January 17, 2008

• Last Weekend's Trip to Karatsu

  

  Last weekend we returned to the coastal city or Karatsu, an our southwest on the train from Fukuoka.  We enjoyed a local delicacy for lunch, noodles with squid tentacle tempura.  IT WAS REALLY GOOD.

  

  We had missed Karatsu Castle when we had been in Karatsu for the Kunchi, so we made a return trip.  Here are the stairs approaching the castle.  Above the stairs you see a rack for an impressive wisteria tree, which would have been even more impressive had it been sporting foliage and orchid blooms.  I guess we have to make another trip in the spring to see this.

  

  A view of the castle

  

  A closer view of the castle and of hub's head.  He said that the castle walls are bulging outward and are scheduled for repair.  Sounds like a pretty big project to me.

  

  We have climbed the stairs up to the castle.  You will find a souvenir shop on the left.

  

  In the door

  

  The inside of the castle is a small local museum.  This tea bowl is from the time when Christianity was outlawed in Japan as a source of foreign trouble, but although hidden, the Christians kept their faith. 

  

  Another "secret" tea bowl

  

  This is an image of a Japanese "god" Daikoku with a cross carved underneath to show where the householder's loyalties really were.  For a disturbing account of this period, I recommend the reading of Endo Shusaku's book "Silence."

  

  Some lovely scenery from the top of the castle.  There were some surfers waiting to catch waves further up the coast.  It kind of reminded me of the waves on the beach in New Jersey.  Farther out one could bob up and down on those a la piece of flotsam or be nicely tossed about where the waves broke near the shore.  Most of the ocean swimming spots that I have seen here are tamed by harbor walls and embankments which render the large puddles a bit too calm for me.

  

  This is a clock tower.  We had passed by just after two.  Another passerby informed us that we had just missed the show, so we decided to make it back in time for the four o'clock performance.

  

  OK, camera is ready and waiting...

  Not exactly your typical Hickory-Dickory!

  The background noise is from a nearby intersection.  Changing traffic signals are accompanied by audible signals for visually impaired.  You can also hear a hawk; that is a carniverous bird, not a fellow clearing his throat.

  

  Karatsu Shrine

  

  Located to the immediate left of Karatsu Shrine is a building that houses all the Karatsu Kunchi parade "Hikiyama" floats when they are not busy parading around town in November.  It was nice to see them all again.  One was out being repainted.

  • 21:07
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