In Toyama

 By the time that we got on the trolly, it was dark, but the inside of the car was well lit. It is one long car but there is a hinge in the middle so that it can get around some of the sharp curves.

 This is the box where you pay for the trip. It is 200 yen no matter how far you go. Actually you cannot go very far because it is a loop.

 I was surprised to find that they still had Christmas decorations, or at least they seemed to be Christmas lights.

 We returned to my brother-in-laws house and then just before 11 p.m., my sister-in-law drove us to the bus stop. It was knee deep in snow but we only had to wait about 15 minutes. The lights in the distance are the toll booth at an exit from the highway.

 The inside of the bus was only dimly lit, so that people who were already asleep could stay that way. The seats were very much like what you find in tourist class on a long flight on a plane. I was able to put my seat back and, after lifting up the footrest, put my feet under the seat in front. I actually got a pretty good night's sleep.

About an hour before arriving back in Sendai, they stopped the bus at a rest area and woke us up. I got out and stretched my legs. I also bought a can of hot coffee. I stayed awake for the rest of the trip. We arrived at Sendai Station earlier than scheduled. To get home, we took the subway and then a taxi from Yaotome station, since we had bags to carry.

I was not home for the first time in five weeks and ready to start my 'retired' life.

In Toyama

 Considering the amount of snow, we were amazed to find an operating fountain. It was actually quite pretty.

 Looking back behind us, we could see the strange tower on the city office building.

 We walked back toward the station and the only businesses that we could find were bars and restaurants. This was apparently the drinking section of town.

 We went to the trolley stop in front of the station, planning to ride around the loop a couple of times. The schedule was posted at the stop, but nothing came. Finally this car came but after letting out some of the riders, it just sat there.

 Finally this car came on the track nearest us and then with some complex maneuvering, it got on the other track and started back toward the car that had been sitting there.

 When the cars were side by side, the riders on the first car got out and then got on the new car. The new car pulled back on the nearest track and both cars drove off out of sight. We later heard that the first car had been in an accident with an automobile, and they had had to wait while a new driver was located and then for the new replacement car to arrive from the barns.

Finally our car arrived. You can see that it says Loop Line on it.

In Toyama

 This strange looking tower was on the top of the city offices.

 This building was in front of the castle and was the home office of some company. I thought the tower on the roof was quite interesting.

 Along the street they had class booth-like structures that contained artwork. It made walking on the sidewalks much more pleasant.

 This artistic looking structure was actually a frame to protect the plants from the snow.

 We entered a park and the building on the opposite side was reflecting the sky.

The clouds on the building added something extra to the park, particularly at this time of year when there was little in the way of plants.

In Toyama

 I should have put this in the last post. It is three of the warriors who protect the Imperial Family.

 My sister-ion-law took us to the station. My wife and I were going to go sightseeing in Toyama city. This was another of the places where you could get water to take home.

 Outside the station at the edge of the parking lot, there was a large green box that contained two shovels that you could borrow if your car was buried in snow while you were gone.

 We reached Toyama in less than an hour and one of the first things we was was the trolley system. There is one that goes around in a big circle stopping at most of the important points in the city center. Took this car, just for the fun of it, and then we got off after only two stops.

We decided to visit Toyama castle. The castle is pretty much right in the middle of the city.

Going to Toyama

 The views out the window were spectacular. Little villages nestled in the valleys and everything covered with snow.

 There were even rice paddies.

 After leaving the ski resort, there were very few other passengers. At each station one or two people would get on and the same number would get off, so the people on board were constantly changing.

 The walls along the track side were apparently placed there to keep the snow from piling up on the tracks.

 The roads that I could see were well kept. I could not tell how much was due to the water sprays or to plowing, but in any case the roads were clear.

 The rivers and canals were also clear, which must mean that the water is flowing in them.

 A factory, hidden behind the center, flat-roofed building, was apparently on fire.

 As we got nearer the coast, the rivers were wide but very shallow, which is typical of Japanese rivers.

I had to change trains again at the end of the line. From the line that came through, and under, the mountains, I would now board this train which would take me down the coast into Toyama Prefecture.