No rain in the forecast today. Not trusting the report, we packed up our backpacks, the cameras, extra layers of clothes and our borrowed umbrellas to set out to the village of Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage site. About an hour away by bus sits this Japanese alpine village. It is renowned for its steep, thatched roofed farmhouses designed to withstand heavy snowfalls.This is known as the Gassho style of architecture translating to “two hands joined in prayer.”

Historically isolated this village, incorporated in the 1800’s, shows evidence of the existence of people as far back as the 1600’s. The high mountains were covered with snow creating an backdrop of white against vivd red and yellow maples. The last of the plums, roses, and rice dotted the fields while thatch tents tied together stood as a sentry guarding the fields. Photographically this was an opportunity to create something beautiful. Except the tourists picked the most picturesque sites in the village to spend 10 minutes taking “friends” pictures of each other while posing with the peace symbol shading half their face or in the most ridiculous poses. Patience I do not have for such antics, waiting ten minutes to get that perfect shot was painful.

I believe now Shap and I have gone “forest bathing.” We kept our clothes on and did not have towels with us. But we did walk amongst the most magnificent cedars with trunks so wide we could not join hands around the tree. The path led us higher up from the village with a water way running beside us. Although, quiet contemplation is not my style, and communing with nature means either walking the dog or taking pictures, I did enjoy the solitude and beauty of this cedar forest.

By the time we left, the sun had faded and we were glad to have a warm bus in which to journey back to Kanasawa and an early dinner of tiny fried shrimp and tempura. There are the lots of small restaurants close to our hotel that serve excellent food. Eating in these restaurants is an experience all its own. Tiny hole in the wall places barely large enough to have a counter, dish up excellent beef. However, along with the beef someone will be sitting close by eating weird, I believe, almost live octopus, or soup with strange shapes floating in broth that belong to parts of bodies you would never think of eating. All of this coming from a kitchen the size of the front seat of a car. What fun!