THE FIRST DAY ON MAINLAND JAPAN: HIMEJI

Himeji was our first real taste of Japan and almost felt like a new planet! We have travelled a lot but nothing really prepared us for the complete contrast between here and home. Travel is always enlightening but this was quite simply really exciting! 

              From the window of the bus into town we saw shrines and temples dotted among the distinctive Japanese homes. Even the trees and plants looked so very different. The clean streets and pavements were immediately obvious as there is simply no litter at all. As for the language; it was totally incomprehensible. 

As soon as we left the bus the wall of neon advertising and almost cartoon culture was everywhere. It was hard to walk past a shop without gawping inside such was the overwhelming curiosity. 

Himeji is famous for an amazing castle which stands high up looking down on the city. And in the scorching 30 plus heat we dragged our selves to the entry gate.

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On the way, there were water misting stations to cool you down and massive cool air blowers. What a treat that was.

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I don’t usually do castles but because it is nothing like I have ever seen it was so exciting.

The fortress seems to rise from a stone base high into the clear blue sky. Like all Japanese castles, or "shiro," it is an architectural marvel, blending beauty and strength. Himeji Castle, with its pristine white facade earned it the nickname "White Heron Castle." With its imposing main keep and strategic design to thwart invaders, it's both a sight to behold and a history lesson all in one. Moats, stone walls, and winding paths add to its charm. We walked through lush ornamental gardens, ancient wooden interiors, and secret passageways, each turn revealing centuries-old stories of Noble men, Ninjers and Warlords.

HIMEJI GARDENS:

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Walking around the seven gardens of Himeji Castle in the extreme heat we came across what we thought was a cafe. Wow I could do with a cup of tea! We rather bundled in the sliding door and was met by a rather cross old lady demanding we slide it shut. This was not a cafe but a traditional Tea Ceremony House! The Lady spoke no English but pointed at a price on the wall of 450 yen each. I reached for my credit card and was firmly told “Cash Only”. Well there was some English she knew!

Anyway the Lady was really rather wonderful after she realised we had no idea where we were. She fitted us out with a nice pair of slippers each and led us through to a wooden floored ceremony room that looked out on a rather wonderful ornamental garden. We were to kneel on the matted floor and wait quietly and respectfully for the tea to be served.

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From the adjoining room came a beautiful dressed women in traditional robe. She almost floated in she was so graceful! In front of us she placed a wooden tray with a bowl of Green Tea and a small plate of green sweet paste. She bowed many times and I believe she blessed the tea. We were then handed paper instructions on how to proceed. How to turn the bowl away, which hand, which order, which to taste first and more.

Once we had finished she glided back in-front of us bowing and removed the tray. We were free to take pictures and the tea ladies smiled for the cameras.

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From unexpectedly arriving at the Tea House we left feeling so blessed to have experienced something that felt so wonderful. We will forever be grateful to the Ladies and it will be forever a treasured memory!

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Still buzzing from the Tea House we headed toward the centre of town to find food and maybe a beer. We tried Kobe Beef on a skewer, we tried Tempura Prawn and wandered for hours around the streets and arcades of Himeji.

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As evening fell we found ourselves outside a very busy, well lit bar near the coach station.

“Are we really going in?’ A reluctant Wendy asked as we peered into what looked like popular drinking and snack bar.

“Oh what the hell! Come on” I said as I led us through the door.

Goodness me it was loud and busy but a smiling waitress just pointed to the only spare table for two.

Left alone at the table we felt kind of vulnerable as there was no menu and certainly no English spoken. I tried my best to get a beer which even involved showing my arm muscles! There was a bicep picture on the fridge,

Having been given the impression that we really should order food I tried and tried to communicate with the young girl, but to no avail! In desperation she went to the kitchen and brought me back a greasy old picture book full of meals.

I really did not know what to do as nothing made any sense!

“Can we help you?” asked the Ladies on the next table.

“Yes please” I replied almost unable to believe that the only people we had met all day that spoke any English, were on the next table!

“We just wanted a snack to go with some big beers, but I really do not understand any of this menu” I said holding the greasy book.

“Oh, you won’t understand that, it’s the Chef’s cook book, she got it in desperation” she giggled politely.

“So where is the menu” I asked puzzled.

“On the walls, all that writing on sheets of paper is the menu”

We laughed as we explained we thought it was just decorations!

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The two Ladies helped us out and we were thrilled that they did, and in their company we had the most amazing couple of hours. It turns out they were best friends who had just met up for the day and this was a drink or two before heading back. They spoke perfect English because they were by total coincedence tour guides for Japanese tourists in the UK. It was quite amazing for us to have met them and we really did have fun together before we had to leave to catch the late coach back to the port.

As we left literally the whole bar wished us goodbye. What an exciting and stunning first day in mainland Japan!