The Murata Town (村田町) is designated as a preservation district for groups of historic buildings. Indeed, Murata is city of history. Murata is located at the foot of the snow mountain chains of Zao.
You can see all kinds of historic buildings even you are just walking along the street while enjoying the mountain view.
西安寺-A Carelessly Meet by Chance
I didn’t go to Saian Temple (西安寺) in purpose; it was actually a place I stop by on my way to see the glass artist. I was attracted by its outside appearance and I went in.
Amazed by its beauty, the sceneries in Spirit Away (千と千尋の神隠し) once again appeared on my mind just like yesterday.
The Saian Temple was such a quiet place; I was afraid that my steps would disturb the quiet spirit.
The water inside the altars was frozen, and the reflection of the blue sky added some color to the already very beautiful inverted image.
There are small bubbles inside the frozen water, just like little elves seeking their ways up.
Those memories of the Autumn were sealed under the water. The address of 西安寺 is as follows.
ガラス工房 キルロ- The Studio of Transparent Miracles
Two days ago when I went window shopping in Murata, I was surprised by some breathtakingly beautifully displayed glass. I noticed the name of Eiji Shiga (志賀英二) and I decided to pay him a visit at his Glass Studio Kirlo (ガラス工房 キルロ).
Mr. Eiji Shiga speaks fluently in English, and his glass studio is very colorful.
Indeed, although most of his works for sale are transparent, they are actually “colorful” in shape – the line and texture of his works are so vivid that they largely cater with the taste of young and aggressive people like me.
He has a smelter inside his studio, in winter, it also serves as the warm heater inside his house.
As colorful as his studio is the melted glass with a temperature over 600 degrees.
Under the guidance of Mr. Eiji Shiga, I made my first glass in his studio.
I thought it would be easy when I watched him making glass, however, it turned out to be very hard when I actually tried it.
I walked around the studio and found one of his masterpiece which I like most. It was shining under the sunlight just like diamonds.
The address of ガラス工房 キルロis as follows.
村田道の駅: A Roadside Rest Building next to Murata History Museum
The roadside rest building in Murata (村田道の駅) actually consists of two parts – the History Museum and the old rest building now used as a commercial complex.
There is a lookout place with a 360-degree view of the city at the top of the roadside rest building in Murata.
In order to reach the lookout, you have to climb for a while to reach to lookout. The stairway must have some ages, and it’s beautiful to look downward.
On the second floor of the roadside rest building in Murata, you can find artisans painting the dolls slowly and carefully.
The dolls on display are exquisite. The address of 村田道の駅 is as follows.
蔵の観光案内所- An Old Ware House with New Information
The Tourist Information Center (蔵の観光案内所) in old Murata warehouse is in the center of Murata Town. The name is referred to as “information center”, but it is also a center for tourists and local citizens to experience Japanese handworks.
In the weekend, the local citizens (especially senior citizens) like to gather around in the center and making handcrafts while taking to each other.
I tried to make a flower-shape brooch this afternoon under the guidance of the sensei in the information center; it was really fun. The address of is as follows.
かねしょう商店-A Private Family Museum of Collecting Mania
The Kanesho shop (かねしょう商店) is not mainly a “shop”, instead, it is a private museum belongs to the Onuma Family.
Onuma Hiroko was born in this old building of hundreds of years. Today, this old house is used as a private museum of memories of the past generations as well as a small shop. When I entered this museum with local officials, she kindly gave me a tour of her house.
This sewer machine is actually older than my parents.
Things owned for a long time are full associations with the past, perhaps with the family honor, and they gradually acquire a value beyond their true worth. Those old things are collected deliberately by Ms. Onuma Hiroko in the house in an attempt to unfold her family traditions.
For Ms. Onuma Hiroko, collecting old items can easily become a mania. Not just to show those collections to tourists, those aged objects on display offers her relaxation for leisure hours, as just looking at those treasures is always a joy.
Check out those textbook-collections of Japan 30 years ago.
Over the years, Ms. Onuma Hiroko has become an expert in Japanese antiques by verifying the facts of the old treasures in reference books frequently. The address of かねしょう商店 is as follows.
本町商店街- More “Artistic” Than “Commercial”
The Motomachi Syoten Gai (本町商店街) of Murata is more “artistic” than “commercial”.
The shops on this street are all century-old shop selling all kinds of exotic things.
The red window of this café shop aroused my intension.
