The trucks started rolling early on Sunday morning and so we were up, packed and on the road by 9.00am We wandered our way along the coast to a town called Karatsu, which is a pottery town, but in addition it has a lovely castle, which we pottered happily around. Far more entertaining however, was a museum housing a collection of 14 hikiyama, four-wheeled floats, which are pulled around the town during the Karatsu Kunchi Festival from 2nd – 4th November. The festival originated in the early 17th century and accompanied by flutes and drums it is apparently a real spectacle, which I can believe, given the gloriously ornate collection of floats.
Other than that Karatsu was very quiet, we have realised that we are travelling round the coast of Kyushu out of season and consequently a lot of places are shutto. We keep wondering where all the people are and this carried on when we visited Okawachiyama village near Imari. We wandered around this serene and beautiful village, seeing very few people and looking at lovely, lovely pottery. They have pottery everywhere, in the walls, covering the bridges and the nicest signs to the ladies and gents toilets.
More retail therapy – we are now debating whether or not to buy a third bag as what little space we had on the way out has definitely gone. My fondness for tea cups and bowls has resulted in us bringing home way more than we really need, so all friends and relations brace yourselves for cup & bowl presents for the foreseeable future.
Robert was now starting to get twitchy, as despite the awful weather, the Japan v Scotland game was on and calling to him. We needed to be in our hotel and settled by 7.45 for kick off. After 3 camper nights we had decided to treat ourselves to a hotel and I had found one nearby in a place called Sasebo, which we knew nothing about. It turns out Sasebo has a US Navy base, which became apparent as we looked for somewhere for dinner. The US influence meant there was a wealth of international restaurants to choose from, we opted for Mexican, and as it turned out we’d made a fine choice.
So we were fed, watered and back in our room for match kick-off and what a match it was. Japan so deserve their place in the knock out stages and beware anyone who underestimates them.
We felt we should go out and celebrate their victory and so nipped out for a quick drink at a bar we’d noticed next door, a Country & Western joint, which it transpired had the oldest set of barmaids I have ever laid eyes on. The leader of the pack, Cleo, told us she started working there in 1968. They were an absolute hoot and we only avoided karaoke by heading for bed. There were clearly some US navy personnel who had spent way too much time in the bar, as their renditions of certain songs were very professional.
