Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 January 1884 — A Journey in Japan. [ARTICLE]

A Journey in Japan.

The trip to Nikko is worth the taking for what may be seen on the road. While every path and thoroughfare in the land has much of beauty to recommend it to the traveler, the road from Tokjp, the point of departure for those going from Yokohama to the mountaingirt city, is usually attractive, as it passes through a portion of the country that is as highly and carefully cultivated as any portion of the is during the month of August that the vegetation of Japan that has the care and attention of the husbandman is at that stage, of growth that the land is covered with generous promises of rich returns for the labor bestowed upon it. Flora is generous in Japan at all times, but especially so in August, when there is no end of her gifts to gladden the eye and perfume the breezes. As the traveler proceeds from the capital he leaves behind the more pronounced in-’ novations of Western intercourse that have been partially developed in all the cities open to foreigners, coming in contact with that which is more purely Japanese. On the entire journey, covering a distance of some ninety-two miles, it is not possible to procure other than Japanese food, pure and simple, while the sleeping accommodations are of the native style; though, for that matter, there are only three public places in Tokio w'here a meal in foreign style c£tn be obtained, and only one hotel where a bed can be had. On the most traveled routes scant accommodations are furnished to meet the demands of Western notions. It is* no uncommon thing foreigner to be refused admittance into the public houses in the interior towns and villages. This may be and probably is, in many instances, because of the trouble that is entailed upon the proprietor of the house in consequence of the official inspection that is imperatively necessary in connection with the passport of the traveler.— Cor. San Francisco Chronicle.