OK, who’s idea was this?\u00a0 The alarm was going off at 2.20.\u00a0 IN THE MORNING!\u00a0 We had received a call yesterday that we couldn’t go out on the firefly squid watching boat, as it had broken down.\u00a0 This was the reason we came to this area.\u00a0 But the museum was still going to open for us, but they still wanted us there early in the morning.\u00a0 We didn’t know what we were in for, so wore some semi-warm clothes and brought a back pack with some more just in case.\u00a0 It took us about 10 minutes to get to the museum.<\/p>\n
We had an introduction to the firefly squids – their history, lifespan, ….I don’t know what else – I didn’t understand a word of it!\u00a0 Then we went upstairs and saw a video, which was followed by a demonstration of what it is like when the nets are pulled in.\u00a0 At the front of the room there was a small pool with a net, and a number of firefly squid in it.\u00a0 A few of us grabbed a corner of the net, and with the lights out, on the count of three, we all pulled the net up.\u00a0 Instantly the squid illuminated!\u00a0 It was amazing to see!\u00a0 Over time the illumination faded, but another pull of the net and up they lit again!<\/p>\n
We went downstairs to an open pool which had a number of these firefly squid in it, and we were able to pick them up.\u00a0 When Kaoru pulled one out of the water, it squirted a stream of water at her.\u00a0 Another one gave her a little nip.\u00a0 Some of these would lite up, even though it wasn’t dark in the room.\u00a0 It was really quite pretty.\u00a0 Then we did something that can only be done in Japan.\u00a0 After seeing how cute these things are, we went to the front room and were served half a dozen, steamed and ready to eat!\u00a0 Having eaten a number of them last night, I knew what to expect – however these were different.\u00a0 The eyes were quite hard, but the guts were just as squishy when you bit in to the squid (I had to put that detail on for you squirmish readers!)<\/p>\n
We went outside as a group and watched a boat come in from collecting firefly squid.\u00a0 We then walked to the docks, and saw them unloading from the boat, sorting the squid from the other fish, washing them down and bucketing them for sale.\u00a0 It was quite a lengthy process.\u00a0 Eventually we got back to the museum’s front room – it was nearly 5.00, and the tour had started at 3.\u00a0 We started walking back to the hotel, via a convenience store to get some breakfast.<\/p>\n
On our way back we were deciding whether to keep going for the day, or have a bit of sleep first.\u00a0 Sleep won in the end, so when we got back we crawled back in to bed for an hour or so.\u00a0 It was 8.00 by the time we woke up, had a shower and were ready to get going again.\u00a0 Our original plan was a brief stop in Toyama and then go to Nagano.\u00a0 But when Kaoru woke up she thought further and we decided we would just spend the day in Toyama, and deal wtih Nagano another time.\u00a0 We caught an 8.55 train to Toyama which was only a few stops away.<\/p>\n
We put our backpacks in a locker which made the day much easier.\u00a0 On the way to the lockers we saw a display of glass blowing, and could see a child doing it – so thought that could be an interesting activity for the day.\u00a0 Then we went to the tourist information centre to help us plan our days activities.<\/p>\n
First thing was the glass blowing.\u00a0 We caught a bus about 30 minutes out of town, and had a 15 minute walk (luckily without our bags as it was quite warm) before finding the place.\u00a0 We filled in some paperwork and then were taken to step 1 – picking the design and colours.\u00a0 To do this we had to look at a number of samples, and draw a picture.\u00a0 Not easy for somebody with the artistic talents I have!\u00a0 Then it was in to the main room.<\/p>\n
You could feel the heat as soon as you walked in to this massive room.\u00a0 Very high ceilings, obviously to help keep it cooler down lower where the work is done.\u00a0 They gave a safety brief (in Japanese, with Kaoru translating) and then Kaoru made her glass.\u00a0 She stopped at various parts to explain what needed to be done, in preparation for when I had to do my one.\u00a0 It started with pre-heating the blowing rod, then getting some glass on it, turning, rolling the pattern on, blowing, turning, blowing, stretching….<\/p>\n
After Kaoru’s was in the kiln, it was my turn.\u00a0 It was a very enjoyable activity.\u00a0 It takes a while to set, so we couldn’t take them home with us (which was a good thing, as we didn’t want to carry them for the rest of the day).\u00a0 They will post it out to Nishikasai in a week, but we will have left Japan by then, so we asked if it can be done sooner.\u00a0 They said that’s OK.<\/p>\n
We walked back to the bus stop and caught a bus back in to the city.\u00a0 We got off somewhere different and started walking towards a black ramen noodle restaurant we had seen on the map.\u00a0 This area is famous for black ramen – basically it’s very peppery and salty.\u00a0 On the way we talked ourselves out of it though, and preferred the idea of some sushi!\u00a0 So we found a nice little sushi restaurant which was empty, and had a seat.<\/p>\n
The owner \/ sushi master was very friendly.\u00a0 He and Kaoru talked about Tetsuya – he had been asked to go to Australia as a chef several years ago but decided he preferred the hills in the area he lived in.\u00a0 After we had eaten he pulled out a bottle of sake and poured us both a drink.\u00a0 It’s hard to describe the difference but it was unlike any other sake I had tried previously.\u00a0 It had a “fizziness” to it (but not fizzy).<\/p>\n
After paying we continued our walk around Toyama.\u00a0 We went to a medicine making factory.\u00a0 On the information guide it said you can try to make your own medicine, so thought it would be another fun activity.\u00a0 After we had looked around, a bus turned up with a dozen old ladies – they had obviously planned a tour.\u00a0 So we watched the master give them a brief on the equipment and how the pills were made.\u00a0 In the end we were not given the opportunity to try ourselves.<\/p>\n
We walked around Toyama some more, and made our way to the government building.\u00a0 It was about 70m high, so gave us a great view of the city and the surrounding mountains.\u00a0 Unfortunately it wasn’t like the tower in Shinjuku – there was no cafe at the top.\u00a0 So as much as we would have loved to sit down and have a hot chocolate and enjoy the view, we made our way back to the station.<\/p>\n
The next Shinkansen was 3.11.\u00a0 So we got our tickets, grabbed our bags from the locker, bought a bottle of sake and went to the platform.\u00a0 We were on the new E7 Kagayaki Shinkansen – the fastest in Japan.\u00a0 I clocked it at 260km\/hr using my speedo app on my phone!\u00a0 We got to Tokyo about 5.30, and back to Nishikasai a bit after 6.00.\u00a0 Okasan and Ottosan had already left for Nasu so we had the place to ourselves.\u00a0 It was great to be home again!\u00a0 We took socks and shoes off and had a beer to unwind.\u00a0 Then it was out to Mos Burger for dinner, and Mister Donut for dessert, and back home for unpacking, a nice bath, watch some TV and off to bed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
OK, who’s idea was this?\u00a0 The alarm was going off at 2.20.\u00a0 IN THE MORNING!\u00a0 We had received a call yesterday that we couldn’t go out on the firefly squid watching boat, as it had broken down.\u00a0 This was the reason we came to this area.\u00a0 But the museum was still going to open for … Continue reading