Andre and Wendy: Kanazawa last day

Our last full day in Kanazawa. We started off by arranging to meet Heather at her hotel as it is close to our first plans for the day. On the way we walk right by the Museum that we could not get tickets to the Pool Exhibit yesterday, so we ran in and were able to score tickets for this afternoon. Finally found Heathers hotel, every city seems to have many APA hotels and this city is no exception, but we eventually found her, this city has 2 APA hotels directly across the street from each other.

We started off visiting the Nagamachi Samurai District in the daylight. Quite different with lots of people and shops open in the day, at night it is very very quiet. We visited an ancient Samurai House of the Family of Nomura. So many people inside. One poor tour guide was trying to round up his Indian group, we had a lot of laughs at this, wish him good luck on the rest of the trip. We were able to visit upstairs and down, along with a little museum. A nice garden attached to the samurai house.

After looking in a few shops and wandering the beautiful small streets we also visited a merchants house. This one is much less crowded, I don't think tour groups go here. We saw a display of some beautiful kaga tamari, beautiful embroidered balls, what a lot of work. A nice garden that you can actually walk through, and since shoes were removed to enter this house they provided sandals, one size fits all, not Andres size.

Next it is time to find something to eat. We were on our way to a sushi place and came across a little Italian place and decided we were ready for a change in menus. What a great find. They called their started a deli, then a main. So much food! It was delicious and they were very sweet. On our way out we saw some flowers congratulating them on their 1^st Anniversary of the restaurant, just a small place run by this young couple.

Back to our AIRBNB for a break and we set a time to meet up again at the museum.

Next off to do our Swimming Pool adventure at the Museum. We had to kill about 30 minutes before our strictly timed visit so we watched the AI conversation between 2 young men. Must admit it was a little scary and controversial. I am glad I am not entering the workforce now. Time now to enter the Swimming Pool, I think it was more impressive from the top than in the pool. We are actually part of the art. We took turns “swimming” in the pool, fun. Hopefully people up top got some fun pictures.

Now we are off to visit the Geisha districts again in the daylight. Like the Samurai district very different in the daylight. Quite a few people around and shops are open. It is starting to rain a little again, and this is not a huge area so it doesn't take a lot of time to get through this.

The rain has done us in. We are calling it an early afternoon. Stop at Family Mart around the corner to pick up a couple of things for supper and some add on for breakfast tomorrow morning. An early night will not hurt any of us. We have really enjoyed Kanazawa, the beautiful gardens and cherry trees have definitely made it special.

Steps 19,373 or 12.32 kms

On our favourite walk by the castle entrance. We are doing this at least once a day as we move around town visiting. Not a bad commute

The samurai district

love these doors

In front of a ceramic shop

Visit in a Samurai House

2 more sliding door that create a 4 panel display

Nail covers

Garden at the samurai house

Kimono

small alter

In the museum in the Samurai House, now I know why the old coins had holes

Long smoking pipe

gold leaf box

ice cream break between museums. Kanazawa traditional gold leaf craft has wrapped onto soft-serve ice-cream!

Visit to a merchant house

many things on display

how gold leaf were made

made from candies for a competition

Garden in the merchant house, you have to take your shoes off to enter this house, if you want to walk around the garden they provide you with sandals, not quite Andres size