Japan Adventure: Iwakuni Festa 2011 11/13/11

We've heard about a festival down at the Kintai today - maybe a new one this year? - so we're riding our bikes. Crossing the river and looking at the beautiful bright tree in someone's yard.

Passing the hotel and shrine up on the hill facing the river.

Watching ducks/seagulls? playing in the water while we wait for the traffic light.

Other birds are balanced at the top of a small waterfall waiting for food to swim over, perhaps?

Oh look! Across the street is a small market - we decide to check it out . . .

Lots of interesting things here.

And we felt very welcome!

But we're back riding alongside the river. Looking from the road down into the beautiful gardens below.

And further along there's a pretty house with lots of covered parking (a HUGE premium here!) and an interesting driveway.

I LOVE the stone designs . . .

Many colors of cosmos still in bloom. It's mid-November, but the weather is still quite mild.

Look who we found on Hwy 2 - it's one of Stan's students, Hinun and his mom. He's leaving a kendo class.

We've stopped at 7-11 for water and potty, and out front there's a pizza delivery bike!

Older man in suit riding his bike away from 7-11 on the "Dr Seuss trees" street.

We've arrived at the Kintai - about an hour after we started - but with several stops along the way. It's always so beautiful here!

Looking down at the riverbed from the car/pedestrian bridge as we ride over.

A little girl is having a good time playing in the sand.

And there's the festival - down below the bridge! Looks like a good crowd . . .

We've parked our bikes & set up our camp chairs. Live music and interesting dancers on stage. 2011 is coming to an end soon, an 2012 is the Year of the Dragon . . .

Click below to watch this VERY cool video of the part of the fire-breathing dragons' dance!

Cool - he's cut off the dragon's head & I caught it in mid-air! It took a while, but the Samurai was able to slay all of them . . .

It also took me a while to realize that the lady in red & white was also a real person & not a statue! Look at this gorgeous kimono!

We're hungry and we decided to walk around and see what else is here at this festival. Found children learning woodworking . . .

And boys climbing trees.

There were cute bunnies in small cages for children to pet.

And little piggies. This little girl was a little afraid, but finally stuck out her hand.

And afterward, she was VERY excited that she touched it!

Children were allowed to climb up on large police motorcycles on display.

And Japanese military vehicles.

But construction vehicles were most popular. Look at this cute little tractor!

I like this lady's Mickey Mouse umbrella with EARS!

"Naughty Boys keep going"

He was REALLY excited to drive this . . .

And the steamroller driver actually let the kids drive! This vehicle was so heavy that standing here I could feel the ground shake!

A local HS had real working robots!

Oh - here are the food booths. What's for lunch?

I think there were dumplings (or maybe mochi?) steaming in the pot above this fire. Smells SO good!

Friendly girls who ran the caramel corn booth. Japanese caramel corn is SOOOO yummy! So we had to have some . . .

Well, there's the bar . . . with hot dogs. Perfect.

Look at this beautiful B&W painting of the sea and large fish. I have to wonder if it represents the tsunami? Wow - it costs over $1200 USD! I was admiring his work, when the artist said he wanted to paint me a picture.

He was amazing! He painted with both hands to music . . .

LOVE this dragon!

Another cute food wagon . . .

Children area really interested in this character - anime, perhaps?

Stan's hot dog . . .

And my hamburger wasn't beef - not sure what it was, but it was delicious! We sat in our camp chairs to watch more of the entertainment while we ate.

To our left are steps built into the retaining wall that leads to the road above & way up above that . . .

. . . is Iwakuni Castle - on the top of the mountain. It's been a long time since we've been up there, but the view is really FANTASTIC!!!

This lady in kimono beautifully playing her flute made me think me of Nancy . . . I wonder if she's still playing her Japanese flute in Italy??? Her music was really wonderful, but I did not get a good video . . .

Near our bikes, this WAS the most quiet generator I've ever heard!

We've left the crowds at the festival, and ridden over to the Kintai Bridge.

Guess there can never be any "Occupying" here . . .

We've set up our camp chairs to sit & view the Kintai Bridge over the Monzen River - very peaceful here today, but we can still hear the music from the festival in the distance.

This cute little girl toddled over while we were sitting by the river. She held up her arms and wanted to climb into my lap and I was MORE than happy to oblige! (This has never happened to me in Japan - most little children are friendly but reserved & shy around us - I assume because we look SO very different.) She enjoyed checking out my earrings, necklace and especially my nails! She would look at my sparkly nails, and then over at hers . . . After about 10 minutes or so, her mom said they had to leave, so grudgingly we bid each other farewell . . . of course this made me VERY homesick for my own grandchildren! What a cutie . . .

Looking over Stan's bike at the huge, old cherry trees that line the river. They look very different this time of year . . .

My beautiful new bike loaded down with all our "necessary" stuff . . .

Pink camellia - winter's flower is blooming all over this area.

Riding around the park in Kintaikyo area.

Friendly riders with customized motorscooters!

That's the Ropeway Station - you can ride to the top of the mountain - but we're just stopping to potty.

Bright flowers in pots out front.

Oh - there's a Chrysanthemum display going on here today! How fortunate that we came over to this part of the park. Look how tall these flowers are!

Many colors & many varieties.

Bonsai! Chrysanthemum Bonsai!

Sugoi! (amazing!)

Look at these interesting shapes. . .

And of course, the Kintai Bridge.

Map showing the park areas around the Kintai.

The water is still on in Kikko Park!

And lots of colorful autumn leaves.

Looking through the water from the top of the "castle wall fountain."

One perfect ginko leaf.

Sign in front of the autumn-blooming cherry trees with very tiny flowers . . . what a surprise to see cherry trees this time of year!

How beautiful!

Sunset behind the mountain over the Kintai Bridge as we ride over the car bridge. The sun goes down early here up against the mountain.

Bamboo lanterns hanging on buildings near Kintai.

Following Stan - there's the 7-11 & beautiful lampost.

Looking back under the very low pedestrian/bike tunnel under the tracks. Stan can't ride under here - he's too tall - so he has to walk his bike through.