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<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">益子 - One weekend in Mashiko</span></span></h3>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><strong>With　Mashiko　family！！</strong></span></span></p>
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<div>Last  weekend I had the opportunity to be part of a Tour to Mashiko（益子）. This  city, located in the Tochigi prefecture, is known as the &ldquo;city of  ceramic arts&rdquo; in Japan and also a widely known city for fans of ceramic  arts from all over the world. However, due to the great earthquake  disaster in eastern Japan, Mashiko suffers from great damages, that are  unforeseeable yet. Ceramic works, including the valuable existing and  other facilities for the creation of pottery kiln were damaged from the  devastating earthquake in Mashiko. In addition Mashiko suffers because  of rumors concerning the nuclear accident at Fukushima.</div>
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<div>To  help the people in Mashiko and to reflate the tourism in this area, the  &ldquo;Mashiko Fun Tour&rdquo; was created. Let me tell you about an incredible  weekend far away from the big cities with their skylines and the busy  streets.</div>
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The tour started on Saturday morning at 9 am. We  were 36 people from six different countries and of all ages. After  around three hours on the road we stopped at Ichigodanchi (イチゴ団地), a  part of Mashiko, which is famous for the growing of strawberries. An  experienced tour guide explained the characteristics of Ichigodanchi and  how a really good strawberry has to look like. After the speech it was  time to taste the delicious strawberries.</div>
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<div>Next  stop was our accommodation in Mashiko, where the next highlight was  waiting for the group. For lunch we created Onigiri on our own and to be  honest, that were the most delicious Onigiris, which I&rsquo;ve ever tasted.  Really special and completely different from the ones you can buy at the  Konbinis. After lunchtime we had a long walk around Mashiko to visit  several potteries shops and to enjoy the beautiful landscape.</div>
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<div><img border="0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719382415238724754" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wk0LSLkPCIc/T19UAQrrfJI/AAAAAAAAAU8/BVCYG0kzgxY/s320/IMG_0075.JPG" /></div>
<div><img border="0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719382776822140306" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jvUiLa_npDU/T19UVTr4jZI/AAAAAAAAAVI/wS3mbIVocuc/s320/IMG_0076.JPG" /></div>
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<div>After  the walk we enjoyed a tasty dinner together with some locals from  Mashiko. Everybody introduced himself to the group and shared his first  impressions of this beautiful spot. We learned more about the art of  producing fine potteries and sake. Only the best rice and water were  used for the fabulous sake, that we were allowed to taste. For me the  best sake I&rsquo;ve tasted so far. After dinner there was plenty of time for  interesting and nice conversations. The first day of our tour ended  late, but was full of satisfaction and a very good feeling.</div>
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<div><img border="0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719383059549697042" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mynXe8GLwl8/T19Ulw7YtBI/AAAAAAAAAVU/1rdUe3wQ428/s320/IMG_0097.JPG" /></div>
<div><img border="0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719383290763732146" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J93Tih6iROQ/T19UzORG5LI/AAAAAAAAAVg/78WtR9a0M_M/s320/IMG_0139.JPG" /><img border="0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719383579932814002" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JPKIKKTvdUg/T19VEDgY6rI/AAAAAAAAAVs/KWVSEOFopGU/s320/IMG_0202.JPG" /><br />
On  Sunday we started with a traditional Japanese breakfast, before we went  once again experienced the fine potteries arts of Mashiko. There were  always new incredible potteries to see and so many ways to create them.  Another highlight just waited for us, because we could take part in the  production process and join the locals, while they kilned new potteries  or just pace through the festival. We got the chance to buy some  potteries, enjoying the delicious foods or tasting ice cream and cakes  made out of soba. Something I haven&rsquo;t tasted before.</div>
<div><img border="0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719384054663372258" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHc32UsqxaQ/T19VfsA-XeI/AAAAAAAAAWE/eDCuu8W-nl8/s320/IMG_0268.JPG" /><img border="0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719384341657580386" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IKDSZ3qm0C0/T19VwZJuc2I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/RrxvzWxWJbc/s320/IMG_0269.JPG" /><img border="0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719383922378504434" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ktfh-LE0MSc/T19VX_NzePI/AAAAAAAAAV4/Z6Ni1VAXiyk/s320/IMG_0267.JPG" /><br />
At  14.30 pm we took part at the remembrance ceremony for the victims of  the earthquake one year ago. At 14.47 pm (the time when the earthquake  hit Japan one year ago) the monks chimed the bell of the temple. The  ceremony was accompanied by a wind ensemble and a taiko group (太鼓). For  me the first time to see a taiko group and I was really impressed by the  accuracy and the devotion of this performance.</div>
<div><img border="0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719385185356915698" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lb8Hk0wQwG8/T19WhgLUo_I/AAAAAAAAAWo/H54yccKDd3o/s320/IMG_0311.JPG" /><img border="0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719385339620447522" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aNR0Cu7TL0M/T19Wqe2nVSI/AAAAAAAAAW0/e5Ve_Sxu_1Y/s320/IMG_0321.JPG" /><img border="0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719384924459315730" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wiqgtO9cKhk/T19WSUQfMhI/AAAAAAAAAWc/VQCmlas6KvQ/s320/IMG_0299.JPG" /></div>
<div><img border="0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 214px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719385498494405026" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ulSFcfEYJBs/T19WzutHiaI/AAAAAAAAAXA/EgV6OIO4X1I/s320/IMG_0325.JPG" /></div>
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<div>After  the remembrance ceremony we left Mashiko. But before we really went  back home, we had the chance to buy some of the strawberry products of  Ichigodanchi and the fine sake distillery. On the way home everybody on  the bus had the chance to take a r&eacute;sum&eacute; of the trip and share his  impressions with the others. No wonder, that everybody was absolutely  satisfied and deeply touched by this very unique tour away from all the  ordinary tourist activities. Mashiko really left a permanent impression  and I can just highly recommend to everybody to visit Mashiko. This city  with its own charm is definitely worth a journey.</div>
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<div>reported　by　<a id="js_1" class="passiveName" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000152883082" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100000152883082">Andreas Steiner</a>　internship　students　for　globalcommunity
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage uiStreamHeadline uiStreamPassive" data-ft="{&quot;type&quot;:1}"><a id="js_1" class="passiveName" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000152883082" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100000152883082"><br />
</a></h6>
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<p><a href="http://globalcommunitydiary.blogspot.com/2012/03/one-weekend-in-mashiko.html">http://globalcommunitydiary.blogspot.com/2012/03/one-weekend-in-mashiko.html</a></p>
<p><a href="http://blog.mashiko-kankou.org/english/index.html">for　the　tourist　to　mashiko</a></p>