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in most of the rooms. The ceilings were
very beautiful. The idea of colour has been well
thought out and with the screens painted on
a gold ground with hugh [huge] trees in
one room, a pine with birds upon its
branches was so delicate, the carvings
on brass plated with gold are most exquisite.
Always a sort of water garden seems necessary
to a Japanese landscape. We after went
to see the Castle. The inside gate is carved
with storks on one side & peacocks on the
other. In fact the approach is very fine
but at present the only furniture is a
seat or rather throne with fine [word scribbled out? maybe scarlet]
purple hangings of silk. The matting is so white
and attractive but if the Emperor ever comes
here he must bring his furniture with
him. The Japanese gardening is strange to us.
A lake with islands and stone bridge. The shrubs
are cut in shapes. Never a dead branch, funny
patterns. We do not understand gardening
from their point of view. We got back to the
Hotel at 12:30 after a pleasant morning.
After luncheon or rather tiffin as it is called
here, we went out again, this time Hirano
Jinja, a purely Shinto temple with pictures