Last weekend was totally marvellous. 4 days in Aizu were perfectly organized by our EU-Japan centre. On Friday at 7.. we took Shinkansen and around 1,5 hour we reached our destination. First was a picturesque samurai castle. By the way, all the pictures from the trip are available in Picassa album (on the right).
Next, we headed to Aizu University for a lunch and some cultural activities.
In the evening we were welcomed in a hotel by local government. During reception I met my Japanese family and ate delicious dinner.
After Reception I was taken by family to a flat in Aizu where we ate some more snacks, drunk a wine, spoke about Europe, me, family, Japan etc. and went to sleep. The next day, early in the morning, we visited Samurai graveyard in Aizu (there is some really well known story about these Samurais).
Later we headed to a Shrime/Temple build on the rock around 25 km from Aizu (I don’t remember its name). Anyway, it was a very beautiful place with view on a lake and red bridges. Trees were awesome. As they said, trees were not あかい (red) but まっか (really red) ;) I met there some Vulcanus students.
Around 12 o’clock we had a picnic (obentos) in a picturesque park close to the temple. Our next destination was a family grandmother’s house 50 km from Aizu deep in the mountains where we were supposed to spend the next night. After arrival I spotted swirl in the forest next to the house resembling wood fire. They explained me that it is just a geyser.
Anyway, later I have found next one a little but further. In the afternoon I have visited the neighborhood on foot. With grandma I went to collect some vegetables from the small field.
I helped to prepare a dinner by cleaning the きのこ in the evening.
However, the best attraction of that evening was an indoor おんせん (hot springs). I was told that I can use it any time I want! The next day we headed back to Aizu. However, it was not a normal return. We took an old steam engine train. Before going to Festival, we visited さけ (sake) factory where I was able to taste their manufacture..
The next attraction of that day was an International Festival where we presented our countries mainly to Japanese people living in Aizu but not only.
Japanese family.
During last day we went to a Japanese old village, museum of a really famous doctor (in museum there was his humanoid behaving like a real man) from 1000 note and 5 colours lake.. After that we headed directly Tokyo.
Together with EU-Japan centre boss and manager.
