A day of surprises

Yesterday it has been a day of surprises. 

It has started in the morning, when upon walking in a park I have seem people sitting on the grass to play shogi. I have stopped to watch them and have started talking with some of the bystanders. I told them I knew shogi through 3月のラヨン, and their eyes lighted up, since also they liked the anime. A little kid invited me to play a game, but I had to refuse not knowing all the rules. Before leaving they gifted me a paper fan.

We then moved to visit a taiko maker, Taiko Masa, where we found that not only the benches at the bus stop are shaped like a taiko...

but also that the bus stop has the score of a small taiko piece.

Before dinner we have visited the local sento: an old style bath, visited only by locals and where tourists like us are a very rare sight.

After relaxing in the hot bath, we have gone for dinner to a small okonomiyakiya, again a local place where we have been object of curiosity while enjoying a tasty dinner.

On the way back we have heard a familiar sound, and we have found a group of high schoolers practicing a piece for taiko and atarigane which they will play at the local matsuri next week.

The funny thing is that the temple is practically in the back of our lodging, so we had this experience home delivered.

Too bad that we won't be able to see the matsuri in person!