Nagoya

We went to Nagoya in late March, 2015.

Nagoya has a population of two and a quarter million people.

We flew into Tokyo, where we stayed the night.  Then we bullet trained to Nagoya. This trip takes about one hour forty minutes.

We stayed in Nagoya for five nights, and ended up seeing only half of the things on my list.

Small restaurants and coffee shops away from the main boulevards are one of the joys of Japan.  On walking to the television tower (which has a high up viewing area providing great panoramic views), we saw a wee coffee shop, which sat about twenty ? at the most.  We popped in and had a delightful time looking, listening (one doesn't have to understand a word to enjoy listening) and drinking the dripolater variety of coffee often served in Japan. Even if you like Japanese tea, but still want a non-dripolater coffee fix, there are many Starbucks in Japan with beautiful coffees, and a large range available.

Dogs near our hotel.

One day we caught a train to go to a park I found on a map. After walking up the stairs to the footpath, we looked around a bit, and were approached by an old Japanese lady, who said 'morning' (Ohayo gozaimus) and then indicated that we were to follow her. Ah, she led us to the park ? No !  To a fair at the closest temple !  (Osu Kannon Temple) So many stalls !  Books, ornaments, clothes, food ! 

The display of nibbles in front of a shop near the temple.

The tourist info place is in the arcade under this oval shaped water feature. Oasis 21, Sakae.

There is a massive castle in Nagoya, with a green tea ice cream stand just out front, and a big moat.

On the walk to the castle.  So much wisteria if it had been May.

Interesting building.

It is not unusual to see in the gardens a couple having their wedding album shots taken.

There is a monorail and a bunny in the Botanical Gardens.

And an indicator to show how quick bamboo can grow.

Walking, walking.  Before entering the grounds of a giant shrine ( Atsuta Jingu) , I was hungry and wanted to eat a bit. I sat on a bench, and ate away. An elderly gent came up and sat down beside me, and started to talk about Nagoya and the shrine.  Then he said: "once you have finished, would you like me to take you for a tour of the shrine grounds ?"   He was wonderful, explaining the cleansing ritual, how to clap, the importance of trees, rocks and water in the Shinto religion, why some temples get rebuilt every so often etc etc.  After about an hour or so, he bowed and thanked us for letting him show us around.

Nagoya is also home to a large Nittai (Japan and Thailand)Temple. The temple holds either some of the ashes of Buddha, or one of his fingers !

On the walk to the temple you pass shops that sell grave stones.  For people and for dogs and cats.

KIYOSU

Kiyosu is a wee seven minute train trip from Nagoya.  You pass the Kiyosu Castle before you arrive at Kiyosu station. The walk to the castle is about fifteen minutes. After climbing to the top of the castle, pop into the small museum, where two volunteer gentlemen will help you fit into some samurai outfits.

Across the road from the castle is a park with cherry blossom trees and a nice tourist shop.

TOYOHASHI

Toyohashi is thirty minute bullet train trip from Nagoya.
There is a space shuttle on a building across the road from the railway station !
There are trams too, and a beautiful park, river and castle.

OKASAKI

Okasaki is a thirty minute train trip from Nagoya. It is wise to get a taxi from the station to the pretty park that houses the castle and large moat, and many cherry blossom trees.

TSUSHIMA

Catch a train to Tsushima Station, then taxi to Tennogawa park. Check first at the tourist place in Nagoya to see if the cherry blossoms or the wysteria is out.  Visit the Tsushima shrine while in the neighbourhood.

Big pond with swans galore.

Wysteria grandparent.

Finally some snaps I couldn't place where quite from.

Firstly, the stone from a construction sight so well marked to make sure they were put back in the exact correct place.

There are often great greeters outside shops in Japan

Two clocks

Pretty bridge

When do the flowers bloom in Japan ? http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2423.html

The chart leaves off azaleas, which flower after cherry blossom, in April.

p.s. Restaurant costs.  Before we went to Japan, we asked a Nagoyan for a recommendation of 'good' sushi restaurants.  Now we meant 'good' as in nice food, nice ambience and inexpensive.  I think she thought we meant 'good' as in fit for James Packer !  We went to one of the blandest restaurants ever, which was also hard to find, as it was in the business district.  The bill ?  $250 ! 

Seems in Japan, and maybe everywhere, if business people patronise a restaurant, and pay with their business credit card, the restaurants can get away with higher prices.

I almost fell off my chair !

As I mentioned in the intro, every other sushi restaurants we had been to had not charged more than $95 for two, including sake. The cheapest had been $45.  Average $80/85.

We do not go to sushi train style restaurants.