First Local Hotel Breakfast Experience ― 2024/12/22
This is probably my first hotel breakfast in Fukuoka. You don't go to a hotel for breakfast when you have something to eat at home, do you?
But this was a rare occasion for me. Having just returned from a northern town after several months (including the hellishly hot ones) of absence, there was (must have been) nothing edible left in my fridge and cupboard.
To be honest, I had been looking forward to this breakfast buffet, knowing that the hotel cafeteria was run by Royal, a name with which I have a special emotional attachment linked to my childhood memories.
Ta-da!
The pancake was the must of the must at every Royal restaurant. But now that I see all these plates, I realize how much I craved sugar and carbohydrates...
The grapefruit juice was served in a grapefruit shell. I had imagined the juice would be squeezed directly from the grapefruit, until I witnessed it being poured from a carton, and the people serving it didn't seem to be trying to hide that practice. There is something you shouldn't know to stay happy...
We paid 2500 yen each for this buffet. Reasonable for the "inbound" guests due to the cheap yen, but for the locals... Well, next time I would go for Royal Host instead.
Hello from Sapporo ― 2024/10/28
Long time no see. In fact, I have been in Sapporo for a while.
We at first just wanted to avoid the hellish heat in Fukuoka, but Sapporo turned out to be a quite good place (though we don’t know what might happen in winter) to live. So we have extended our stay until now. We are even thinking about dividing our time between Fukuoka and Sapporo.
The nice thing of Sapporo I found (though nobody asked) is that proteins are quite accessible. You can get a good beef for less than 1000 yen per 100 grams. And the great range of ready meals. You never get in trouble about what to eat for your lunch. And what about this; you can go out on foot at two o'clock in the afternoon in mid-August without dieing. Unbelievable!
I will tell you about a bit more about my life in Sapporo in coming posts.
A Fukuokan in Sapporo ― 2024/03/23
We went back to Sapporo in mid-March. Here are some notes on the city for our next visit, if it ever happens.
No sooner had we got off the airport train than we realized why it was so easy and low priced to book the flight and hotel.
In front of the central train station looked like this.
March is, I would say, probably the worst time to walk around in Hokkaido. The roads were horribly slippery with compacted snow.
There were piles of snow everywhere, which made it extremely difficult to catch a taxi and cause a lot of trouble when getting into it.
No place was accessible on foot, except underground shopping malls which were always overcrowded and full of strangers' droplets (to me, unknown viruses).
I have never felt AEON so far away...
Proper snowshoes seemed to be a must.
Almost everyone wore specially designed shoes and almost no one wore leather-soled or high-heeled shoes. I brought a pair of (so-called) non-slip shoes, made in Kyushu Island. But they didn't help in the real situation. I noticed that Dr. Martens were more popular there. They might be good for harsh conditions.
The central library was smaller than the one in Fukuoka, but there were a cafe and a restaurant in the same building. Both seemed to offer reasonably priced menus.
The priority seats on the tram seemed to be strictly observed. Even when the car got relatively crowded, they remained unoccupied.
Began with Disasters ― 2024/01/03
Day 1: The 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake occurred, and tsunami warnings and advisories were issued along the almost entire coastline of the Sea of Japan side of the nation, including the Fukuoka area.
This is the first Tsunami advisory I have seen in my life. The actual height of the tsunami was 10 cm.
Day 2
A JAL airplane collided with a coastguard aircraft and burnt down.
A huge earthquake followed by a plane fire... Our New Year's festive atmosphere is completely ruined, as are the New Year special TV programmes that we watch half asleep every New Year.
This series of disasters has reminded me of the winter of 1982, when we had two calamities in a row, strangely also involving JAL. One was the fire at the Hotel New Japan on 8 February, which killed 33 people. The other was the (also) JAL plane crash on the following 9 February, which left 24 casualties.
I remember being surprised at the time, but not having a sense of the end of the world that I (and other people) have now, even though the scale and cause of the 1982 events might have been more hopeless and ridiculous than these two. Because I was much younger? or Japan as a whole seemed much more hopeful then?
Sapporo Snapshots Part 2 ― 2023/10/04
As I mentioned in my previous post, Sapporo has lots of tourist attractions within walking distances or few underground stations from the central train station. Plus, these spots are all, ah, with an exception or two..., so attractive. I could have spent whole day at each site.
繰返しになりますが、札幌駅の徒歩圏内や駅から地下鉄2～3駅の範囲内に観光名所がたくさんあります。しかも、どこも（例外はあるものの）1日中いても飽きないほど魅力的でした。
I simply envy the locals who can walk around Hokkaido University campus daily.
北大が散歩コースに入ってるっていいなあ。
The natural-looking but extremely well-maintained park-like site is open to public for free (with some schemes to lead visitors spend money. I'll mention this later).
自然っぽいんだけど、めちゃくちゃ手入れの行き届いた、公園のような敷地は無料開放されていました（ただし、訪問者にお金を遣わせる仕掛けあり。これについては後述します）。
I particularly love its museum.
特に気に入ったのは博物館。
The ground and first floors were like a promotion space inviting new students. I think the beauty of it was on the second floor where real treasure, exactly what I imagine from the term "university museum" are on the show; slightly dusty(-looking) stuffed animals,
1階と2階は入学希望者向けの宣伝っぽかったのですが、3階はまさに私の中で大学博物館とはこれだ！という感じの展示でした。ちょっと古びた感じのはく製が物陰にあったり、
a bit scary specimen, including those of skin diseases,
ちょっと怖めの標本（皮膚病標本あり〼）なんかが
so on in a time-honored building with no other visitor.
I seemed to have been so impressed that I got quite a bit of souvenirs that I don't usually buy when I travel.
古い建物の中にあるという、しかも他の見物人がいないという、まさに私のツボ。感激のあまり、普段は買わないようなお土産を買いこんでしまいました。
Two sets of badges, a pack of single drip coffee and
original clear files worth around 2000 yen in total.
バッジ2パターンに、ドリップパックとクリアファイルまで。合わせて2000円くらい払いました。
I even got a book catalogue
at the visitor information center (this university is equipped with such a facility!) so that I could order a book and stay in touch with it after returning home. Am I an easy prey for the marketing team?
ビジターセンター（そんなものまである）で出版目録までもらって、ご縁を保つ気まんまん。マーケティングチームの思うつぼってやつですね。
Also, the observatory on the 19th floor of the city government building is open to public for free.
市役所の19階には「展望回廊」があり、こちらも無料開放されていました。
From which you can look down the clock tower.
上から時計台を見ることができます。
But this spot seems to be much less sung.
Even the receptionist on the ground floor failed to convey how nice and relaxing it was. Actually, there was a restaurant with a view on the same floor, which would have been packed in other cities of the similar scale, was almost empty. We didn't realize there would be such a spot until we saw it with our own eyes.
ここはあまり知られてないようで、とても空いていました。1階の受付のお姉さんもその良さとのんびりできることを伝えきれないようでした。同じ階に展望レストランもありましたが、とても暇そう。同じ規模の都市に同じものがあったらめちゃくちゃ混みそうなのになあ。実際、私たちも現場に行くまでこんなレストランがあるとは知りませんでした。
About food...well, I would say you get what you pay for everywhere.
Attractive-looking dishes with a hill of uni or ikura don't come cheap and you have to expect long long queues. Discouraged from splashing out on luxurious Kaisen-Don, we went for Genghis Khan,
食べ物については、まあ、お金を払えばそれなりに、としか。
ウニやいくらが山盛りになったステキごはんは安くはありませんし、めちゃくちゃ長い行列は当然。
豪勢な海鮮丼に大枚はたく気にはならず、ジンギスカンや
deep-fried scallops in sympathy for local fishermen who are in the trouble in export their harvest to a certain country,
ホタテフライ定食を食べました。これはホタテが輸出できなくなった水産業者への共感を示したつもり。
with semi-dried fishes, 一夜干しの魚も。
and on the last night of our stay, packs of sushi bought at department store, There might have been more affordable option in less well-known places, but it should be spared for the locals,
最終日の夜はデパ地下で買ったお寿司で済ませました。探せばもっと安い店もあるのかもしれませんが、それは地元の人のためのような気もします。
While being tight-fisted with seafood, we enjoyed sweet treats unlimitedly every single day during our stay.
おさかなにはケチケチしつつも、甘いものに関しては無制限。毎日おやつ祭りでした。
750 yen
around 600 yen in total
1180 yen
1480 yen
...Looking back, we seem to have been extravagant to certain extent... Anyway, Hokkaido is a land of milk and cream for me.
今見ると、結構豪勢ですね。北海道は、私にとっては牛乳とクリームが流れる地という感じです。
Cursed Start ― 2023/10/03
On the first day of our Hokkaido tour, we encountered all imaginable (but not fatal) troubles. The followings are the highlights.
北海道旅行の初日には、死んじゃうようなものではないものの、ありとあらゆるトラブルに見舞われました。例えば...
1. To begin with, our flight at 8:00 am, which means we had to leave home at 5:30 am, was delayed one hour, making our early rise completely wasted.
まずは、飛行機が1時間遅れ。8時発だったから家を5時半に出たのに...。せっかく早起きしたのに...。、
2. Once we all got onboard, an idiot released an oxygen mask above his seat, which added another one-hour to the delay. As a result, three people sitting on the seat of concern were made to move to other seats in the already packed plane, which took a good 30 minutes.
I saw a hanging oxygen mask in airplane for the first time in my entire life, I believe he didn't do that intentionally, but wonder how he did that? As the captain decided to fly anyway, we flew with the hanging mask, which was a rather surreal view.
2．機内に入ったら入ったで、どこかの馬鹿が酸素マスクを出してひと騒ぎになりました。これでさらに1時間の遅れ。飛行機はすでに満員だったのに、酸素マスクが出てきた列に座っていた3人が席を移動することになり、さらに30分遅れ。
飛行機の酸素マスクがぶら下がっているのをはじめて見ました。わざとしたのではないとは思いますが、どうして酸素マスクを出すことになったのか謎です。そうこうするうちに機長がとにかく離陸することにしたことらしく、酸素マスクがぶら下がったままの出発となりました。ちょっと不思議な眺めでした。
3, As usual for any air travel, the plane was filled with toddlers' screams when it began to descend. The energetic choir lasted over 30 minutes. I was then surprised at myself staying calm. I have grown to somewhat accept them, and even sympathize the kids and their parents for having such a torturing time (though we were tortured, too, by them).
3. よくあることですが、飛行機が着陸態勢に入ると機内に子どもの悲鳴が鳴り響きました。 まあまあ30分は力強い叫びが続きました。この状況で冷静でいられる自分にちょっと驚きました。ま、しょうがないよね、お子たちも親御さんたちもつらいよね、と思ったりして。ま、こっちもお前らからつらい目にあわされてるんだがな。
4, After somehow finishing our businesses of the day, we got to our hotel to find our luggage that we had sent beforehand hadn't arrived. Which meant that we would have to put on same socks for two days in a raw and go out without sunscreen cream in September... If only had I brought my copy of shipping label, I could have solved the problem quickly.... I burst into tears of regrets. After all, the suitcase got to us the next morning after my tearful appeal and my husband's wordy complaint and the hotel receptionist's hard work. I felt heavily indebted these guys throughout our stay there.
どうにか用事を済ませてホテルにたどり着くと、事前に送っていたスーツケースが不着。2日続けて同じ靴下を履いて、9月に日焼け止めなしで外出するという事態に。私が送り状を持参しさえしていればすぐに解決できたのに。後悔のあまり泣けてきました。私の涙の訴えと、夫の長いクレームとホテルのおじさんの奮闘の結果、荷物は翌日の午前中に到着しました。この二人には、滞在中ずっと頭が上がりませんでした。
At the end of the day, we had exhausted but celebrated our fortune for not having been killed.
まあこんな一日が終わり、へとへとになったものの、とりあえず殺されなくて済んだ幸運を祝いました、
Sapporo Snapshots ― 2023/09/29
We've just returned from a short trip to Sapporo.
The population of the city is nearly 2 million whereas Fukuoka has 1.5 million. Despite this relatively small difference, the city center of Sapporo felt much bigger and more bustling. Incomparably than ours. This might be because tourist sites are concentrated around the central train station and surrounding areas within walking distance.
ちょっと札幌まで行ってきました。
札幌の人口は約200万。福岡の150万と比べてそれほど大きな差はないように見えますが、札幌の都心部はとても広く、めちゃくちゃ景気が良いように見えました。これはもしかすると、観光名所的なところが札幌駅から徒歩圏内に集まっているためかもしれません。
The local convenience store seems to treat its employees better...,,Actually the staff members I encountered at Seiｃo Mart looked more cheerful than their counterparts working at Seven Eleven in Fukuoka.
地元のコンビニも待遇よさそう...。セイコーマートで接客してくれた皆さんは、福岡のセブンイレブンで働いている人たちよりも機嫌がよさそうに見えました。
Is this the "Northern style"？ Communal corridors of flat complexes are all covered in some ways.
これが北国仕様？ 集合住宅の廊下はむき出しではなく、何らかの形で覆われているみたいでした。
This building haｓ bicycle parking spaces at elevator hall on every floor. Very wise. But I guess the residents' civility might be tested during morning rush hours.
エレベーターの前に自転車置き場があったり。便利そう。でも、朝のラッシュアワーは大変そう...。
(To be continued)
Memories of Nagano ― 2023/07/20
I saw incredible (in many ways) things there.
いろいろスゴいものを見せてもらいました。
This is an incredible nostalgic shopping street; I would call these landscapes "Modern Kare Sansui" or "Hidden Legacies of Showa Era."
いまどき珍しい商店街もありました。こうなるともはや枯山水。または隠し昭和遺産。
I thought we couldn't get away from here when I strayed into this path. In reality, this is used as a local walking path and a kind local helped us and told how to get to a railway station which was only 10 minutes from here.
ここに迷い込んだときはもう帰れないと思いました。が、実際は地元の人のウォーキングコースになっていたらしく、通りすがりの親切な方が駅への行き方を教えてくれました。駅まで歩いて10分でした。
A stove in a local railway station,,,I wish I could see this in operation...
駅にストーブが…。火がたかれているところが見たかったなあ。
And local people seemed to have a great appetite...especially for deep-fried items. This is something called "Sorce Katsu Don"・900 yen. I couldn't eat up all of the three cutlets on the rice.
そして地元の皆さんは大変食欲旺盛と見ました。特に揚げ物好き？これは「ソースカツ丼」(900円)というものです。カツが3枚乗っていたのですが、私は全部食べ切れませんでした。
Tonkatsu+Spaghetti+Tempura served on heated baby griddle called "Carso," probably less than 1000 yen.
これはスパゲティナポリタンにとんかつと天ぷらがついて、熱い鉄板に乗って出てきたもの。「カルソ」（たしか1000円以下）というそうです。
The Madam of this restaurant kindly offered me cooked dry beans and Shiso juice for free of charge...I wished I had been a 16-year-old boy doing baseball or Judo so that I could reward her generosity by wolfing them down at once...
このレストランのマダムはおまけに煮豆とシソジュースをつけてくれました。一気に食べて見せて喜んでいるところを見せたかったのですが、16歳の運動部の男子ではないので無理でした。
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