Heading up to the mainland
Work is quiet this week; my students have mid-term tests and I really don’t have too much to do. A 3-day weekend is coming up in the Japanese calendar as Monday is Health & Sports Day. And it has been 14 months now since I last left Okinawa - quite a long time for me. With those things in mind, I have decided to book a late trip up to the mainland for a few days. I will be travelling up to Kobe airport tomorrow morning, and then heading across to Osaka from there. On Thursday I think I’ll head over to Nagoya where I’ll spend a few days. Never been to Nagoya and it’s always good to see somewhere new. Plus I’ll have the chance to catch up with a few friends, including one who I first met as a teacher when I was living in the Maldives. We go back quite a way so it will be good to catch up with her. And then on Monday I’ll travel back to Kyoto (probably my favourite city so far in Japan), before flying back from Kansai airport in Osaka to Naha on Tuesday morning. It will be a busy trip I hope, but that’s how I like them.
I’ll also be taking the camera up with me and will be snapping away at everything and everyone like a deranged crocodile! Will hopefully be able to get some decent shots. Not taking the tripod for the camera up as I want to stay marginally mobile so don’t expect any stunning night shots, but I’ll try and get some decent daytime pics for you. And there should be a good opportunity as it’s Nagoya Festival this coming weekend. The few people who live in Nagoya seemed to have no real idea that was going on, so maybe it’s not going to be the huge event I am hoping for, but it could be fun. On the festival website it gives some details about what will be happening, including a flower car parade, whatever the hell that is.
So it’s been a hastily arranged trip, but I’m looking forward to it. Accommodation will, as per usual, be done on the cheap. Have already found the names and addresses of a couple of capsule hotels in Osaka and Nagoya. There’s nothing like crawling into and falling asleep inside what is pretty much a large size coffin.
So expect another update early next week when I’ll hopefully have a tale or 2 to recall.
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Hi Dave,
Looking forward to your trip report and pix!
Have a good time.
Good ridance! This island needs a break from you–give some others a chance to be King of the Road with one less mighty Evo tearing up the street scene! J/K. Enjoy, yeah man, 14 months leads to island-fever…good for you!