The castle, as with most castles here, is on top of a hill. And the stairs are really high - as in each step is made of giant rocks. My legs were burning!!! My 'guide' was older - 65 - but he must be retired and he bikes a lot (around the lake in 11 hours!) so he was okay. The climb was certainly worth the pain though. There isn't much inside the castle (some castles have displays of what the town looked like in olden times or samurai armor and such). There is a museum on the grounds but it is under renovation at the moment. The castle is 3 or 4 floors high (it's hard to keep track going up and around, up and around) and the stairs going up and down are pretty much like ladders with slightly ( very slightly) more angle to them. Going up isn't so bad, but going down is a little more intimidating!
Especially when there are so many people in front and behind and you are wearing big, very slippery slippers! There are also huge beams over the stairways waiting for taller people (not much taller than me) to bang their heads! But admiring the beautiful wood floors, beams, and nailess construction is certainly worth the obstacles.
Next my guide led me through some streets I had stumbled across before but didn't exactly know where I was... still couldn't get back there if I wanted to... anyway it turns out it is a famous area for Buddist alter shops. Most people have a small alter in their home. You put pictures of your deceased ancestors (the ones you knew), incense, flowers and food offerings in it and say a little prayer each morning in front of it. When you have guests that knew the ancestors (such as my host grandmother and aunt in Shimoda) they kneel, pray and give greetings to them. It's quite nice and makes you feel like they are still with you, as they are in your memories.
We continued back to the far end of the path along the river on which we had met, and my guide (I forget his name) took me up to the roof top (6th floor) of an apartment building on the river. From there we could see down the river, over to the castle and past the train station. Sakura blooming everywhere!!!!
He accompanied me back to Bell Road and there we parted ways after his offer of taking me around by bike or car (he said he loves to drive) whenever I'm free. I was reminded how being friendly and more outgoing pays off. Although if I do call him I think I will stick to biking around until I get to know him a little better... I was able to go to work feeling that I had gotten to see the blossoms in full bloom and would be satisfied even if I didn't get to see them again this year.
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