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YA-AMI-HOTEL
Kioto Maruyama Japan

Postmarked on envelope -
June 10-1895

Dear Mr. Hecker:

On my late Nakasendo trip my guide fell ill and I sent him on to Yokohama to recruit. I returned here for supplies and tomorrow or next day expect to start for the north shore of Japan and work my way by jinriksha along the sea coast and through the mountains to Nikko. The trip will take nearly a month and I expect to see much fine scenery and many antiquities enroute. It's a very old port of Japan and practically unknown to foreigners. I do not expect to meet a single foreigner until I get in the vicinity of Nikko. I have found two splendid jinrikisha men whom I have had over five weeks and have engaged them to remain with me during the balance of my stay in Japan. They are fine strong fellows, afraid of nothing, ready to go anywhere with me and each speak a few words of English. I am trying to teach them more and they teach me Japanese. It's a curious combination but works pretty well, and I can make nearly all wants known. They are "dead game" and I like them. In turn they seem to like me, so I go without hesitation, on this second long trip without guide or interpreter. My first trip, (long one) the Nakasendo, proved extremely interesting and I anticipate much pleasure on the second one. I shall take about six men in all with me and travel from twenty to forty miles a day. It's the only way to see what I care most for in Japan. The half-Europeanized Jap's sicken me and they infest and take from the large cities much charm. In the country they are rarely found.

The mountains of Japan are beautiful; those through which I recently travelled are now in perfect feather --- Azaleas and wisterias making the hill sides and valleys all scarlet, pink, purple and gray --- The higher peaks snow covered the lower ones splendid in various kinds of forest foliage --- Streams numerous and beautiful --- Villages quaint and picturesque --- Shrines and temples frequent and dance houses as often as temples --- The people odd, fantastic, curious --- Customs such as modest bachelors are unfamiliar with 

Ever faithfully yours
Charles L. Freer

Long hand.