The embarkatiion pier for the boat ride. The hats are for protection against the sun.

Martin studying the map near the house of the famous Japanese cartographer Inō Tadataka 伊能 忠敬. It was under renovation and unfortuantely not accessible. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ino_Tadataka

A beautiful set of old houses, both typical Edo style and western inspired. The waterfall from the bridge runds before boarding the trip and at end of it.

The captain of the boat is a lady of 80 years who knows many interesting stories of Sawara town.

A stock of sake pots in front of storge house. These houses were built in stone to resist the frequent fires and to protect the provisions stored inside. Also the shutters are very solid.

Taken in view by two typical Japanese photo enthusiasts.

The doctor's house, built in an inspiration of western stype and painted in beautiful light green color.

The green spanel on the second floor can expand over the whole front to protect the windows during a typhoon.

Another beautiful house with a typical shop in the ground floor.