Japan 2016 – Tokyo 4, Nagoya 1 – Lunch, Shinkansen, unwrapping presents

Meeting my friend’s family in Nagoya

On this cold day, Azusa and me traveled from Tokyo to Nagoya. In terms of inhabitants, Nagoya is the 4th city of Japan (about 3 million inhabitants). But before we got onto the Shinkansen (Bullet train, one of the fastest trains in the world), we went to Tokyo Station. Because Azusa had an appointment to meet her friends who she met in India near Tokyo station. So we had a wonderful lunch and I got to meet her nice friends. They were Japanese, but all internationally oriented and they had lived in differen places around the world. It was interesting and fun to meet them.

Japanese lunch near Tokyo Station (Japan)
Japanese lunch near Tokyo Station (Japan)

Kodama Shikansen from Tokyo – Nagoya

After that, we picked up my (way too heavy) luggage at a locker in Tokyo Station. We went onto the train platform and after a while, the Kodama arrived. Kodama is a type of Shinkansen, that usually travels shorter distances than other types of Shinkansens (or: bullet trains).
We were both very tired and we fell asleep on the Kodama. Which was ashame, because it’s a unique experience to travel with a train that goes so fast. I didn’t sleep the whole time. But sometimes, I actually felt the train accelerating. That was excited. And the view is great. You get to see a lot of city centers of Japan when you’re riding the bullet train. Too bad that it’s so expensive. Last time I went to Japan I had a JR Pass. So after paying for the JR pass, every Shinkansen ride was free.
But this time, it wouldn’t make any sense to buy a JR pass, because it would be more expensive. So I got to see the price of a single trip in the Shinkansen this time: about 8.000 yen. That’s quite a lot.

 

Arrival in Nagoya

When it became dark outside, we arrived in Nagoya. First we reserved a Shinkansen ticket for me for my trip back to Tokyo. On Nagoya Station.

Nagoya Station, Japan
Nagoya Station, Japan

 

Then we took another train to a station in Nagoya called “Kanayama”. The meaning of the  kanji (Chinese letters) for this name are “money”  and “mountain”. Money mountain! This station was located in downtown Nagoya. It looked well kept and it seemed a bit more spacious than Tokyo.

Kanayama, Nagoya, Japan
Kanayama, Nagoya, Japan

 

Home sweet home

We were picked up by Azusa’s mother, a very elegant and kind person. She had been in a traffic jam. We drove for a while and then we arrived at their house. Azusa’s father was standing outside with Fuu-chan, the family chihuahua which he just had taken out for a walk. Azusa had warned me about Fuu-chan. Because Fuu-chan had bitten a friend of her sister before. So after greeting Azusa’s father, I stood before Fuu-chan… and…. Best friends! We became friends immediately. Azusa’s family said that Fuu-chan had never been so kind to strange as to me. I really like Fuu-chan ^^!

Fuu-chan. He is on a diet.
Fuu-chan. He is on a diet.

 

Dinner and presents

Met the family in Nagoya
Met the family in Nagoya

Soon we were having dinner. Azusa’s father is a chourinin (chef) and he had made us a delicious meal. One of Azusa’s sisters came to visit with her two young children. After dinner, they helped openening the presens I got for Azusa’s family. Among the presents, there were two caps from the company my mom works for. The children loved them 😀 and that made me happy. I like Nagoya allready.

The children are having fun with their new caps.
The children are having fun with their new caps.
I thought Azusa's father found a very practical application for Delft blue wooden cloggs! Best chopstick holders ever ^^.
I thought Azusa’s father found a very practical application for Delft blue wooden cloggs! Best chopstick holders ever ^^.

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