Nagoya

The memories of dragging suitcases around,
trying to fit things into the locker
rushing to be on time,
while looking up to the Toyota building.
...so where were we again?

Shizuoka-shi, Numazu and others

While the city itself always left me wondered "how", each visit to this prefecture ended with a very nice, hearty meal of the fruits of the sea at the small local restaurants. Thank you, ocean.

Kyoto

The Shinkansen, the welcome, the unpleasant school uniform, the strap of the purple top at the Kinkakuji, and the not-so-zen moments at Ryouanji; The house, the room, the classroom, the bikes, the baths, the garden, the narrow streets, and the train station; The drive to places like Tenryuuji, the moments with Chiaki, the shyness of the brothers, the local community centre, the meals with the family, and the chats about everything possible including singing, and the very thoughtful gifts and polaroids; and the very traditional kind of beauty of Kyoto.

[long after the first impression]

 

That magnificently majestic view with a hint of lavender. Those alleys, and creating that special occasion through recommendation from an otherwise rather meaningless business meeting.

And all the autumn leaves as seen through the lens of others on those exact same days.

Himeji

Bending down and climbing up and down in the dark in a magnificently beautiful structure, and seeing images of the past as if it was in a play.

Tokyo

Back there and then

The CX maletita, the first Disneyland experience, and the passing friendships. The much more vivid memories of the department stores, the zakka stores, the cup noodles, the burgundy uniform of the girls’ school, the language, the entrance of the temporary residence in some suburb, the TV, the metro, and a completely different way of seeing the same sights again - and the vague line between inspiration and aspiration.

Autumn 2012

Grid confusion. The reconciliation and reconnection with then. The gradual acceptance. Fireworks against the backdrop of lightning "under the starry sky". Wine up there. Wine down here. Taking the wrong turn(s) and arrived at home with wings in a taxi. Taking the wrong turn(s) again and finally realized it was time to head home in a taxi. Memorable Dinners.Tsukiji. The most delicious sashimi. The convenient rotation of convenience. Softbank again and again. The extreme exhaustion caused by each reasonable step and company, if I were to be honest, way beyond fine. Thankful. My luck. Omotesando, Ginza, and a different Blue Label. Back street cafes, including the gold pop-up, and the green oasis. The front face of the glossy yet laid back boulevard, the clusters of hotels, boutique and some of the best shops in the world, without queues, without waiting lists, and without looks, ever; To the many areas, the corridor strolling, the admiration of the effort and totality from 10s to 80s and beyond, for both and for all. Visual update was constant and uniquely Tokyo.

Autumn 2013
So short but so sweet. H for Happy. H for Hectic...chill-out, next time. 

Hiroshima

The okonomiyaki on the street, the atomic bomb dome and what seemed like millions and millions of paper cranes.

Miyajima

Not as impressed as I should have been by the torii at the Itsukushima Shrine, and the deers and monkeys.

.:: Mount Fuji ::.

The air, the yukata, the tatami, the shoji, the sashimi, and the view.

.:: Nikko ::.

The sound, smell, and surrounding of the Toshogu Shrine with the awkwardness of companionship.

[long after the first impression]

Red leaves on the jammed Irohazaka, onsen, dinner in the spirit of celebration and breakfast in the spirit of (a)customization before picking up merely parts of the past with absolute haze.

.:: Osaka ::.

The arrival, the station, the machines, the accent, and the view of the man-made island.

[long after the first impression]

tsurutontan, nanba and all that but most memorable of all, Osaka-eki.