Hi all!
Okay, it's been a long time since we've posted so the big things are that we have moved from Takaoka to Toyama. It's about 20 kms away and it's a bigger city. There is a small mountain range between them so dispite being so close they function really seperately. We also got promotions, so we are like the head teachers at our own schools.
Our days off are Sunday and Monday now, and this past monday we went and did some sight seeing with our Japanese freind, Yuuya.
There is a small town called Tonami, which is famous for a tulip festival, which finished sunday, but was free on monday becuase it was officially over! so we went and saw some beautiful flowers! and took lots of pictures.
Then we went to a UNESCO World Heritage listed area called Gokayama, where there are villages of large thatched roof houses that have been in the area since the 12th Century. Probably not these exact houses becuase different parts are replaced as part of regular maintainance, but the area is protected. They are also still people's houses, the residents acctually still live and work their. They have little rice fields, but I'm pretty sure they have other jobs.
The Gokayama area is known for Washi paper, made for the bark of a mulberry tree. The area has providing paper for important families and people since the time of the Taira clan (1160s i think).
So after we finished at the village we went to a place where we could make some Washi paper ourselves! It was really cool!
We are heading to Takayama next week!
More soon!
