Far from the bustle of Tokyo, Shikoku Island offers wisdom traditions and hospitality unique to Japan, text by Don George, pictures taken from Google, executive summary by darmansjah
I sat on the steps of a 300 year old wooden house in the Iya Valley, Japan, as he watched the verdant expanse of mountains packed cedar trees. Morning mist coiled creeping valley. There was no other than the house. The only sound that caught the sense of hearing is the rest of the rain early this morning dripping of twigs and a roof made of straw. Vague smell of charcoal hearth rest overnight. The atmosphere is depicted here is like a monastery in the 17th century.
"Incredible, is not it?" Chirps Paul Cato, expats and manager of this village-style inn. "Quite often when waking in the morning, I was amazed at the era of when."
Iya Valley being in the cluster of mountains of Shikoku, the smallest island of the four main islands of Japan, is flanked on the west side of the island of Kyushu and Honshu main island, separated the Seto Inland Sea in the north and the Pacific Ocean on the south side.
ImarvelofCapeAshizuriatthe southern tip island. Last night, Iasked theparents andtwosistersKunikowhere theheart ofShikoku. Kuniko's eldest brother, Nobuhisa, proposedCapeAshizuri, the same placehe showedon my first visit. "Make sure that taking this path," he said, tracingagraffitiwithchopsticks."For me, itis a great waytoseewhat werefer to asaoi Shikokukuni: 'blue cityShikoku.' Blue sky, bluemountains, fieldsblue, bluesea." Rice blue? He realizedthe confusionon my face. "In Japan, first,aoimeansblueandblue-green."
"Wow!" Said grandmother behind the bakery counter. "Foreign guests!" He was about 1.5 meters tall and dressed in traditional regional dress blue shorts and Kasuri (made with patterned fabric dye techniques) are white. Her tanned and full of wrinkles seemed happy.
I asked him if he was born and raised in the village. "Oh, yes, I was born and lived here all my life." He counted on his fingers. "Seven decade."
Ever think of staying anywhere else?
"Oh, no!" She retorted quickly. "Why would I live anywhere else?"
When Ihandedthe cointo pay forthe coffeecans, she refused. "I am honored that the arrival offoreign guests,"he said. "Thankyou for visitingShikoku. Have a nice trip! "
Arriving at the tip of CapeAshizuri, standing right where Kuniko, Nobuhisa, and I've stood 32 years ago. I stared at the white lighthouse, coastal cliffs, cedar trees covered mountains. I called Kuniko and preach this beautiful panorama. Over the years, images of this place is embedded in my heart and mind-offering the widest charm of authenticity, peace, purity, and a panorama that will never be found in any urban area in Japan.
I spent the night at the inn that serves a panoramic expanse of rice fields, mountains, and one of the longest sandy beaches in Japan pith. "Welcome to the Lodge Kaiyu" Mistu Ohkada, the innkeeper greeted in English when I entered the lobby. He started the business after working at an inn standard international hotel in Bali. "I enjoy the tranquility here-and of course natural. Do you know about aoi kuniShikoku? "Yes, I know.
Chiiorihave material wood and thatched roofs, like the village described in Japanese books.
"Irasshaimase! Welcome! "Paul Cato, manager of American origin, say hello while sliding doors made of wood inn. The interior of the inn looks airy and beautiful, 12 meters long and six meters wide, polished wooden floors, thick timber, paper lanterns, paper and curtains. Set foot in the doorway like a lodge foot into the past.
"True," said Cato. "Chiioriindeed ancient house is 300 years old. Author Alex Kerr fell in love with architecture and traditional Japanese aesthetics. He restored the house resembles a farmhouse Iyathree centuries ago.
One characteristic ofmodernChiioriWi-Fi isextra fast, andIsawan e-mail fromKuniko. "We follow the journey," he wrote. "How is Iya andChiiori? Fumiyakisay, this isthe quietestplaceinShikoku.
Atdusk, I andCatocutonceboiledturnips, onions, cucumbers, carrots, potatoes, and squashfromourChiiorigardentoeat near thefireplace. Afterwards, saylay down onthe futon(mattress, bed traditionalJapanese) thick underthe 300 year oldwoodenbeamsand25-year-old hay. I wastyping an e-mail toKuniko: "Convey mythankstotherecommendationthatFumiakitopnotch. Staying heremakes meunderstand the relationshipbetween natureand man. "