but much of their world remains

 https://laxethou46013.blogspot.com/2021/10/like-all-of-injury-reserves-previous.html Get lost in Japan's ancient samurai town

It was early morning in Kanazawa historical Higashi Chaya district, a row of old latticed teahouses in a town that convoluted in both its layout and history. Steam wafted up from the stone road. A geisha scurried across the empty street like an alley cat, only the clicking of her wooden geta sandals giving her away. Yet I didn come here looking for geisha. I aaa replica designer handbags wanted to learn about the world of another Japanese icon: the samurai.

View image of Historic Higashi Chaya (Credit: Credit: Jenna Scatena)

Located between the Sea of Japan/East Sea and the Japanese Alps in western Japan, Kanazawa is considered Designer Louis Vuitton Replica Handbags one of the country best places to learn about samurai history. The town was spared from destruction during World War II and remains one of the best preserved castle towns of the Edo Period. It one of the only cities in Japan to still have a samurai district. Of course, samurai were abolished in the late 19th Century as Japan modernised, so you can find samurai here today. But much of their world remains.

Related article: The walk that made me love Japan replica louis vuitton bags from china Making the 473km trip from Tokyo to Kanazawa used to take five hours and require changing trains. But the trip just got much easier. Starting March 14, 2015, the new, direct Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) run by West Japan Railway Company cut the travel time in half. And like the slower trains, it arrives at Kanazawa Station, often listed as one of the world most beautiful.

View image of Kanazawa stunning train replica louis vuitton station (Credit: Credit: Jenna Scatena)

I always been fascinated by samurai, those warriors who were almost inhumanly stoic and ever willing to fall on their sword for their masters or slay anyone showing disrespect. At least, that was how I imagined samurai to be, thanks to films like The Last Samurai and 13 Assassins. I was about to learn there was more to their story.

On my first morning in Kanazawa, I made a beeline for the neighbourhood of Higashi Chaya and met Kiyoe Nagashima, a 6th generation resident and Kanazawa Excursions guide. The pounding of a taiko drum in a nearby temple filled the air, summoning the feeling I often have when in a foreign place: of following the city beating pulse.

is not a place for theme parks, but a place for living, she said, her face beaming with pride. In fact, for the most part, high quality designer replica handbags wholesale the city is a modern metropolis dotted with luxury shops such as Louis Vuitton. Higashi Chaya, however, is anything but modern.

https://laxethou46013.blogspot.com/2021/10/like-all-of-injury-reserves-previous.html high quality designer replica handbags Following Nagashima into the labyrinth of teahouses, temples and restored samurai houses, I felt like Alice slipping into the rabbit hole. We walked along the row of beautiful latticed buildings and turned down a narrow street lined with yellowing gingko trees. Then we careened up a steep path that was so slender and discreet, I thought we were trespassing in a private driveway. When we arrived at the top, however, the path branched out into more narrow, winding roads. Kanazawa streets were partly designed to mislead and high quality replica handbags china disorient outsiders, and I was learning firsthand, they do so effectively.

From the top of the hill, we walked into the adjacent neighborhood of Utatsuyama. Samurai once lived in Buddhist temples here, Nagashima replica louis vuitton handbags explained, working as security guards called boukan. The roofs of the stately wood buildings with detailed carvings sprouted cheap replica handbags from clusters of gingko and maple trees.

Nagashima made it clear that the samurai who flourished in this city during the Edo Period (1603 1868) were almost nothing like the ferocious warriors I imagined them to be. During this peaceful golden age, the feudal military class focused most of its energy on scholarly 1:1 replica handbags pursuits and craftsmanship. As the highest social caste during this time, the samurai built extravagant residences and opulent gardens behind thick, earthen walls; you can still see evidence of the walls today. Of course, most samurai in Japan never lived this luxurious, peaceful lifestyle. The refined samurai of Kanazawa were an anomaly, made possible by their ruler disinterest in violence and affection for fake louis bag the arts.

View image of Kanazawa Castle: a relic of the samurai age (Credit: Credit: Kanazawa Tourism)

Kanazawa largest architectural relic of the samurai age is the stunning white Kanazawa Castle, resting on a hill that offers 360 degree views of the city. The castle was built in the 16th Century by the Maeda family, the beloved rulers of Kanazawa until 1868. During the Maeda rule, the castle was their fortress, surrounded by a moat and stone wall that still stands today. The castle's striking white tile roof is made of weathered lead. Adjoining the castle, the Kenroku en garden is home to plum, cherry, and Japanese maple trees and is considered one of Japan finest gardens.

View image of Cherry blossoms in Kenroku en garden (Credit: Credit: Kanazawa Tourism)

We continued on to the Nagamachi neighborhood, which was once home to upper and middle class samurai. Many of the original houses were torn down during Japan industrial revolution. Still, the district cobblestone streets, towering mud walls and peaceful canal remain, and a couple of restored samurai houses are open to the public, including the Nomura House, which contains artifacts from its namesake family.

View image of The stunning Nomura House (Credit: Credit: Kanazawa Tourism)

I returned to the Nomura House the following day and strolled inside, expecting to find swords, armor and perhaps some paintings immortalising moments of triumphant battles. Instead, I was greeted by a koi pond and zen fusuma or painted rice paper panels created by the Maeda family personal artist.

Then I recalled something Nagashima had said on the tour: defend Kanazawa, the Maeda clan encouraged the samurais to focus on arts and craftsmanship instead of fighting. replica louis vuitton bags That way they did not pose a threat to the clan with the highest power, and so were not invaded. As a result, there was actually almost no fighting in Kanazawa for 400 years. that was the real lesson of Kanazawa samurai. Their greatest weapon was not the sword but their focus on the arts a sly defense tactic in disguise.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this story mentioned the Sea of Japan, but did not note that the body of water is also known as the East Sea. The text has been updated to include both names.