Wed 13. [13 April 1898] Left Kyoto at 9.30, tremendous crowd.
Affectionate farewell of our host in a straw hat and a gay ribbon. Koza
appeared and undertook our luggage and all our arrangements.
Lovely view of Biwa, heat haze over it. Through the mountains
curiously bare sand; yellow mustard, tea and barley in all the valleys.
Pass very fine. Lunched in train and reached Ise about 4. Half
European hotel. Went out and saw temple, followed by crowd.
Cherries exquisite. Temple very striking buried in cryptomerias and
of the simplest form. Sacred horse. Garden with large pond reflecting
cherries. Cherry garden outside. Streets all pilgrim shops and tea
houses. Pilgrims in big hats everywhere. Walked up street. Back to
hotel. Dinner in charming Jap room overlooking garden, soup omelet
beefsteak fish, rice. Afterwards Mandarin and Mr de R [de Rutzen]
rushed me up the town in a kuroma and back.