Life digest June 2024.
Tokyo river walks, Kawagoe, hoppy ales, temple as a life counseling center and more.
A belated self-guilty attempt to start journalling of my life whilst trying to avoid genre specific egotism and making it a practical guide for the readers. End of month info cocktail.
JAPAN. LIFE.
Nakagawa River walk.
I had some work meetings near Funabori station. The station is in Edogawa district of Tokyo, one of my favorites. After the meeting since it was still sunny, I decided to walk along Nakagawa River towards Shin-Koiwa park and the namesake station. It was hard initially to find a direct access to the promenade, but I have managed to find it near Zenso Temple.
Where nearby I happily discovered another “hidden Tokyo” spot. This is Komatsugawa Sakaigawa Water Park.
Here you can find a so-called “health path” running for around 4 km from Nakagawa towards Sugawara Bridge, all along this small cozy river full of lazy fish.
I did not walk the path and returned towards Naka River but will cover it one day.
The walk is not long, around 45 minutes from Funabori to Shin-Koiwa station along the river. This route seems to be popular with “families”. Recommend it as an appetizer before exploring dining choices at the nearby Kinshicho.
Kawagoe.
I visited Kawagoe, nicknamed Little Edo (old name of Tokyo during the rule of Tokugawa shogunate from 1603 to 1868). It has a lot of historic buildings although old town area looked to me like normal shopping area selling bijouterie and sugar in different forms, while buildings were definitely of the old kurazukuri style which is a special fireproof architecture developed in ancient Japan in fire prone regions.
If I am to choose two places to visit in Kawagoe, it will be Kitain Temple and Sanko hotel spa with public theater inside.
Within the grounds of the temple, you can find around 380 (originally 500 were made) little sculptures of Buddha disciples called “rakan” created at the beginning of 1800s by the head priest of Daijiji temple and other helpers. It is said that carving took around 50 years and main purpose was to comfort people who lost many relatives during great famine at that time. I spent here nearly an hour despite the pouring rain. Many covered with moss none of the faces have the same expression. Somehow one reminded me of my late father.
Another nice place is Kawagoe Yuyu Land Hotel Sanko. Apart from varieties of baths and a sauna, there is a public theater here. Properly “sauna’d” up I was able to see some performance. Accommodation is available.
Shiobara Onsen.
From Kawagoe I made my way to Shiobara onsen. It was a return trip from 7 years back and a result of reading a book depicting Shiobara some 30 years ago. I strolled a lot along Hoki River.
There were many highlights including wandering around Myounji Temple, bathing in secluded river onsen and in the river itself.
I feel now like talking about this place more with myself in writing. Hence a short post is coming.
Walk from Miura Coast to Kurihama.
I have done this walk before but today I randomly ventured inland from the seaside path. I should do this pattern more often. That is deviating from the “path to destination” to the extent of getting lost.
There are beautiful “kurazukuri” style ancient buildings in Nagasawa area. What is interesting is that they seem to be private houses as there are name plates of the owners at the entrance which is common in Japan.
I wonder how it looks inside. Would air con feel alien within?
On the way to Kurihama there is also an underused Nobi Coast Park.
Whenever I pass by there are always a very few people. No cafes or shops may be the reason, but I don’t complain.
Going up inland from this park you can reach another my today’s discovery which is Naritasan temple. The full name is 三浦成田山出世不動院平和不動寺 (Miura Naritasan Shusse Fudoin Heiwa Fudoji). Ooogh…The temple does not have parishioners and prays for the future happiness and health rather than looking at the past. It belongs to Shingon school of Japanese Buddhism which has a pilgrimage center at Mt. Kōya in Wakayama Prefecture. What is interesting about this temple is that they invite people (through booking) to come and talk about their life problems, work decisions, relocations etc. Looks like a life counseling to me or even a psychologist session (the trade which is very weak in Japan). When I walked around, I saw a teenager girl being coached by a nun. Maybe I should book once to talk about whether I should relocate to Okinawa one day.
Before taking a train home I “prayed” to a no-man veggie shop by buying a bag of potatoes.
GOOD READS
Real stories often beat the fiction. “The Last Plane out of Cambodia”.
About impulse control and more.
There might not be any Japanese people in 200 or so years. If current trend continues, says Japan Times, the Japan population is expected to decline by about half. From 124 million in 2023 to 63 million by 2100. And reasons? Probably here. Nearly 70% of marries couples in Japan do not have sex.
It can definitely be used when writing a book. Or just one interesting read of the kind we don’t see much in mass media. Because it is mass… Organized crime and Ukraine war.
I had to cancel my Vientiane trip a few months ago for personal reasons. But it stays on the list for sure. Despite this. Is the Lao State collapsing?
I have not yet “tasted” better food writing. Plus definitely this goat leg massaman curry is on my chew list.
All points resonate in this post by James Clear.
GOOD WATCH
Great actors, great movie. I enjoyed the refined English in conversations. Nobody uses “like”. Don’t put your life on hold. The Remains of the Day.
GOOD BITES
It is getting warm and eating outside is pleasant, especially with a river breeze. Very close to Yokohama busy tourist area there is a little enclave near Bashamichi station (also 5 minutes walk from Sakuragicho station- go up one level on a footbridge). Union food court, seats outside, few restaurants (also outdoor seating) on the second floor. It is not too crowded even on weekends. All this is a part of Yokohama Town Hall Building.
There is even a small promenade along Oka River. People bring drinks and snacks and enjoy their weekend.
With summer approaching I have been trying different ales. Japanese craft beer culture is really on the rise. Below are the best pale ales or IPA you can buy in the local supermarkets. My opinion. Special kudos to Goose Island IPA which is actually made in Korea unlike the other three. It is the best in this quartet costing a mere 200 yen in my local supermarket. Others would be around 300-350 (on tap similar versions in a pub will cost you 3-4 times more). If you taste Asahi (my normally favorite) after these beers, it will be like water although alcohol content is the same (Goose is on a higher side though, 6% compared to AsahiSapporo 5%).
REAL ESTATE.
Been reading about discrimination in Japan against elderly when renting an apartment. Basically, it is hard to rent a property if you are over 60 and not working. All of us will be at this stage in our lives. So, I started to look for a house to possibly buy. Compared to Sydney, prices here are way way cheaper. Below is a house you can buy for AUD300K. 15 minutes’ walk to the beach and some sea view from the terrace (which needs to be repaired).
Who needs Tokyo concrete behemoth humanariums (inventing new words is my hobby) inhabited by a hundred or so people with your small cage inside for which you will pay at least a double?
EXERCISE AND HEALTH
On meditation. Recently I started to practice end of day meditation when you reel your day in your mind for about 5 minutes. Like a short movie. But, go further. Mentally check what you could have done better in that day and accomplish tomorrow.
On the same subject I found this bench near Hoki River in Shiobara onsen (Tochigi prefecture). When I want to clear my mind, I just stare at the square, the head becomes empty. Here is an interesting variation.
Exercising outdoors.
I keep busy at my stone gym now nearly every morning. Added some compound exercises like deadlifts paired with biceps curl immediately followed by stone swings and push overhead. Combined with push ups and some core exercises it makes a nice outdoor workout before a relaxing long swim. Occasionally I add resistance bands. So, these days a trip to the gym is mostly for chin ups and a sauna as I find working out outdoors more enjoyable.
Very good article, I like Kawagoe, remember some good sake stores there! Incidentally, regarding the stone rakan, I recall a tale that if you return there after dark and feel the faces of the statues, the one that feels warm to the touch is the one that will most resemble you ! Nice story, though I never put it to the test.
Thanks for sharing this! Your lifestyle is admirable, and your insights and descriptions make me wish I could follow.. perhaps I would!