2016-04-10, Chikubushima an island on (in?) Lake Biwa

A friend of 40 years (I can't quite believe I can say that...), Reiko, and her mom visited this weekend.  They saw Hikone Castle and the sakura yesterday, and that's about all there is to see in Hikone, so today we went on a short cruise to a sacred island on Lake Biwa.  

So this is not, I repeat, this is not a sakura post!!!

But on the way to meet them at their hotel I just couldn't resist a few, just a few more photos...

It's just too beautiful not stop, admire and photograph every chance I get.  They will be gone so soon.

Anyway, on to the cruise.  Pulling out of Hikone Port (which just happened to be lined with sakura!!!!).  

See the castle on the hill.

On the island.

Who needs a step machine?!

These were a different kind of daruma.  They looked like a woman and instead of painting an eye black when you make a wish, you write your wish on a piece of paper and put it inside.  Then you leave the daruma here and hope your wish comes true.

The instrument below is a Japanese lute, or biwa.  They say the lake has that shape and that's why it was named Lake Biwa (Biwako).

This tree is 450 years old.  It's a kind of holly, in Japanese it's mochinoki.

We were pretty high.

The idea here is that you buy a good luck charm and make a wish then try to throw it through the torii.
If you do your wish will come true.

We don't know what this bush/tree/plant is but I have never seen such long, thick thorns!

Reiko and her mom (81) who climbed up and down all those stairs!!! That's why she looks the way she does - slim and trim!

After the cruise we took the train to Nagahama where we had lunch, walked around and did a little souvenier shopping.  Then I picked up my bike at their hotel and stopped for a couple more pictures (I have no willpower when it comes to sakura).

The sakura are falling!!!  It's like wonderfully warm snow!  Sad but beautiful.

To the supermarket and home.  Had a quick dinner and a nice soak in the tub so hopefully my legs won't be sore tomorrow from all those steps!