A day off, a day of travel. Four hours by shinkansen, pausing in Fukushima, a city that exists beyond news reports of doom. We arrived in Utsunomiya, a town with wide streets and large Starbucks, visible stars in a clear night, known for its gyoza. We went for a short walk to the Utsunomiya Futaarayama Shrine which was lit up at night and had a stall of horses in the back.
A rumored restaurant where monkeys serve water and hand towels turned out to be closed and we enjoyed the short taxi ride there and back. We next attempted a taco restaurant (they have one in Japan?) but the 10th story of the shopping mall only had beauty salons, wedding planning boutiques and a music store, all closed on this Sunday evening. We schemed a few more potential potentials before deciding to enjoy a Thai restaurant, a cuisine not often encountered here.
We get to stay in this hotel for two nights, no packing required tomorrow morning.
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Main gate of Utsunomiya Futaarayama Shrine
(modernity rising alongside) |
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| stairs leading to the shrine |
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| glowing vending machines |
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| Bernice with the horses |
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| outside the train station, Christmas cheer |
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