Disappointing breakfast. On the bus with a couple of rather odorous folks sitting within nostril range. Stuck, can’t move for an hour or so.
Our little group, James & Maryam, Les Québécois and East Finchley and our tour guide Sumiko are on a bus with other groups. The bus tour guide has been explaining where we are going and what we will see today for the past 25 minutes in English. We haven’t understood one word! Fortunately our guide is giving us a translation along with color photos ( “27 8×10 color photographs with a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what they are ……”)
FYI – here are some facts: 70% of #Japan is mountainous: Japan has 7% of worlds active volcanos.
First stop was #Gokayama, which has several small villages and visited #Ainokura which is one of the three UNESCO World Heritagae Sites in the area.
Next was lunch at the observatory place at #Shirakawa-Go which is located in the mountains in #Toyama, which means 5 valleys.
This is an area where there are large A frame style houses called Gassho-zukuri made from large wood beams and have a thick thatched roof – apparently well suited to the harsh weather. All the homes face north or south. 3 of the 5 valleys are designated UNESCO world heritage sites. These are small mountain farming communities.
Found the scenery quite stunning, surrounded by snow cap mountains.
#japan
