Whelp it was time for a break and time to get out of the Tsubame/Yahiko area. So Bridget and I left on the train to go norht to Shibata. We had a two hour lay over in Niitsu which means next time we go we can sleep in and catch the next train with out a rush. But we enjoyed catching up and honestly it's just really nice to get some gab time in.
Finally we made it to Shibata, it's a pretty city. We got out our maps and despite several gaijin moments and making several cirlces we finally got to the Ayami family castles in Shibata! I'll let the pamphlets tell you a little about it.
"Shibata city flourished as a castle town in the Edo Period and still has many cultural heritages...."
"Construction of Shibata Castle was started in 1598 by the first clan leader, Mizoguchi Hidekatsu, and was completed in 1654. After that, Shibata's plitics, economy and culture flourished. The Omote mon gate and Sumi yagura turret remain from the old days are are disgnates as important national properties. Th wall outside the turrets, called Namako kabe, is waterproof. The stone wall is made of regular piled stones in the manner of Kirimoihagi. In recent years, requests to restore Shibata castle to its original state increased. As a result, the Tatsumi yagura turret and Sangai yagura turret were restored in 2004".
After that we went to an amazing museum: Fukiya Koji Memorial Museum, I loved the work! It was so rad and just the time period in illustration that I love as well.
"Fukiya Koji was born in Shibata in 1898. He was a famous lyrical painter and he was also an active as an illustrator and poet".(His illustrations where sooo rad!)











There are also really neet gardens and a bunch of other stuff to see but we got pretty worn out walking all over trying to find some of the stuff. We'll just have to go back again...oh darn. YAY!