Just like Ogawara, Murata (村田町) is located in south-central Miyagi Prefecture and Shiroishi River runs through the town. Murata is only 20 minutes-drive from Sendai city and 35 minutes from the Yamagata area.
白鳥神社-A Similar Scene in Spirit Away (千と千尋の神隠し)
The Shiratori Shrine (白鳥神社) is a traditional Japanese Shrine that has beautiful landscape.
Inside the Shrine, there are trees more than 1000 years old, among them the most famous one is called “Oushuu No Jyafuji”. The address of 白鳥神社 is as follows.
西湖山 龍島院-A Monastic Place with Traditional Courtyard
Ryuutoin Temple is known for its “Chisen Kanshoushiki Teien” Garden, inside which lies the tomb of Date Munetaka. The Ryuutoin Temple is especially beautiful when there is sunshine. The address of 西湖山龍島院 is as follows.
千寿庵-Precious Soba-Making Experience
This morning I experience the Japanese Soba-making in Senjuan (千寿庵). This soba restaurant has a history more than hundred years old. All the material used to make soba comes from the field of the Senjuan owner.
The old master is very kind. It takes many steps to make soba and he is very patient in teaching me.
Before today, I never know that making soba could be so energy-consuming. It’s just like doing yoga, and it burns my calories on my body.
After making soba for approximately one hour, I became so hungry and could not wait to have the soba at once.
The cooked soba is very delicious. As it is so natural, the soba noodle is very good for health. I am delightful to eat the soba I have made by myself.
The Address of 千寿庵 is as follows.
雅堂窯-A Hidden Place of A Porcelain Master
The Gadogama Porcelain Workshop (雅堂窯) is not in the downtown of Murata, rather, it is in the countryside where it takes 10 minutes to drive.
The owner of Gadogama Porcelain Workshop has been making porcelains for years and is a real Japanese master in pottery.
He hand-built his furnace for porcelain near his home, and this furnace is used twice in a year.
Inside the furnace are the multiple layers to “cook” the raw porcelains.
The lobby of the master’s home is used to display some of his proud works. In my humble opinion, his works are unadorned but of good taste.
I spent the whole afternoon in his workshop, and learnt how to make basic tea cup from him. Usually, the Gadogama Porcelain Workshop provides pottery classes once in a week. The address of 雅堂窯 is a follows.
蔵の街並み-A Designated Area of Historic Buildings
Old Warehouses street (蔵の街並み) has the majority of the historic buildings in Murata.
We arrived at Old Warehouses street before the sun goes down. Old Warehouses street in the sunset reminds me of several Japanese movies.
“Romantic” is what I have in mind although it may not be appropriate to describe such an area of long history.
Some of the traditional buildings are “shining” in the sunset, as if it is eternally renewed by the sun.
The address of 蔵の街並み is as follows.
