Old Home in Meijimura

Oasis 21 at Night

The weather has been wonderful, so I’ve been trying to take advantage of it. After almost a year in the center of Nagoya, I’m being transferred to Anjo City. While it won’t be impossible to come to the big city, it will take much longer and be a bit more expensive.

During my walks, I found myself at Oasis 21 in Sakae. It’s a shopping area made of about four levels. These pictures were taken from the top level, which sports a reflecting pool/fountain and plexi-glass floor.

It’s also a pretty convenient location from where I am living now. It’s only a handful of stops away on the Sakuradori Line. I think I may visit this place from time to time, after my move.

Takashima Island

In Gamagori there is an island, just off shore, housing a collection of old Shinto Shrines. It’s a small island, not even a mile across.

Besides the shrines, there are beaches around the outer edge of the island which are known for their shellfish.

After paying respects at the various shrines, it’s a quick walk back from the exit, though not necessarily and easy one.

There is an uneven path set between the hill the shrines are perched upon and the surrounding beaches. Some places are quite steep, especially for those wearing inappropriate shoes. The walk is only about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how many pictures you stop to take or shells you decided to collect.

My friends and I took about 40 minutes for obvious reasons.

Train being Serviced

This week is Golden Week, so many people have some time off. That said, my friend Y and I went to Meijimura, a meiji era museum and park. At the entrance to the park, there was this train, which is still in operation. You need reservations to ride, but it will take around the museum, which is rather large. For ¥500, you can take a vintage bus between sections too.

View from Gifu Tower 43

I recently had some free time, so I hopped on a train to Gifu. Since coming to Japan, I have never been to Gifu City, though I have worked in several schools in the prefecture. I thought it was time to remedy that.

 

The train ride was pretty short, since I took a rapid train. It was the afternoon rush hour (weekday), so I had to stand the entire trip, but the ride was only about fifteen minutes.

The station is pretty impressive, with a large plaza for meeting people and a long wooden boardwalk.

Nearby is Tower 43, a shopping mall, condominium, and observation area all in one. The observation area is completely free, which is nice. It is rather small however.

You can see a lot from the large windows and a one- sided-glass elevator connecting the first four floors and the forty third.

I ended up staying only about ten minutes, since there isn’t that much to see or do. The observation area is attached to a fancy restaurant, but when I was there it wasn’t open yet and really out my price range.

I would like to come back at night some time, to see the city lit up. I have a feeling it would be beautiful.

Narumi Station

Narumi is located in the Aichi Prefecture. It’s as twenty five minute train ride from Nagoya Station, via the Meitetsu Line. Near the station, there is  used goods shop I like very much.

Okazaki Pt2

Taken near Okazaki Castle