Aoki mura trip
Door: Tim
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Tim
26 November 2013 | Japan, Matsumoto
We had an trip to Aoki village. This was organised by the university.
Everybody assembled at the North-West gate at around 8.15 on Saturday. After the necessary check to see if everybody had actually arrived, we went to our first destination. The first destination was an old farm house on the outskirts of Matsumoto. We had a small tour there which included seeing the inside of the house, getting a small weaving demonstration and also a quick reminder for me(I hit my head on a beam) that Japanese homes are not made for people over 1.70cm tall.
After getting a small gift we went on to our second stop. The Japanese Ukiyo-e Museum.
In the museum a lot of ukiyo-e prints were out for display. Among some of these were the prints from the artist Hokusai. I have also been to the Hokusai museum in Obusei, so it was interesting for me to see his work once more. Before we left I bought a reproduction print as a gift for my parents.
When the quick tour of the ukiyo-e museum was over we went back to the University for quick meal and moved on to our ryoukan in Aoki village. This was about an hour and a half drive from Matsumoto. After arriving we first prepared our rooms and then went to the opposite building where we recieved a taiko (Japanese drums) demonstration. After the small group of girls showed us how it was suppose to go, we also had the opportunity to try it. I did not do very well as I have no feeling for rhythm what so ever, but it was fun none the less. The Japanese drums really give a strong sound.
We quickly continued with our next activity. Which was eating some tradition food of the region. The somewhat weird menu consisted of the following: larva (which tasted funny), a egg+mushroom combo, mushroom+daikon combo, small fish and some salty vegetable. However! We started with a small cup of sake with a large bee in it. This caused some commotion among certain classmates. I tried the sake, but didn't really like it that much. Later I had the same sake, but this time it was heated and the flavour was nicer.
We left the dinner all smoky and went for a quick stop at the local 7/11 where provision was bought for later in the evening. We then continued onto the onsen where we had a bath the Japanese style. First you shower and make sure you are clean and then continue into the bath itself where you can relax.
The final hours of the day we spend drinking some drinks and eating chips in the conference style room before going to bed.
The second day
On the second day of our trip we first had breakfast and then continued to our assigned farmers families. I went to the house of the Hariuchi family. We were greeted by the misses, who then had to go because she had practice. We got a quick tour of the house from her husband, Hariuchi-san. He showed us where they lived, but also the housing facilities for the people that stay over and want to experience the Japanese country life. After the tour we went outside and we got acquainted with all farm animals. We also met his oldest daughter who is also a farmer. We then proceeded towards his small pick-up car with which we went into the mountains.
In the mountains he has a small workshop which he created himself. Including the road the led to this workshop. Here we did some wood chopping, which was pretty fun actually. This wood was either used for heating a stove or for turning into coal. After we all tried this we went on to his greenhouses. He had two small greenhouses which were non-heated, but still very warm due to the sunlight. We took a couple of pictures of the great scenery and then moved back to his house.
We then picked some fruits, wrapped sweet potato in wet newspaper and aluminium foil and had lunch. When the lunch was over there was some free time during which I had the opportunity to take some more pictures of the mountain scenery. At about 1 o'clock the other groups came towards us and we braided rice strings together. We also had the chance to milk one of the goats.
For the final activity we had a warm drink made out of rice and home grown apples.
After thanking everybody we proceeded to go back to Matsumoto.
Everybody assembled at the North-West gate at around 8.15 on Saturday. After the necessary check to see if everybody had actually arrived, we went to our first destination. The first destination was an old farm house on the outskirts of Matsumoto. We had a small tour there which included seeing the inside of the house, getting a small weaving demonstration and also a quick reminder for me(I hit my head on a beam) that Japanese homes are not made for people over 1.70cm tall.
After getting a small gift we went on to our second stop. The Japanese Ukiyo-e Museum.
In the museum a lot of ukiyo-e prints were out for display. Among some of these were the prints from the artist Hokusai. I have also been to the Hokusai museum in Obusei, so it was interesting for me to see his work once more. Before we left I bought a reproduction print as a gift for my parents.
When the quick tour of the ukiyo-e museum was over we went back to the University for quick meal and moved on to our ryoukan in Aoki village. This was about an hour and a half drive from Matsumoto. After arriving we first prepared our rooms and then went to the opposite building where we recieved a taiko (Japanese drums) demonstration. After the small group of girls showed us how it was suppose to go, we also had the opportunity to try it. I did not do very well as I have no feeling for rhythm what so ever, but it was fun none the less. The Japanese drums really give a strong sound.
We quickly continued with our next activity. Which was eating some tradition food of the region. The somewhat weird menu consisted of the following: larva (which tasted funny), a egg+mushroom combo, mushroom+daikon combo, small fish and some salty vegetable. However! We started with a small cup of sake with a large bee in it. This caused some commotion among certain classmates. I tried the sake, but didn't really like it that much. Later I had the same sake, but this time it was heated and the flavour was nicer.
We left the dinner all smoky and went for a quick stop at the local 7/11 where provision was bought for later in the evening. We then continued onto the onsen where we had a bath the Japanese style. First you shower and make sure you are clean and then continue into the bath itself where you can relax.
The final hours of the day we spend drinking some drinks and eating chips in the conference style room before going to bed.
The second day
On the second day of our trip we first had breakfast and then continued to our assigned farmers families. I went to the house of the Hariuchi family. We were greeted by the misses, who then had to go because she had practice. We got a quick tour of the house from her husband, Hariuchi-san. He showed us where they lived, but also the housing facilities for the people that stay over and want to experience the Japanese country life. After the tour we went outside and we got acquainted with all farm animals. We also met his oldest daughter who is also a farmer. We then proceeded towards his small pick-up car with which we went into the mountains.
In the mountains he has a small workshop which he created himself. Including the road the led to this workshop. Here we did some wood chopping, which was pretty fun actually. This wood was either used for heating a stove or for turning into coal. After we all tried this we went on to his greenhouses. He had two small greenhouses which were non-heated, but still very warm due to the sunlight. We took a couple of pictures of the great scenery and then moved back to his house.
We then picked some fruits, wrapped sweet potato in wet newspaper and aluminium foil and had lunch. When the lunch was over there was some free time during which I had the opportunity to take some more pictures of the mountain scenery. At about 1 o'clock the other groups came towards us and we braided rice strings together. We also had the chance to milk one of the goats.
For the final activity we had a warm drink made out of rice and home grown apples.
After thanking everybody we proceeded to go back to Matsumoto.
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Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley
