Traditional shops in Yamagata city

One of the interesting features in Yamagata city is the traditional shops and warehouses that remain among the modern shops and offices.  The photos above show the kura (storehouse) of the oldest one.

This pickle shop is another traditional shop.  The pickles were delicious - you can try them first.

The pickles were displayed in old pickling tubs.

This antique mizuna (kitchen dresser) was in the tasting area.

There are plenty of modern out of town shopping developments too, but we went to Tendo city nearby for this one.

A lot of things are different...

These are some of the easiest places to get things like paper for shoji screens and other traditional DIY items, so Glyn had a good time!

Shirataka part 3

We viewed more cherry blossoms around Shirataka on Tuesday, including some around a Shinto shrine where we the only vistors.

 

Then we went to see two really old trees - including one that was 800 years old and another, beside a shrine, that was 1200 years old. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally we went to a more conventional hanami (cherry blossom viewing) in a park at Kaminoyama.  We saw these blossoms from the shinkansen on the way here on Monday, but we didn't realise at the time.

 

 

 

  

 

Shirataka part 2

After visiting Kaneda-san's pottery, we went to the washi (paper) workshop next door, to see traditional Japanese paper being made.  The washi is made from kouzo tree fibre, which you can see in the photo above.  The shouji screens are covered with the same hand made paper.

This is the process.  The paper is made in two layers.

  

The shop had many things made from washi.  We bought some to use for screens.

The view across the fields was beautiful, with many cherry trees still blooming in the mountains.

Hiroko with Lady.

Kazutoshi was suffering a lot with hayfever!

Soba restaurant for lunch.

Two vintage fabric quilts displayed in the restaurant.