. Hosoki explained that she liked to use it on winter nights when she was sitting up knitting. The Japanese have some very good design ideas (e.g. warmed toilet seats).
The view from the toilet at JEE, which we all got to know quite well. To get to the toilet, you went through one curtain, then another, and had a view out to this little enclosed garden behind the house. At first I found it a little unnerving having this view instead of the back of a door, but I soon adjusted.
This was a really wonderful toilet. It had a warmed seat and could spray gentle warm water at you in a variety of patterns at the press of a button.
Another view from the toilet.
Carol at the front gate of JEE. There was a little enclosed garden at the front which had a vegetable garden and a worm farm which Chisa had set up. The garden wasn’t big enough for Hosoki’s bike, so she left it at her sister’s place down the street whenever she came over.
Frances at the front door of JEE. The wooden box with the blue lid is the worm farm that Chisa set up. In the bottom left hand corner of the picture are some shallots growing in the garden.
The spot where Frances is standing is the spot where you take off your shoes before entering the house.
Some worms from the worm farm.
Worms up closer.
This downpipe drained into a container so the garden could be watered by bucket, watering can or dipper.
I loved how Hosoki had found or made two smaller boxes to fit under the beam, to maximise her storage space. We have been learning a lot from the Japanese about making the most of space.
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