Leaving Tokyo

We leave Tokyo and head north, first to Sendai and then west into the mountains, but it is a little more complicated than that. The sleek Shinkansen bullet train leaves Tokyo and arrives at Sendai exactly on schedule. From there we transfer to a local train set to leave in 20 minutes, until George hears an announcement and explains we have to get of the train right away. Our route through a mountain pass is closed due to a storm, and the train we are on has been redirected elsewhere. So we get to a public intercity bus full of businessmen and take that around the mountains to another local train, now heading back toward Sendai. 

 

 

A quick stop at Yamadera to visit a celebrated potter and make some dishes and cups under his direction. The results run across the spectrum of styles and refinement and they will get glazed and make our way to us in time. Back on another chartered bus that George scrounged up to get us to our hotel that is on the closed section of train line. Snow on the sides of the road and the wind is fierce and cold. The hotel is known for its natural hot springs, but I can't keep my eyes open after a multi-course private dinner and will have to try them tomorrow.

 

In the morning, it is still windy, and in the lower 40's but the rain and sleet is gone. Back to Yamadera on the working train line and a visit to the Mountain Temple complex on the top of the mountain behind the small town. One thousand steps, says the sign but there is so much to see along the way - small shrines and offerings to both Buddhist and Shinto structures, tall aromatic cedars cover the mountain, a huge troop of high spirited school kids races past us on their way to the top.

 

 We do see some cherry blossoms, but for the most part, the trees are bare or are just budding. Looking for more along the way over the next week.