I wake up well rested, despite yesterday’s trip. It seems my plane-sleep strategy was effective enough. The weather forecast is beautiful today (85F and sunny), so I decide to tackle Nagoya Castle, a treasure of the city. Since cash is king in Japan (cards are not accepted everywhere – I wasn’t sure if the Castle ticket booth would take cards), and I forgot to exchange my dollars at the airport, this means hunting down a Currency Exchange first. To get there, I have to take the train. To take the train, I need to figure out the train schedule and also secure a train card. I know, right? Big day.
I stop for some hotel breakfast served with a mix of western and traditional Japanese items, and the selection is definitely interesting – eggs, sausage, seaweed salad, shredded lettuce, an edamame salad of some sort, miso soup, grilled pork, a variety of sweet & savory breads, and of course: rice. I try a little bit of everything and reach for a fork, then stop myself. I shift a bit and choose to challenge myself with a pair of chopsticks. Better get used to it!
I finish up and I’m in good spirits as I walk to Kanayama Station. I stop at the Tourist Info Center, where I pick up a handful of brochures, city maps, and sightseeing recommendations – all free! I locate the train ticket machine and luckily there’s an English menu – for 500¥ (about $5), I secure my card and load it up. That was easy!
After studying the train schedule closely (luckily, also an English version here), with added verification from my navigation app, I hop on the train and see that I’m headed to the correct destination (phew!) – and it’s only 1 stop away. Upon arrival, I finally find the Currency Exchange (this one took a while) in the underground Unimall, and head towards the Castle. I pass a street market featuring produce, souvenir shops, and even a tiny shrine. The souvenir shop has magnificent fans, rice bowls, chopsticks, and sake cups for sale — all decorated beautifully and traditionally. I make a mental note to pick some up before I return back to the States.
Nagoya Castle – 名古屋城
As I approach, I’m stunned at the architecture, the sunshine reflecting on its jade-colored roof and highlighting its beauty. Although it was mostly burned down during the air raids of WWII, the reconstruction is incredibly convincing – you couldn’t tell that it wasn’t straight from the 1600s. Atop the roof sit two golden shachi, mythological creatures with a tiger’s head and a fish’s body, said to have control over the rain. They are traditionally mounted as a talisman to prevent fires.
I take some time to explore the outside gardens as well the inside of Hommaru Palace, recently reconstructed after the WWII fires and open fully to the public only as of a few years ago. I’m asked to take off my shoes inside before observing the serenity of the tatami mat rooms and taking pictures of the art along the walls, trying to imagine what it would be like to live here hundreds of years ago.
Preparing for Work Tomorrow
Afterwards, I stop by a nearby restaurant for a bowl of udon, and contemplate the upcoming week. I move into my permanent residence tomorrow, and then go to the Brother office for my first day of work. I have a mix of emotions, ranging from excitement to worry. I hope my first day is successful, and that I leave a good impression on everyone that I meet. I’m so excited to learn all about BIL and their processes, but remind myself to keep a good pace. I want to do my best in doing the research for our future Global Mobility program, but there’s so much to learn and so many questions to answer. I have to remember that I’m here for 3 months – there’s plenty of time to ask questions and get into the details. I don’t have to have it all figured out right away.
I choose to walk off my meal in lieu of the train, and on the way home I pass one of the dozens of public bike racks I’ve seen so far in the city. I look on as an elderly lady retrieves her jitensha from the rack, hops on with ease, and pedals away smiling. I admire her attitude, and make a mental note to take the week one pedal at a time. As I walk home, completely by chance, I pass the Brother Earth planetarium. Life sure can be funny sometimes – I’ll have to visit one day soon.
Until next time!
– Fil
Phrase of the Day
駅はどこですか (eki wa doko desu ka)
Translation: Where is the train station?
Fil You In 