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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 3h

I then ended my day with some Aomori apple juice. This stuff, made with 100% apple juice from Aomori apples (it doesn’t necessarily have to be Wonder Apple brand), is possibly the best apple juice in the world. You can immediately taste a difference between it and other apple juices.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 3h

We got some gelato at s nice little shop by the base of the mountain, and then my friend drive me back into Hachinohe. It was great being able to catch up!

The small station serving lunch and gelato near the base of Mt. Hashikami.

One of this season’s premium gelato flavors: chestnut.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 4h

My friend taught me a cool trick using my iPhone’s camera for taking shots using the 3x lens. I think these close-ups came out well as a result! Not that I really know that much about what I’m photographing😅

A close-up shot of some late-blooming flowers on Mt. Hashikami.

Another close-up shot of a flower atop Mt. Hashikami.

A close-up of a branch with various stages of leaves changing color.

A close-up of a striking bunch of berries atop Mt. Hashikami.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 4h

Next up was a short hike up Mt. Hashikami from its eighth station. You can see the leaves just starting to change color here.

Some of the fall foliage on display at the eighth station of Mt. Hashikami.

A picture of me just before entering the Torii gate of the shrine near the summit of Mt. Hashikami.

A selfie of me with the plaque at the top of Mt. Hashikami.

More autumn colors at the top of Mt. Hashikami.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 4h

I started my day yesterday by doing a quick run through Hacchi, the Hachinohe Portal Museum, then headed over to an old favorite cafe (Minami) in a new location to meet up with a friend.

An old squid ship featured beneath a bunch of squid-shaped lanterns inside Hacchi.

An exhibit on the trail leading around the Tanesashi Kaigan coastline as part of a memorial park after the March 11th 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake.

The exterior of Minami, a coffee shop with great sandwiches, in its new location by the Hachinohe Art Museum.

The food at Minami, featuring a ham and cheese hot pressed sandwich, a salad, some spaghetti, and a coffee. This was all part of a set that also came with some coffee jelly for desert.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 1d

Today the plan is to meet up with an old friend. I can’t wait!

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 1d

After shopping, I spent most of my day yesterday wandering around my old stomping grounds. A city can change a lot in 12 years, and it was fun to see some of the results, even if it was a little sad to find many old favorite spots gone.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 1d

Revisited my favorite stationery store! Back when I was living in Hachinohe, this place (the Kaneiri connected to Sakurano) is where I bought my first fountain pen and learned to love fine writing materials (there’s nothing like trying before you buy). I’m happy to see it’s still going strong!

The exterior entrance to the Kaneiri stationery and book store.

A table display of Kakimori inks, dip pen nibs, and nib holders on the left, with “paper tasting” packs by Yamamoto Paper on the right.

A shelf full of inks from various brands. You can do some test writing with them or see samples of them if you talk to the staff.

A display case filled with fountain pens. This is just one of many such displays in the store, but I liked the pelican statue gripping a Pelikan pen in its beak (seen in the upper right) enough that this is the one I got a picture of. Like with the inks, you can try writing with these pens if you talk to the staff.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 2d

My plan for today is to wander Hachinohe and otherwise take it easy. Should make for a nice change of pace after all the eventful days I’ve been having.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 2d

Finally, some photos specifically for my dad, featuring more treats I’ve been enjoying lately.

A Hagen Dazs crispy sandwich, with ice cream sandwiched between two crispy wafers and coated with a hard caramel exterior. I prefer to pair this with a lemon soda as well (really I just like lemon soda), but this time I had to make do with Coke.

A selfie of me enjoying the cafe mocha from the previous photo.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 2d

Here’s the info on each act from a sign outside the space they were using as a stage:
鷹島姫乃
［和風ポールダンス］
LEO
［ジャグリング一輪車パフォーマンス］

The sign for the street acts I saw in Hachinohe.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 2d

I was in for one late-in-the-day surprise, though, because when I got to downtown Hachinohe, I caught two street shows in progress. One featured Japanese-style pole dancing and the other was a juggling act that included unicycle riding. I’ve been really lucky running into events this trip!

A Japanese-style pole dance taking place in downtown Hachinohe.

Another part of the Japanese-style pole dancing act.

A juggling act I ran into in downtown Hachinohe. This part of the act involved juggling flaming batons.

Another part of the juggling act that featured the performer on a unicycle catching a giant Kendama.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 2d

That brings me to yesterday, which was essentially a full day of travel. I got on a Shinkansen leaving Kumamoto at 7:42 AM and got off after three transfers at Hachinohe at 5:04 PM. That’s almost ten hours on the train! I love that you can do it, though. Japan’s public transit is amazing!

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 2d

After enjoying the sights around Kumamoto, I headed back over to the Ozu area and returned to that amazing shop with pulled pork sandwiches and lemon drinks. The shopkeeper recognized me and was very kind, even asking about my trip so far. It made for a lovely end to my day.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 2d

My final stop for the day was the promenade outside the Kumamoto Prefectural Offices. This is where they have the Luffy statue on display, and this one also has an imprint of ONE PIECE author Eiichiro Oda’s hand.

The promenade outside the Kumamoto Prefectural Offices, lined with ginkgo trees.

The Monkey D. Luffy statue on display at the promenade.

The imprint of Eiichiro Oda’s hand at the base of the Luffy statue.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 2d

After the Josaien shopping district, I visited the last place included in my ticket for Kumamoto Castle: the Kumamoto City Museum. I couldn’t get many photos, but this train that ran for 33 years on the local Houhi line (after 14 years as a freight car) was but one of many cool things on display.

A train that ran on the local Houhi line for 33 years on display as an exterior exhibit at the Kumamoto City museum.

The plaque explaining the history of the train (in Japanese). This is how I know it served for 14 years as a freight train and 33 years as a passenger train.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 2d

After visiting the Wakuwaku Za, I checked out the surrounding shops done up in traditional Japanese style. Since it was a hot day, I tried some of the specialty “jindaiko” soft serve. It’s red bean paste flavored with little pieces of Shiratama dango inside. Delicious!

The exterior of the Kobaian shop at Josaien, a shopping district outside Kumamoto Castle.

Rows of shops at Josaien, with the storefronts made to look like traditional Japanese buildings.

A selfie of me just before sampling the Jindaiko soft serve in front of the big sign advertising it.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 2d

Right next to Kumamoto Castle was a set of tourist shops that had a museum (the Wakuwaku Za) that I bought a combo ticket to see. This place was fun because it had a number of interactive exhibits: a palanquin you could ride in, traditional clothes to try on, and more!

A recreation of a traditional Japanese palanquin you could “ride” in.

A set of clothes in traditional style that you could try on.

A selfie of me with a recreated version of a traditional set of armor associated with the feudal lords who lived in Kumamoto Castle. You could get a photo of yourself “inside” it, but the exhibit was a little short for me.

A recreated set of traditional Japanese clothing on display at the Wakuwaku Za.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 2d

On my way out of the castle grounds, I happened to catch a special show they had going on: Kumamoto Castle in the Clouds. They piped mist out so you could get a glimpse of what the castle might look like in fog from the walkway used to approach the castle during construction work.

A view of the main keep of Kumamoto Castle with steam underneath it as part of a special show.

A view of the trees wreathed in the mist used for the Kumamoto Castle in the Clouds show.

A more direct view of the main keep of Kumamoto Castle with the mist pouring in below.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 2d

Views from the top floor of Kumamoto Castle, which now serves as an observatory.

A look down at the ongoing construction efforts to repair the castle after an earthquake.

A view of the castle grounds with the city of Kumamoto in the distance. To the left you can just see some distinctive decorative tiles.

A better view of the decorative tiles from the left of the last photo. The originals were studied very closely when making these recreations.

A view of the minor keep from the main observatory in Kumamoto Castle.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 2d

Kumamoto Castle itself was quite the sight! It’s currently undergoing repairs, and this isn’t the original castle building, it’s a reconstruction, but it still left a strong impression on me.

One of the outlying watchtowers of Kumamoto Castle.

A view of the main keep from behind a damaged castle wall.

A selfie in front of the main structure of Kumamoto Castle, which notably has both a major and a minor section to the keep.

The main building of Kumamoto Castle framed by a bench with decorative “shachihoko” statues on either end.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 2d

After a packed couple of days in Nagasaki, I headed back to Kumamoto for one more day of sightseeing. After dropping off my things at the hotel, my goal was Kumamoto Castle, but the walk there was nice in its own right. I even found a great shop to stop at for lunch!

A giant Kumamon head on display at Kumamoto Station.

A view of the city across a river on my walk from my hotel to Kumamoto Castle.

A nice little park I walked by on the way to Kumamoto Castle.

A Japanese-style building home to a restaurant where I stopped for lunch. The staff were very friendly!

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 3d

All in all, I had quite an eventful second day in Nagasaki. My next move was back to Kumamoto, but I’ll have to wait to chronicle that another time.

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 3d

I also ran into a guy from Germany on my way back to my hotel. He was very friendly, and it helped make this trip feel truly international to me. The world is a fascinating place full of amazing people!

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arukimania.bsky.social @arukimania.bsky.social · 3d

Finally, I headed over to Mt. Inasayama to watch the sun set and experience one of the “three best night views” in Japan. Hakodate is one of the others, so now I’ve seen two of the three!

Watching the sunset from the top of the observatory on Mt. Inasayama.

The murder of crows that took to the skies as the sun set around Mt. Inasayama.

A view of the city of Nagasaki at night from atop Mt. Inasayama.

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