Bullet Train Trip To The West Of Japan

Wednesday morning we boarded a Bullet Train headed From Tokyo to Kanazawa, a distance of about 300 Miles. The train cuts across the country running just east of some high, snow-capped mountains before curving back around south toward Kanazawa city. We arrived precisely on time after 2-1/2 hours of travel, which meant that the average speed of the train was 120 mph! Kanazawa is a little inland from the Sea of Japan, however the restaurants and markets feature a wide variety of fresh seafood. We visited a large fish market then enjoyed a nice sashimi rice bowl lunch. After lunch we boarded a motor coach for the trip to our resort Ryokan (authentic Japanese country-style accommodation) located in Wakura, a resort town on a peninsula about an hour and a half north of Kanazawa. The bus took an unusual route at one point actually driving along the beach. We stopped for a photo op and to test the temperature of the Sea of Japan waters before continuing on to Wakura. After we arrived at our large and well-equipped Ryokan, we were guided to our rooms by a staff member. We have a view of the bay, which is linked to the Sea of Japan. In our Japanese-style room, we do not wear shoes because the floor is covered by delicate tatami mats. Bedding consists of futon mattresses laid on the tatami mats. Before dinner we enjoyed a traditional Japanese communal bath and a soak in the Ryokan's "Onsen," pools fed by the mineral-rich Wakura hot springs. Then our group met for a lavish, multi-course dinner in a private banquet hall. The meal included more sashimi, and such delicacies as sea snail and sea urchin. A truly loud drummer accompanied several dancers and later a talented magician/juggler provided entertainment during dinner. - Jim and Dan