Nothing like Homemade Chili and an Art Show on a cold wet day. - Utsunomiyia Museum

Yuji Kashawamuri is the director of the Tochigi Prefecture Museum.  It's great to be staying there as he knows many people and we get to see what goes on behind the scenes at a museum.

There is an Art Show at the museum today, featuring things that are made in Tochigi Prefecture.  I enjoyed looking at everything.  

 Click the link to see the short video of this guy making bamboo fishing poles.

https://youtu.be/Ec52Y1nbVYk

Click this link to see this guy make bamboo rings that hold together a scarf.  I totally love it.  I also was taught how to make one.  

https://youtu.be/23JML0sHpNk

 

This is the bamboo ring I made for my scarves.

 I bought a necklace from this gentleman who made the wood ring on my necklace as well as the wooden items in the pics. 

Yuji had to do a speech at the school for history of Utsunomiyia.  We are now headed to school early so we can look around at all the exhibits.  Marlon and I were chosen to be dressed in a kimono for me and Kimono for men for Marlon.  We felt very honored.  After we were dressed we were to walk around the school for others to see how people used to dress in Japan on a daily basis. 

Made chili tonight for the host family.  We shopped with Keiko so she could read the cans to make sure I was getting the correct supplies for chili.  I started by browning the pork and beef mixture and while that was cooking I cut green pepper and onion to add to the meat mixture.  Keiko is paying close attention to what I'm doing and writing down instructions.

 Keiko noticed I didn't have an apron on and went and got me one and put it on me. :-)

 It's about 40 degrees F outside so Yuji made a fire.  Nothing better on a cold wet day than a fire in the fireplace and some homemade chili.

 Dipping out the soup and garnishing it with sour cream, cheese, and onion.

I also made some peanut butter sandwiches to eat with the soup.  They loved it!!  Keiko is going to make some for a small dinner group that is coming to her house next Saturday.   I hope they enjoy it as much as we did!

SAKE CAVE AND WATERFALLS In Japan - Mioko

Shimazaki Sake Brewery

We went into the brewery and discovered the sake cave was giving a free tour and free sake tasting after the tour. We went back to the car and headed up the mountain to the sake cave.

The view from on top of the mountain looking down at the city was awesome.  I really loved the bright red and yellow fall leaves.

The entrance to the sake cave warehouse.

This Brewery is also called 'The cave brewery' as it is the only sake brewery in the world that makes aged sake by aging premium sake in a cave in the side of a mountain.
The cave is also of historical significance in that it was built during WWII for the manufacturing of tank parts, though it was never used. We are ready for the tour to begin.

The tour has begun.

You have to drink sake right after opening.  Sake is not made to store for long periods of time. However, since the temperature of the cave stays constant, the sake remains stable.  They offer to store your sake for a fee,of course. 

 

Bats

While on the tour, you can spot the occasional brown bat! We actually saw 2. The cave also occasionally hosts concerts.

 

 Tour is completed and now its time to sample some sake.

 Making our purchases of sake.

Mioko and Yoko have one more surprise for us.  We are out in the country heading to the last destination of the day.  Its misting rain and has been for the majority of the day. We have arrived at Ryumon Falls or Dragon Gate Falls which is one of the popular falls in Tochigi Prefecture. It is 20m tall and 40m wide, and is a two step waterfall. As we walk down to the falls we can feel the mist from the waterfalls on our faces. There has been lots of rain in the last few days and the water coming off the falls is very powerful.

Wow, look at all the maple leaves on the ground.

 Click the link and enjoy the falls. Sit back and imagine being there with us.

https://youtu.be/5Ut2hMIsatU

 Waiting for the local train to cross behind the falls.  There was a schedule posted of when the train should pass above the falls.  We waited 5 minutes past the scheduled time and still no train.  

As we turned our backs to leave Mioko starts yelling and pointing towards the fall.  She didn't have to say anything we all turned just in time to catch a glimpse of the train. I did manage to get a picture of the train.  It's not the best but at least I got a picture.  

THANKS, MIOKO & YOKO FOR A FABULOUS DAY.