19.8.2018 - Day 4

In the morning I went to Obuse. I went early and as such everything was close at the time of my arrival. My goal was to visit Hokusai museum. Hokusai is a famous Japanese artist who is responsible for what we today would consider traditional Japanese paintings and inspired Japonism art style in Europe. He is most famously known internationally for 36 views on Mount Fuji (there is actually 46 paintings inside this collection). Hokusai spend his last years of life in Obuse.

Since everything was closed I decided to take a walk to the foot of the mountains to Jokoji temple. I passed around farms which were interesting in the fact that there appeared to be fans above the fields and produce on trees like plums and wine were covered in some sort of plastic or paper bags, my guess is so that insect or other animals would not get to them.

Jokoji temple was an interesting temple little up the mountain with a bell outside of the building and small view to look inside. There also seemed to be some ritual with fire.

About two hundred meters north of Jokoji temple lay Ganshoin temple which I visited next. This temple is connected to Hokusai as he drew one of his last paintings there. A large picture of phoenix, which decorates the sealing of the inner sanctuary. 170 years after Hokusai passing there was no need to re-color the painting or do any adjustments. Hokusai was mad into art (as self-described in one of his aliases) and a master of it. While early his work depicted everyday people and actions, later in life he turned toward nature and religious imagery.

After enjoying the temple I caught the first shuttle bus to the museum and enjoyed the local collection. The collection focuses a lot about his manga, which at that time meant books of drawings, drawn as free flow of the mind. These were drawn mainly for the Hokusai’s students to use as reference to the Hokusai’s style. Hokusai died in 1849 at the age of 90 still striving to improve his form. I highly recommend looking more into the life of this great artist as he was truly mad about art.

Finishing after 11, I went back to hostel, grabbed my luggage and run for the train to Nagano. I had to run to catch the train and then it was just little over hour long ride on the Shinkansen to Tokyo. This sadly meant that I didn’t get to see Nagano, so that leaves it still open for the next time.

At Tokyo I met with Zelma. Sadly the Booking application provided is with the wrong address, but locals helped us to get to the correct place. After few more issues with the app we finally got into our stay. For dinner we headed to Shibuya and to Shinkansen sushi. Afterwards we walked around all the way to Yoyogi park before heading back to hotel and turning in for the day.