Friday was “Vocational Day.” I was picked up in the morning and traveled by car to Shijonawate, a small town outside of Osaka. It was a very full day, with visits to a cultural museum, an old Japanese farmhouse, a Buddhist temple, a resort (for lunch and a tour), a shrine, an apartment complex, a high school and Mr. Yamaguchi’s 240-year-old house. Here are a few pictures…
A terrace outside the main theater at "I and I Land" Resort...
a snack at Daikokuten Temple...
dragon statue at a Shinto shrine dedicated to a 24-year-old samurai...
Shijonawate High School is a public school with approximately 360 students. It is one of the most prestigious high schools in the Osaka area, and is very difficult to get into. The principal, Ikeda-sensei, gave us a one hour tour of the facilities. The school has been dedicated a National Treasure, and would put most American high schools to shame. Students (and faculty) must remove their shoes at the entry and place them in a locker; slippers are worn inside the school (hence the beautiful wood floors). No gum under the desks here...
There is a swimming pool on the roof of the school, with a view of the mountains. I told Ikeda-sensei I would like to send my sons here. He said he would be happy to receive them as exchange students. Corbin and Beckett, you have 6 years to get your Japanese up to speed!
the view from the "bedroom" of the studio apartment I visited...
The day concluded with tea at Mr. Yamaguchi's house. Here's a view of the interior garden...
No comments:
Post a Comment