Miyama Village

Friday, 11th April, 2014.

After the “English Cafe” conversation session, the tour of Chisa’s garden and then Chisa’s delicious lunch, Chisa and Akiko took Carol to the local school, which Akiko’s children attended.  Chisa and Akiko then took all of us to see the village of Miyama, which is famous for its thatched-roof houses.  You can see one of these in the background of this picture.

 

Miyama Village is a lovely village with 38 thatched roof houses. The houses are all more than 150 years old and people still live there although they are sometimes inconvenient compared to modern houses. People in this village enjoy a quiet life, with almost no restaurants or shops in the village.

 

Bundles of thatch drying.

 

Here are Carol, Chisa and Akiko walking into the village.  As usual, Frances and I are trailing along behind, taking pictures.

More pictures of the village:

 

 

 

The flags flying here are for “Boys’ Day”.  Frances bought some.

 

As it was late afternoon, the “Boys’ Day” flags were being taken down.

 

Field horsetails interspersed with daffodils.

 

 

 

 

The village just seemed to nestle itself into the side of the hill.

 

By the end of our visit, it had grown quite chilly.  Akiko drove us to one of the few restaurants in the village where we had a very welcome hot drink.  There we met this beautiful little rosy-cheeked girl called Yuki. 

 

Yuki was happy to show us a traditional dance she had been learning (with castanets).

Carol was happy to join in:

 

 

 

We gave Yuki a koala, and she gave us a little beaded necklace she had made.

 

At the end of the day, we relaxed in front of Chisa’s fire.

 

Chisa gave us some Japanese jello, another new experience for me.