A Japanese Mountain Town

On one of my last days in Japan, we took a day trip to visit my friend Kazuko's hometown. It's a small town pretty much at the end of a train line, surrounded by lakes and dominated by Mt. Fuji. We spent the day driving around the lake, getting different views of the mountain we climbed but never actually got to see because of fog.

There was also a small market made up of a collection of old thatch-roofed houses.

The houses were surrounded by small pools with beautiful crystal clear water, that were all connected by a series of underwater tunnels.

For lunch we went to Hoto Fudo (Hot Food). We each got our own piping hot cauldron of delicious soup, though it was a massive portion.

And as all small towns around the world, this one is also famous for arts and crafts. We tried our hand at pottery...
I made a bowl and a sake carafe.
Our last stop was a tunnel full of Christmas lights! These illuminations are famous all over Japan, and rightfully so. It was interesting to see so many lights in non-traditional Christmas colors (blue, pink and green).
And finally, we got a tour of Kazuko's childhood home. Unlike most Japanese homes, this one was huge! Kazuko is also a calligraphy expert.

Tatami floors and sliding doors are a staple of traditional Japanese homes. As are low doorways.