Gotenba

Today we explored Gotenba City, about 45 minutes from Mishima. In the morning we participated in a prayer and practiced calligraphy at Daijoji.

We participated in a ceremony of bowing and lighting incense

We made ink and practiced Katakana and Kanji

Ring that bell!

After attending a weekly Rotary meeting with the Gotenba club we visited a Buddhist temple and Chichibunomiya Memorial Park.

View of Mt Fuji from the temple

The style was very different from other temples we have visited

Award winning chrysanthemum at memorial park

Last we stopped at Toraya Studio for some tea and treats. The sweet shop is very well-known for their bean paste creations and it is located on the property formerly owned by the Prime Minister. I didn’t know beans could make such a great treat!

Your choices are..white bean or red bean.

The bus ride home was a long one, but our crew has learned that bus = sleep, so within minutes we had our ear buds in, iPods on and took advantage of the unscheduled time. We are grateful for the amazing experiences we have planned for us each day but we are all getting tired after 2 1/2 weeks of very long days in foreign environments without a break. I think we are all looking forward to our first free day we have planned for this weekend!

One Comment (+add yours?)

  1. Tom Boylan
    Nov 04, 2010 @ 09:22:24

    The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round… you are getting sleepy… sleepier… you are asleep…

    Get rest when you can. Your words and pictures are inspiring.

    Reply

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