The random things a traveller sees

Maybe it is because we are out and about more than at home that we come across interesting random things while travelling.

One of my favourite memories of visiting Florence many years ago was a square that had been blocked off for filming.   We watched a period drama unfolding before us and were delighted some months later when Room With A View was released.  Tom's obsession with Helena Bonham-Carter may date from that event. 

We were again delighted to find that Himeji Castle was hosting a film crew during our visit.  I doubt the film being filmed here will be as famous a Room With A View but we were chuffed anyway and watched the beautifully decked out actresses strut their kimono stuff.  Himeji Castle is unbelievably picturesque and has appeared in a number of films, including The Last Samurai, Kagamusa and the somewhat ridiculous James Bond film, 'You Only Live Twice' where JB gets made up to look like a Japanese by a bevy of bikini clad Japanese girls.  Unfortunately they were not allowing photos of the filming so here is one of Himeji Castle.

Our visit to the Shinto shrine on Miyajima coincided with this wedding ceremony.  Religion is a funny thing here - the story goes, 90% of Japanese people when asked will say they are Buddhist, and again 90% will say they are Shinto when asked.  The truth is that they follow both religions and the two happily meld and coexist.  Yet, in truth the country is very secular.

Wedding at Shinto shrine on Miyajima

Not quite a religion, baseball is very popular.  The local team in Hiroshima is known as the Carps and when we happened across the Chrysanthemum Festival this display was themed for the local baseball team.

The Hiroshima Carps

This charming young girl took our eye in Nikko.  Dressed up to the nines in her silk kimono she was being treated about the place by doting family.  We had no idea what was going on, but apparently it is common for girls around the age of seven to be dolled-up and taken to the Shinto shrine by family - no doubt it is good luck.

Traditionally dressed family

Kimono hire is a common day out for tourists and locals.  Popular with young girls, they hire a kimono for the day, get the full make-up and hair job, and wander around the tourist sites - taking incessant selfies, of course. In Kyoto's Gion district many restaurants offer discount prices to couples who turn up dressed in traditional garb, I gather it is encouraged as the tourists find it cute.  There are not many geisha these days, so this is the next best thing.

Kimono's for hire in Kyoto

Perhaps not the next best thing are these young Toyko girls.  It was explained to us that they were touting their girl band - they were certainly noticed!

Arriving at Kanazawa Station there was a welcoming committee of Kimono clad ladies  Really, they shouldn't  have.