A very old and very grand house.

Today we were invited to the home of Miki Tajima, whose husband’s family have been in this village for a very long time. In fact one of the ancestors found the first piece of gold that started the big mine. The family have owned a forestry company for several generations.

I took these photos from the table where we were sitting for afternoon tea. 

Miki said that although the home was great to live in in summer, it was freezing in winter and very difficult to heat.  The established garden was also difficult to care for. 

I learnt too that an Australian forestry expert from Canberra had visited last year and that through his advice they were importing suitable eucalyptus trees from Australia. 

It was a very enjoyable afternoon.