By Janelle Gelfand
The Cincinnati Enquirer

KITAKYUSHU, Japan - What does an extremely busy professional musician touring a foreign country do with a little down time?

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra had just one day off last week, Wednesday, on its 10-day tour of Japan (besides the day of arrival). Because of the grueling schedule of traveling or performing daily, most players opted to stick around Kitakyushu, this seaport on the north coast of the island of Kyushu. Only two players were adventurous enough to get on a train and go sightseeing for the day.

We talked to several about how they spent their brief down time:

Joan Voorhees, piccolo

What she did: Got out early to find the Hello Kitty store, to add to the collection she started in 1976.

The result: She had a shopping bag full of finds, and pulled out the piece de resistance - an 18-inch doll in a pink and red kimono. "It was too expensive, but I couldn't resist it," she says.

Julian Wilkison, assistant principal viola

What he did: Went with colleagues James Braid (violinist) Michael Chertock (pianist) and Robert Howes (violist) on a long walk around Kitakyushu, a city of about 1 million where the orchestra played Tuesday night.

The result: "We did a lot of walking, and went to a castle. We made a circle of the city, and found some expensive restaurants we couldn't afford. We had a great time, and it didn't rain."

Kyril Magg, associate principal flute

What he did: Went with violinist Harold Byers to Tsuwano, in the mountains of the main island, 35 minutes on the Shinkansen (bullet train) and another hour on the JR (Japan Rail) express.

The result: "It was a pleasant, 700-year-old town with one of the most important shrines in Japan. It's on a hillside, with 1,174 red torii gates leading up to the shrine, so it had the effect of a tunnel. That's a very unusual approach, instead of just one torii gate announcing the shrine.

"We also hiked and took a chairlift up to the castle ruins (483 feet up), which had a panorama of mountains and valleys. Later, we found a great sushi restaurant."

Marna Street, principal viola

What she did: Hung around, shopped, took the river walk and had a nice lunch by the river.

The outcome: "I was not in a shopping mood, but Darla (Da Deppo Bertolone) did some major shopping. I bought origami paper."

Thomas Sherwood, acting principal French horn

What he did: Shopped

The outcome: "I have three little girls at home (ages 5, 7 and 9). They're heavily into Hello Kitty."

Judith Martin, viola

What she did: Went to Kokura Castle with husband Allen and other musicians

The result: "It had the largest panoramic model in all of Japan, showing the castle and all the environs of the area with 1,500 paper dolls. The scene was supposed to be what the Portuguese saw when they came through the Kammen Strait. The museum in the castle was worthwhile and showed the succession of those who had inhabited it.

"They also had a huge drum - it took the skin of a whole cow to make both ends. It was positioned on top of the castle, used to inform the townspeople of emergencies."

Steve Fryxell, viola

What he did: Went to the castle, jogged and toured around Kitakyushu

The result: "I went to the 100 Yen Store (100 yen equals $1) and bought baubles and trinkets."

Mark Cleghorn, viola

What he did: "I had planned to take a trip with others to Nagasaki. But it was three hours each way by train and we were too tired. But I enjoyed Kitakyushu. I thought it had the best castle museum I've ever seen. Later, we were tired, and went to a Starbucks, and it began pouring rain. The waitress took us personally to find a cab. I'll do Nagasaki another time. I needed a rest."

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E-mail jgelfand@enquirer.com