Day 2 in Sawara

After talking with the parents in the morning, we were able to tour more of Sawara in the afternoon. First we walked through the Inoh Tadataka Museum. Tadataka (1745-1818) developed a complete map of Japan by surveying on foot using Western scientific methods. This was the first accurate map of Japan. He was considered to be one of the greatest men from Sawara. The city became known at the "Town of the Map". We saw the original map he put together. It was so closely accurate when compared to a satellite view of the country. Amazing for a man to use simple tools, yet be able to complete a map so accurately.

After visiting the museum, we had some time to shop and walk along the canal. Jr. High students were on a field trip to draw and paint. They were so excited to say "hello". It was really fun to see them. Little did we know they were the same students we would be visiting on Thursday.

We also visited Katori Shrine. I enjoyed visiting the shrine because our guide and intrepretor explained many things to us. The first thing they explained was to clean hour hands before entering the shrine. It is important to wash the right hand, then the left hand, then the handle of the ladel. Then they explained the purpose of the rope circle in front of the shrine was to rid yourself of evil. It was very important to walk through turn to the right and walk through again turning to the left. Then finally walk straight through to the shrine.

We were also taught how to pray. You made your donation by tossing coins in to a special area then prayed. When you were done praying you clapped twice. It was so interesting to be taught the Shinto method of prayer.

They also could read the fortunes we purchased. My fortune told me it was a good time in my life and many good things would be happening. I think my fortune was very accurate. I was standing in front of shrine in Japan. How much better could life get?

Our last stop of the day was the Suigo Sawara Municipal Aquatic Botanical Garden. It was the time of year for the iris festival. The garden was full of iris beds in full bloom. The smell was wonderful and the lagoon made it such a peaceful place. We even got to see some women working in the gardens dressed in traditional clothing.

We stayed at the garden for an hour and then returned to the hotel. We would need to be ready to leave the hotel at 6:50 a.m. tomorrow for our elementary school visit. We decided to have a quick dinner at a yakatori stand. What is yakatori? Chicken pieces on a stick and broiled then dipped in a sauce. Some sticks had chicken meat, some giblets, and others just skin. I chose chicken meat, I think! I couldn't read the labels because they were in Japanese and the owner of the stand did not speak English. They were very good and cheap, around 150 yen each ($1.50). However you had to eat 4 or 5 of them to fill up.

After a quick dinner, we wondered around a supermarket. This market was very large. It could be compared to a Super Walmart; food, clothes, crafts, anything you could think of. We purchased some snack foods for later and returned to the hotel for the evening.

Again another fine day in the "land of the rising sun".