Japanese Landscape: Wakayama City

IMG 2836, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Wakayama city's landscape is noticeably different then other places in Kansai. I'm still trying to put my finger on it but the rust, low rise buildings, and preponderance alcohol vending machines has something to do with it.

Here are three more examples of the Wakayama city landscape.

Japanese Vernacular Landscape: Oshibori delivery

IMG 2889, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Oshibori are damp hand-towels that are given out at restaurants. Commonly one of the things that people miss about Japan when they return home. I love them to. Most cheaper places have plastic wrapped paper oshibori, but many restaurants use cotton ones. These are delivered typically in the morning before most restaurants open for lunch where they are put into heaters or coolers, depending on the season, for customers. Companies like KCC deliver the fresh wrapped oshibori for the previous days used ones for washing and reuse.

This photo was taken in around 10:00 AM in Umeda.

Summer San-in Train Trip

The Seishun 18 Kippu (青春１８きっぷ) is one of the best ways to see Japan if you want to get off the foreign tourist track. It also introduces you to one of Japan’s strongest sub-cultures: the train fanatic or densha otaku (電車オタク). This ticket allows you to ride on all normal trains anywhere on the JR network for 5 days in a given season. Japan-Guide has a great write up on it and you can learn more there. While the going is slow and trains can be few and far between the experience is unlike none other.

This time I made a circle route from Sanda to the Japan Sea coast then down the back side of the country crossing back over to Okayama then back up to Kobe and home. I’ve been on various parts of this route 2 years before during winter when my Japanese was worse, and Japan travel skills were only in their beginner stage. Which made this trip so much better as I was able to compare my first experience with my most recent one.

Day One: Sanda to Tottori

Sanda -> Fukuchiyama (Fukuchiyama Line) 三田 -> 福知山 (福知山線)
This got me out into the middle of the country.

Fukuchiyama -> Kinosaki Onsen (San-in Main Line) 福知山 -> 城崎温泉 (山陰本線)
Here I changed on to the rail line that follows the Japan Sea side of the country.

Kinosaki Onsen -> Amarube (San-in Main Line) 城崎温泉 -> 餘部 (山陰本線)
Here I got off to admire a great steel bridge spanning a small seaside valley. The bridge has always been a favorite among train fans, but recently the bridge was slated for replacement by a more typical concrete one. This bridge was also made famous by an accident that occurred there when a train was blown off the bridge by a gust of wind.

The interest that has been created has led to many people coming to photograph the bridge and the locals selling souvenirs.

I also took my first swim in the Japan Sea during this trip. My friends warned me of jellyfish but I didn’t see any.

Sign showing the way to the train station up on the hill. It says it's a 5 minute walk. I think I made it faster than that however.

Amarube -> Hamasaka (San-in Main Line) 餘部 -> 浜坂 (山陰本線)
Here I just changed on to a continuing train to Tottori.

Hamasaka -> Tottori (San-in Main Line) 浜坂 -> 鳥取 (山陰本線)
In Tottori I took a bus to the Tottori Sakyu Japan’s largest sand dune.

I also found a little onsen to go to thanks to the lovely people at the information desk in the station.

Tottori is a prefectural capital and a regional transit center, but it’s also a great town. Both times that I have been I’ve found a great bar to go to. This time I stumbled upon noppo and had a great time chatting with the locals.

Day Two: Tottori to Nima to Matsue

Tottori -> Yonago (San-in Main Line) 鳥取 -> 米子 (山陰本線) Yonago -> Nima (San-in Main Line) 米子 -> 仁万 (山陰本線)
I decided to head further down the San-in coast to the Nima Sand Museum. I wanted to go to this museum last time I came through here, but I didn’t have the time this time. The Sand Museum is home to the world’s largest hourglass which times out an entire year.

They had sand samples from around the world, even Arizona!

After checking out the Sand Museum I had almost 2 hours to wait for the next train so I found a local onsen hotel and was able to take a quick bath and get out of my sweat soaked clothing.

Nima -> Matsue (San-in Main Line) 仁万 -> 松江 (山陰本線)
I returned to Matsue found a local hotel to stay at. That night I found a great local bar and chatted with the locals.

Day Three: Matsue to Kobe via Okayama

Matsue -> Shinji (San-in Main Line) 松江 -> 宍道 (山陰本線)

Shinji -> Bingo Ochiai (Kisuki Line) 宍道 -> 備後落合 (木次線)
The Kisuki line was probably the most remote line that I took during my trip which is famous for its switchback. It went through tight valleys up into the mountains that make up the spine of Honshu. When we began on the trip from Shinji station the train was made up of two cars which despite the crowded conditions on the front car the back car was closed off. Most of that crowding on the train was travelers on the Seisun 18 Kippu like me including two families. I couldn’t help but think that I would be dragging my children on some middle of nowhere train trip like this in the future.

About half way on the line the train stopped an they disconnected the rear car sending it back to Shinji station.

Bingo Ochai -> Nimi (Geibi Line) 備後落合 -> 新見 (芸備線)
One train heading West the other heading East in the center of Honshu, both waiting for us.

Nimi -> Okayama (Kishin Line and Inbi Line) 新見 -> 岡山 (姫新線 と 因美線) Okayama -> Shin-Kobe (Sanyo Shinkansen ) 岡山 -> 新神戸 (山陽新幹線 ) In Okayama I was able to find a small local sento thanks in part to two local English teachers that I bumped into in a shopping arcade.
Because it was around 7PM when I was done with the sento and aching to get back home, I put out the cash for a Shinkansen ticket and had to stand next to the bathroom for my 35 minute non-stop ride to Shin-Kobe.

Food from the trip.

Due to historical, political and geographical reasons Japan has a regional mentality. This is augmented by a gift giving culture and giving a give that is branded with the place is quite important. Also, having locally produced and sourced food is also quite important. This has led to the development of ekiben, more photos here on the Japanese Wikipedia ekiben entry, which are box lunches sold at train stations. These are different depending on the station.

This is pressed tai sushi served in a wooden box from Kinosaki Onsen station.

This is some dehydrated beef I also got from Kinosaki Onsen station. This must have been one of the best things I’ve ever ate.

This is a Tottori beef donburi that came in it’s own self heating bowl.

This is local Tottori beer, I can’t remember the brewery’s name but I went to their restaurant near Yonago 2 years ago and loved it. Maybe the best micro-brew in Japan. Their GeGeGe no Kitaro themed labels are pretty cool.

It was a great trip and I really, really was reminded about how much I love this country and how much I love living here. I can’t recommend the Seishun 18 Kippu enough.

You can check out all my photos here!

PINEAPPLE SCISSORS!!?!?!

IMG 2250, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

The 100 yen shop truly has everything anyone could ever need. Ever.

I'm so happy!

Star Wars Horoscope for Aquarius

You can be cruel and torment people who disagree with you. Deep down, there is a peace-loving, friendly side to you. You have a knack for inflicting pain on people and use your intellect during battle. Star wars character you are most like: Darth Vader

What Is Your Star Wars Horoscope?

Amazing!

IMG 2119, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

9 different microbrewed beers for sale at the same time in the same supermarket! WHAT! Seriously! Is this still Japan! I'm blown away. Literally.

The three on the left I've all had before, Yona Yona Ale being the best. No clue about the rest but there's a porter in there! Yummmmm porter!

Thank you Hankyu Oasis! Thank you!

Too bad I'm still too sick to drink any of them! Argh!

Sometimes the worst looking food tastes the best.

IMG 2117, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Tonight's dinner is a Sanda beef burrito featuring:
-sour cream (oh my god?!!)
-onion
-homemade salsa (tomato, garlic, some sort of green pepper from Kumamoto, garlic, green onion, onion, salt, lemon juice)
-homemade guacamole
-cheese (added after photo was taken)

M-oref-unE-ngrish©

IMG 1286, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

I'm not too sure what they were thinking, or drinking, when they wrote this sign. I understand there are no spaces in Japanese but dashes in the wrong place with massive misspelling?

But then again who can turn down prityw-omen?

Front Yard Dump

IMG 1298, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Residential detritus in Toyonaka-city.

little people, rivers, and wood

When I first went to college I studied art and photography. For a short time I even had a darkroom setup in my basement. That didn't last long as my interests moved to geography. I continued to paint on and off until I moved to Japan where I lack the equipment and time. Before this blog I had a website with my portfolio on it. I uploaded those images the portfolio collection on my flickr account and you are welcome to check them out here.

The themes of my paintings where either abstractions of the landscape,

or my little character who was a representation of myself who eventually evolved into various monsters who symbolized the way I would worry about things.

My photography was more about experimenting with the photographic processes, something that still amazes me. Getting the perfect print was never important to me. Photography in general was too much about perfection and realism----I wanted my photographs to be unrealistic as possible.

I hope you like my artwork.

Benches #1

IMG 1283, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Bus stop benches in Takarazuka-city.

Powertard Break

IMG 1280, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Taken from inside my rental car. Best Engrish ever?

淡路島日帰り

IMG 1257, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

I got a long weekend off from work so I rented a car for the weekend. Fun stuff. Well, on Saturday I went to Awaji island with my co-worker Joe and his lovely wife Izumi. We went to a strange English farm themed park where the main draw is Koala bears, who are dressed up in suits with English flags on them. We got to play around there, see some animals, pick potatoes, do archery, drive go-karts. Overall it was pretty good. After that we continued to drive around the island to find a place to watch the sunset and smoke a cigar. I also wanted to go swimming but as it's not summer yet I was afraid the water would be cold, but it wasn't at all. This was the first time I've gone swimming in the ocean in Japan and it was great. I want to go back! The other Japanese on the beach sure got a kick out of the crazy swimming gaijin too. After that we hit up an onsen and I was able to get Joe to go in with me, but Izumi declined. We went there on the Takoferry (octopusferry), but came back driving over the Akashi-Kaikyo bridge--the world's longest suspension bridge. Quite an amazing experience. Thanks to Joe and Izumi for coming out. I had a great time and I think they did too.

Other glory:

A grumpy pink pelican who would munch on the kangaroos who would came by him.

Engrish!

Engrish 2 times!

Joe loosing at pinball.

You can view the 淡路島日帰り set for all the photos!

I'm using Unix at home...

IMG 1125
Originally uploaded by sleepytako

...to hold my bacon!

(File under nerdy engrish.)

I had lunch!

Not a normal lunch however. I had lunch! One of Yuko's old customers won a heap of money betting on horses and gave some to Yuko and her sister with instructions to go out for a good lunch. Well we had a good lunch. A really good lunch.

And dessert.

Ah! A snake!

IMG 0928
Originally uploaded by sleepytako

Coming into work yesterday morning check out what I found sunning its green body where I like to park my bike. A cute green snake. First one I’ve seen in Japan.

Kansai Onsen Review is up!

I finally set it all up, the blog I've been working on to the neglect of this one. Kansai Onsen Review is a blog where I will post reviews, explanations, history, culture and anything else that's related to bathing and hot springs.

All of my additional information about how to take a bath and stuff like that is still in the works but my reviews have started. Three reviews are up now with more to come. I've been to at least 50 around Kansai so there's a backlog of them to get posted. I'm still working on going back to the ones which I haven't taken decent photos of also.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks!

http://kansaionsen.blogspot.com/

p.s. I'll keep updating this blog with random other non onsen related junk just like always too!