Post Omatsuri

October 15


Kakegawa has become quiet once again. The lonely main street is once again looking like a ghost town. I could never understand and still do not, why so many of the stores are always closed. This picture was taken on a weekday during the middle of the day and as usualy, it looks dead. Most of the shops are closed. Go and figure.






Since the festival, I have developed a new appreciation for Kakegawa. The castle is a proud beacon of this small city. I have made a point to try and take this pathway that follows along the river and is always in view of the castle. It is very pleasant and people are often walking their small dogs or strolling along.








I try to soak up as much country side as possible. I have found the most picturesque pathways to travel, so that I can be surrounded by as much beauty as possible.











I have been fascinated, ever since the day I arrived, by the huge nets that are cast around the trees. No one has been able to explain these nets on trees and obviously I just need to ask the right person. But I have also noted that other trees around neighbouring towns, are not netted. To net or not to net, and why the net.







I thought it might have something to do with all these birds that appear to have a feeding frenzy around the trees at 5:00pm. Like clockwork. It is really amazing. Like something out of Hitchcock's "Birds". Masses of birds. They are loudly twittering and flying all about the trees at the train station. I must video tape sometime, because I have never seen anything quite like it. I try to stay away from the frenzy, as I imagine there is a lot of flying turds being bombarded about.

I have decided to try and investigate and appreciate Kakegawa while I am here. There are still many areas that I have not visited. For instance, Shiseido, the large Japanese cosmetic industry is headquartered here and they have a museum. I probably will not visit, but I might surprise myself. Now that the weather is so beautiful and comfortable, I will try to cycle around and explore a bit more.