Otowa Village comprises approximately 100 homes within Hino, a town of approximately 23,000. Toshio Otowa met us at our Air B & B with his small truck, loaded all of our bike bags, and lead us mostly on back roads all the way to Otowa. Yes, Otowa is his family name, and the village has been associated with his family for 19 generations, with solid records from 1545.
Riding with unloaded bike today.
Common to see immaculate small gardens in town. Japan has excess housing stock, so vacant lots are available for gardens.
Remains of the Castle Moat
Typical Village Street
More of the Castle Moat
Inside of oven to bake roof tile
Roof The Oven
Museum/Shop linked to the production of clay roof tile. They now make and sell small roof tile replicas used as chop stick rests and moldings of gods and various creatures, too fragile to carry on a bike.
Potential Dogs of the. Day?
Dog of the Day
The castle moat surrounds the hill and links to the large lake behind the hill.
Original Castle Location. Unlike stone European castles, the Japanese castles were wood construction, so none remain. Most of the shrines and temples dating back hundreds of years are now rebuilt, only 300 or so years old.
Unfortunately closed. Perhaps fortunately, as this was about 10 am and we had yet to start cycling.
Hachiman East School
Short boat rides on the castle moat
Rice. Being new to rice growing, it closely resembles wheat except there are multiple stocks at the ground level. Fields were abundant at many stages of maturity, fallow, flooded, under water, then drained.
Remote Control Helicopter Sprayer.
Lakeside Bike Trail. Perhaps one-half of today's ride was on dedicated trails.
Weekly Washing and Sweeping Work Sessions
Brooms for the Cleaning Sessions
Buzz Lightyear Saves Sheriff Woody at the Shrine
Shrine View. (To be named later)
Shrine Legend. After visiting this shrine, one still harboring evil spirits will be crushed between the boulders on the way back down.
Love the dragon fixture.
Shrine from the valley floor.
WWII Hanger for Japanese Fighter Plane. We circled the former Imperial Air Force Air Field. Nearing the end of the war, Japan lacked steel for construction but had ample concrete, so they built these hangers into the hillside with massive concrete roofs.
Great cycling among the cherry blossom petals.
Floating Solar Panels
Bird Feast. Preparing the fields for rice planting.
Manhole Cover. Nothing like the US where covers are plain or carry the manufacturer's name. Each town or region seems to have a unique, decorative design.
Toshi's wife, Rebecca, does stained glass. This one was my favorite.
Learning to make pot stickers for our dinner. Filled with either pumpkin or herbs and wild onion gleaned nearby.
Collection of bike packing cases at Toshi's home.
Sand Collection. Few people have visited as many countries and locations as Toshi. He collected sand samples as mementos, because they are easy to carry.
Place and date each sand sample was collected.
Today's Route
Toshi, Scott, and Hirota-San. Scott, Duane, and I were the lucky threesome. Harota-San was/is an actor, professional chef, painter, and collector of music and film. His collection ranges from a hand-cranked victrola, vinyl discs from 78's to LP's, CD's, movies, and books, including quality stereo systems in every room.
Listening Room. We started with Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, to Bob Dylan, Allman Brothers, Little Feet, and others until I had to sleep.
Hirota-San's Art Studio.
Hirota-San Victrola
Alex & Nina. Our leader and co-leader.
Breakfast. Just the beginning.
Breakfast. There's more!
Breakfast
The moral of the story. Old man finds his lost glove and the mice are evicted from their warm home.
When a Shakespearean actor reads a children's book. Hirota-San records readings of children's books.
While too large to include in this blog, Duane recorded Hirota-San reading this book. Will add later, band-width permitting. Some stills from that reading and another book, Dirty Dog.
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