Moveable Type: Day 105 in Japan - Exploring Akashi and Awaji

- Sam went to work at 9 am.
- The rest of us went to Akashi for my Japanese class
- Train was 10 min late! Unthinkable!
- Ran into students on way to exams (on Saturday, in uniform)
- Kojima-sensei gave presents to Mum and Dad
- I was bad at Japanese in my lesson
- Mum and Dad went for a walk in the park while I was in my lesson
- Had lunch: Akashiyaki and Takoyaki, also beers. Mum and Dad learned a new vocab word - choki (the big glass beer mugs they drink from here)

First beers in Japan! Kampai!

Akashiyaki - Mum and Dad got to try the local dish before Sam did!

- Walked to the fish markets (Uo no tana) - Dad was intrigued by the lovely fresh fish with all of the fish merchants smoking cigarettes over the top of them.

- Into the Hyakuen shop to get some snacks and drinks (lemon, apple and milk juice was OK)
- Went to Flower show in park, to see chrysanthemums - WOW! They were amazing! Perfect specimens, and even saw chrysanthemum bonsai.

There were lots of little kids wandering around the park
sketching the flowers. These two looked particularly sweet.

- Matcha in the park
- Ladies and kids all dressed up in kimono in the park - one lady in a lovely kimono pushing a kids in a stroller hocked a big loogie on the path in front of us, which ruined the effect somewhat.
- Went to ferry terminal to catch the Taco (octopus) Ferry over to Awaji Island. Saw a little temple, bridge over harbour and a bunch of fishing boats on the way.
- Waited
- Waited more (what's with Japanese public transport being late today? Mum and Dad's first experiences have all involved late transport)
- Found more eateries at the harbour too.
- FINALLY got on ferry, headed to Awaji

The Taco Ferry we got on had pictures of the Shigosenja - the local
superheroes whose job appears to be to protect the
planetarium from the evil Dr. Blackstar. I LOVE THESE GUYS!

- Took lots of photos

- Walked around harbour
- Saw a horrifically Rococco-style decorated pirate ship up on the dry dock - photos don't do it justice.

- Talked to info lady, got on a taxi to ferris wheel "Awaji highway Oasis" (sidenote - the tourist info centre was burning horrible incense. Dad thought that the bus driver standing nearby must have been farting a lot.)
- Went on ferris wheel.

- Had a coffee at Starbucks, watched the bridge change to it's awesome rainbow colours on the hour.

- Navigated ourselves onto the bus back over the bridge to Maiko station - Mum and Dad got to travel over the famous bridge.
- Train back to Akashi
- Walked Mum and Dad through a pachinko parlour, to experience the true meaning of "Wall of Sound"
- Met Sam at Izakaya

- Ate various fried things

- Discovered that one of my students actually works at our local Izakaya (shh! It's a secret for the school, and for the izakaya). Maybe I have to find a new izakaya now.