Fortune Cookie
今までに試してみました。今までに失敗しました。どんなに。再試行してください。再び失敗。よりよい失敗。
Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.
(Samuel Beckett)
(Samuel Beckett)
Hiroshima
The thing about Hiroshima is that it is simply a very easy-going place. It's a city that is soft around the edges compared to say Tokyo or Kyoto.
A wedding photo-shoot in the Edo period Shukkei-en garden
Most of Japan is genteel and very friendly ...
until you keep your shoes on indoors that is. Emaciated old women on crutches will suddenly run a hundred metres shouting No! No! No! - if you-have forgotten to remove your bipedal covers. So one minute you are relaxed and then in full receipt of an impassioned scalding the next.
The Japanese-have extra-sensory perception when house slippers are involved. Both men and women know if you have left your shoes on or not. They are able to see you through brick, concrete with a special kind of vision. Do not attempt to flout the house slipper tradition.
You will be apprehended.
Gosh after that it was time for a cup of tea.
And so to Kasuga Ryokan.
Kasuga Ryokan is in the Ote-machi district of Hiroshima. Ote-machi is a working district that is in the centre of the city a pleasant fifteen minute tram ride away from Japan Railways Hiroshima.
I stayed in ryokan while I travelled around Japan because they provide Sencha or Gen mai cha green tea in the rooms as part of a beautiful polished wood tea set. Other teas often feature as part of any meals you take in the ryokan. To have tea machines, cups, trays and green tea provided was just ideal.
If you like this blog see its twin GuerillaZ the travel blog at the end of this link:
Gen Mai Cha taken at the low table in my six tatami mat room at Kasuga Ryokan.
Genmaicha
After all meals in a ryokan, the name for a traditional Japanese inn, Hoji-cha is served. The smoky, roasted tea is lower in caffeine and a tasty way to finish off a Japanese meal.
See the post below for more on Hoji-cha
See also Ricardo Caicedo's blog My Japanese Green Tea for more on Japanese tea culture.
Happy Tea drinking!
