英語で: A few hours north of Sendai, one can find Hiraizumi. In the twelfth century, this small town was briefly the centre of what is now Tohoku. The Chuuson-ji (temple) became a Buddhist centre for the region, attracting many artisans from Kyoto. The main remnant of these days is the Konjikido, a richly decorated, golden hall.

Japanese: 平泉町に行きました。金色堂をみました、そしてわんこそばたべました。

Rice-fields

ごはん

Concrete building with the Konjikido inside, no photographs allowed.

そのビルの中は金色堂があります。

Hondo, or main hall of Chuuson-ji.

火

The region’s famous wanko soba, noodles in little bowls. (Before)

わんこそば

(After)

Normally, these are served tabehoudai (all you can eat) fashion, with certificates given for goals reached. In Hiraizumi they serve a fixed number of bowls.

平泉はわんこそばがたべほうだいではありません。

Summer grasses.