Golden Week Trip 2010 - Hiraizumi

From Matsushima, we drove up to Hiraizumi. This is not one of the Japanese most popular tourist points, but it is a very historical little town. It was the home of the Hiraizumi Fujiwaras for about 100 years in the late Heian era and most of the following Kamakura period. (I guess you can read more in Wiki...)

松島に2泊した後、松島より北上、平泉に向かいました。平泉は小さな町ですが、歴史ある場所なので、是非足を止めようと思っていた場所でした。

What we wanted to see the most is, of course, Chuzonji's Konjikido (golden pavilion.) It was pretty cool to see all details made out of gold. They also showed us how they put gold on the building.

平泉といえば、中尊寺。というわけで、まずは中尊寺に向かいました。境内は広く、坂が多かったのですが、何とかベビーカーを押しながらがんばりました！そして、目的の金色堂へ。金色堂は撮影禁止なので、中尊寺のHPからの写真です。

There was a monument of Musashibo Benkei, who was loyal to his lord, Minamoto Yoshitsune. Famous story of "Standing Death of Benkei" was here in this town too. (You can read more here if you are interested in the story.) Girls were trying to be brave like Musashibo Benkei.

弁慶堂の前にて。エリ、ジュリアで、武蔵坊弁慶になってみました。

This is Noah being happy at Chusonji. I'm sure he is happy since he didn't have to push the stroller up the hill...

こちらは、境内でのノアです。

I guess there was some sort of Matsuri (festival) going on at Chusonji. Mikoshi went right by us. It was pretty cool to look at.

ちょうどお祭りの時期だったようです。パレードやお神輿を見ることもできました。

Right outside of Chusonji, there was Mochitsuki (traditional Japanese mochi-pounding) going on, and we got to try it. It was heavy especially for girls, but they did pretty good (with Daddy's help.)

中尊寺をちょうど出たところでランチにしようと歩いていると、お土産屋さんの前で餅つきを実施中。飛び入りで体験させていただきました。ダディもがんばってお持ちつき。ガールズもトライ！おいしいお餅ができました。（もちろん美味しくご賞味させていただきましたよ。）

We also went to visit the shrine that was build against the cliff.

達谷窟毘沙門堂です。崖に沿うように作られた建物が印象的です。

This is the view from the hotel we stayed in Hiraizumi. It was around Children's Day and we could see the carp beautifully.

こちらが、平泉のお宿からの眺めです。端午の節句の時期なので、こいのぼりが綺麗におよいでおりました。

This is Noah trying to be Samurai.

こちらはノアの華麗な甲冑姿？

For dinner, we went to the neighborhood town, Maezawa, for Maezawa beef Teppanyaki. The meat was really soft and delicious! Julia was in love with soft juicy (expensive) meat and she was requesting for more constantly.

そして、夕食には前沢牛を食べに前沢まで行って来ました。とてもやわらかい霜降り肉、美味しかったですぅ。うちの肉食児、じゅじゅはどうやら舌が肥えているらしい。霜降りのやわらかい高級肉のみをリクエストしており、「（赤身肉を指差し）これやだ、（霜降りを指差し）こっちがいー」とのことでした。