Kanazawa

We visited Geisha Town, Samurai Town (had a tea ceremony in Nomura House) and met a wood carver who makes cards and uses cedar seedlings and also makes jewelry. He is a special craftsman, one of a dying breed. We met an Australian couple; he is an antiques dealer and she has just completed her degree in Museum Studies. We exchanged emails and hope to visit at some point. The Kenroku-en Garden is one of Japan's 3 biggest gardens and it has 6 desirable qualities: spaciousness, seclusion, antiquity, ingenuity, flowing water and views. The Nomura House (a preserved and restored Samurai House) has decorated gold dust painted walls and screens. Only the armory and gate of Kanazawa Castle remain, but its shadow is a reminder of feudal Japan. Once again, all of this in the middle of a modern city.