We rendezvous at the Komaki City People's Hall at 8.40am.
The organisers are already there preparing the tour packages. We were given envelopes which contain all the information of the sights we are visiting and the upcoming activities organised by the KIA. Next there are the goodie bags which has lots of tidbits and drinks. This is simply amazing!
The bus arrived and off we go via the Meitetsu Bus. Our teachers, the KIA volunteers and staffs all joined in the tour too.
After the midway break, we started playing Bingo! Each of us were given a randon number card and the number will be flash on the screen. Once we got a perfect set, we have to shout bingo and a free gift will be given to us. I got a double bingo! Vertical and Horizontal bingo at the same time.
Unfortunately, it is a rainy day and it started drizzling once we arrived at Omi Hachiman city. We are to visit the old town area of Omi Hachiman. Here is our guide.
We dropped by a house for a light snack and some shopping.
A group posing for pictures with their tea and sweet snacks.
Here we are: Eling, me and Howard. Ok, the white patch on our shirt are actually our names written in Katakana.
We continued our journey after a short break and were shown the waterway which wind through the old town.
A bridge spanning the town with the residential area.
We got back to the bus around 12.15pm and were off to our lunch place. We will be having Beef Shabu Shabu. Here is our long table.
Check out the whole set!
There are two representations in this area which are notable for its blessings. The first is below.
And here is the second one.
After lunch, we proceeded on to our final destination, Hikone castle.
At the entrance we took a group photo.
There is a short uphill climb to the top.
Hikone castle. It has just celebrated its 400 years anniversary recently.
At the top of the castle, it offers a good view of Biwa Lake.
The mountains surrounding the town.
And the residential area.
Here is Hikonyan, the castle's mascot character. It is really cute, and it just dance around entertaining the crowd. One of my colleague like this guy very much.
We went out of the castle compound. And notice a lovey dovey swan couple in the distance.
Here is our final small group photo before we return to our bus. It has stopped raining once we left the castle.
We got back to Komaki City People Hall around 5.15pm. For this trip, I am also very grateful to the Komaki International Association (KIA) in organising such a fabulous tour for all of us. It is not easy to organised such a comprehensive tour, with goodie bags, gifts at such low rates. Kudos to the organisers!
