Takako and me on the porch of an old hotel, in use in the Edo Period*, and now a museum. When you put your ear to the bamboo, you can hear water dropping into the pool on the left onto a drum. It is said that back in the day, life was so quiet that you could easily hear the water drops without any help from bamboo sticks.
*The Edo Period (1603-1867) in Japan was characterized by tight constriction on travel within Japan. Many checkpoints were necessary for travellers. This hotel museum is located across the street from one of the old checkpoints, so that travellers could "check-in" at the checkpoint and the hotel that night. During the Edo Period, Samurais were the elite class. At one point, all foreign literature was banned. However, since foreign influence diminished even within Japan, the Edo Period allowed for national arts such as kabuki theater to fourish.