The Oldest (Running) Hotel in the World

I don’t normally show off my accommodation, but when it’s literally the oldest running hotel in the world, I had to document the stay.

Sizzling Okonomiyaki @ Iroha

Came back with a few other people after a fun experience with monjayaki back in 2020. Ate some okonomiyaki in addition this time.

5 O’Clock Serenade

In Japanese cities and towns, there’s a PA system covering a ward or town. A routine test is certainly ideal, so it appears they play a bit of music at 5 o’clock to both signal the end of the day, and to routinely test the PA system. Neat!

Calm River

What a great sight to wake up to.

Fuji-san from the Train

Bullet Trains Parting at Morioka Station

Something weirdly cool about two trains separating by the tip…

135 Bowls of Soba

Wanko Soba is local delicacy up in Iwate prefecture, where it’s an all-you-can-eat fare of (initially) tasty noodles. Azumaya gives a nice incentive to eat 100. Safe to say I beat a friend’s record of 127 over lunch. I ate quickly but my pace slowed to a crawl at around the 95 mark and I felt horrible towards the end. The sides definitely helped with refreshing my palate.

Funnily enough, I was peckish again by around 10PM.

Good Morning Shinjuku

The view is great when staying atop the Tokyu Kabukicho Tower.

Immersive Nostalgia at Seibuen Yuenchi

Found this hidden gem of an amusement park thanks to Akidearest and Peter Barakan. They definitely don’t market this place to foreign tourists, and hardly any of the staff speak English. That being said, the staff is very friendly, and this place is very interesting regardless. From the recreated mid 20th-century main street, to the retro carnival set-up, to the retro-style park money that is actually essential in the park (only one of the gift shops and the vending machines take cash), to the trains that travel to, from and within the park, one of which you can fully drive!

This place certainly gives you a real blast from the past. Only downside is that the late winter visit, plus the lack of foreign tourists meant that there were so few visitors to the park it actually felt eerily silent in certain areas. 50s nostalgia doesn’t appeal to everyone, and the tickets aren’t very cheap, but for those itching to see a nostalgic, rosy view of the past, this park may be just what you need.

Late Night Dinner @ Matsuya

Matsuya, Sukiya, Yoshinoya. The late night quick-and-cheap Japanese trifecta. They’re everywhere in Japan.