IHSH-365-IND I IH-777S-21

This 8oz Herringbone Hickory Stripe is a test we have done, playing around with indigo overdying (which we were pretty pleased how it turned out)

IHSH-213 • IH-634S • BIRKS

IHSH-213 • IH-777S-21 • IHSN-01-BLK

We are off to Japan for two weeks on holiday, starting in Tokyo then taking a road trip to Kanazawa, then onto Takayama, taking in the scenery on the way, then back to Tokyo.

Lynne has a full itinerary laid out - and when I say full, I mean FULL!

So expect lots of photos of our trip...

My favourite and first piece - unfortunately a bit snug fit, but I will get into it again - the IHSH-176 - love this shirt, the weight, style, everything about it

First day finished by a nightcap at Ginza Music Bar, a cool little bar, with a DJ playing Marvin Gaye etc

Crew wearing a selection of new STF short sleeve summer shirts

IHM-48-KHA • IH-526J-142 • IH-666S-21 • IHWE-JOU-TAN

IHSH-327-IND • IH-634S • Iron Heart Int'l x Wesco 8" Rough-Out Pull-up Morrison Boot

first day (sort off, we arrived in early morning, and managed to get into the hotel room 6 hours early!) then straight out to explore a bit of Ginza...

A day of neon, old Nintendo’s, lovely fruit and cream sandwiches, very bright toys and dog shops everywhere!

Back in Tokyo now for a couple of days after our rural exploring…

oh, and a few expected shots of Takayama and its surrounding area…

Last stop on road trip is Takayama - the ‘old town’ was our stay, and well worth it - gorgeous looking building along a river. The highlight was experiencing Hida beef - a brand of Wagyu - and it tastes soooo good!

If you ever get to this area make it a point to try it.

@goosehd I know Lynne wanted to spend a day doing a weaving course, and there was also an Indigo dyeing course she had her eye on - she might still manage one, but I think we probably needed a few more days (or weeks)!!!

@Shane-B thanks mate - and also congrats to you and Maria!!!

Finally we ended up at Chirihama Nagisa Driveway for sunset - This is the only place in Japan where you can drive right along the water’s edge - in any type of car (not just a 4x4).

It is an 8-km stretch of beach road — a type of road that would be hard to find anywhere else in the world. The unique sand of Chirihama makes it possible. The sand particles are small, a quarter of the size of ordinary ones. They have a uniform, angular shape, which makes the driveway hard when it absorbs water.

Seeing fishermen’s trucks for carrying unloaded fish at Chirihama, a local bus company employee tried driving a bus there in 1955. That is how Nagisa Driveway started.

End of lesson!

From there, we drove along the Hakusan Shirakawago White Road for 2+ hours - breathtaking is the only word I can find for the views! It’s swinging mountain road, 33km long and rises to above 1400m above sea level. You really do need to hire a car to see some of these places!

Kanazawa is indeed a ‘little’ Kyoto, and with our hire car we’ve explored a LOT - big up to @Lynne for finding all these places!

First up we went to Gokayama and the Ainokura Gassho Village - there’s only about 19 houses there, and has a Swiss Alps feel to the place.

Arrived in Kanazawa late today, quick walk around and first impressions is very similar to Kyoto, with less tourists!