Kanaya Hotel at Nikko

Nikko, Japan the best place in the world!

Japan is for me a land of wonder! Nikko is a double wonder. It is easily reached in 5 hours from Tokyo by Northen Railway changing cars at Utsunomiya. Mountains, cascades, monumental forest trees, always stood here. Nikko is a delightful resort, lying 2000 feet above the sea. The hotel in which I spent several days is the Kanaya Hotel, situated at the head of the town of Nikko. From my windows I could see the great mountain of Nantai-zan and the beautiful river Daiya-gawa. The cuisine was excellent, the dinning room had a wood ceiling and windows open on the garden. Then there was a big verandah in which you could admire the garden under the rain.The principal short walks from the hotel were the Sacred Bridge, that is always closed to all person except the Imperial family, the Temple of Ieyasu, where visitors should remove their boots at the entrance. Lake Chuenji led at the foot of Nantai-zan, being surrounded on the other sides by low hills covered with trees to their summit. A Japanese proverb says " Don't use the word "Magnificent" till you have seen Nikko". Well like all proverbs is true.

The murder of Umberto I

Umberto I King of Italy is dead!

29th July 1900

Beloved brother,
The worse news that an Italian abroad could receive perhaps you’ll have by me.
The terrible news of the murder of the good and beloved our King.
You that probably are one of the last persons who saw him alive! You that talked with him! When he wished to you an happy return at home. That awful news my poor Luigi, that pain like to all us. It’s unbelievable a so terrifying murder. The worse murder of the century like our heartbroken Queen said. Instead it is all true! Painful truth, and all we can do is cry and blame. The demonstrations of pain of all the Italians were immense like the love toward Savoy House and our new King Vittorio Emanuele II. Chieri was not inferior to anyone. May God bless Italy!
Best regards,
Your brother Michele

Osaka's Aquarium

Souvenir of Osaka

When I went to Osaka, I visited the 5th National Industrial Exposition. A very interesting place. Full of crazy and strange things. Osaka was the center of the commerce and industry of the Empire and here in 1903 all the provinces of Japan held a great exhibition to display the best products of all their industries. All the strangers were received kindly and friendly and I think that Osaka is the wealthiest city of all the country. Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Arts are highly considered. The recent development of this country is unbelievable! There is electric light everywhere, and the modern progress has for the Japaneses an ethical value. The Land of the Rising Sun is really a land of prosperity and enchanting things. And this Exposition was a shining example of all this. His Royal Highness Prince Kotohito, better known as Kan-in-no-miya, had the honorary office of President and that gives a sign of the importance of this event. A great Aquarium is included in the Great Exhibition and in the garden all around it there were so many pleasant pavilions, used as tea houses, in which I could admire the nature around me, the cherry, maple, pine and other trees. It was really wonderful!