About

A blog built with Next.js and Tailwind CSS

Welcome to My Blog

<p><img src="/images/2024/1/nayoro-001.jpg" alt="JR Hokkaido Soya Main Line Nayoro Station" title="JR Hokkaido Soya Main Line Nayoro Station">
The station building was built in 1927 and has been renovated for use. It has a retro feel with a cute red roof.</p>
<h2>Nayoro, with its wide sky, can reach -30 degrees Celsius in winter</h2>
<p>The population is about 25,000, making it the 24th most populous city in Hokkaido.<br>
The main industry is agriculture, and it's famous as a production area for glutinous rice.<br>
Since it's located in a basin inland, there's a large temperature difference.<br>
In severe winter, the minimum temperature can exceed -30 degrees Celsius, and phenomena like diamond dust and sun pillars (where sunlight reflects to look like pillars of light) have become local specialties.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IPYZBte8sxg?si=QDET9si6ureTVWk9" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<h2>The station square is unnecessarily large, giving it a desolate feeling</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2024/1/nayoro-002.jpg" alt="Limited Express Soya departing from Nayoro Station toward Wakkanai" title="Limited Express Soya departing from Nayoro Station toward Wakkanai">
The Nayoro Main Line and Fukun Line used to connect here, but they were discontinued, and it became a station on the Soya Main Line. Due to this history and the fact that it once functioned as a freight station, the station grounds seem quite large.</p>
<p>There's little foot traffic in front of the station, and perhaps because Hokkaido has plenty of land, the station square is unnecessarily large, which adds to the desolate atmosphere. The roads are wide, and the buildings are generally spacious.<br>
It feels somewhat un-Japanese, but compared to Tokyo, it tends to feel desolate.</p>
<h2>Buildings in front of the station with a Hokkaido feel</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2024/1/nayoro-003.jpg" alt="Shops in front of Nayoro Station" title="Shops in front of Nayoro Station">
The road width in front of the station is wide, just a few meters from the station building. It's two lanes on each side, but there are no traffic lights. Crossing the crosswalk leads to the shopping street.<br>
There's an arcade on the sidewalk, making it easy to walk even when it snows.</p>
<h2>Something that applies to all shopping streets in Hokkaido: the sidewalks and roads are wide</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2024/1/nayoro-004.jpg" alt="Sidewalk of Neyose-dori Shopping Street near Nayoro Station" title="Sidewalk of Neyose-dori Shopping Street near Nayoro Station">
The sidewalks are wide. The sidewalk width seems to be about 3 meters.<br>
The shopping street is fairly large, but I wonder how many stores there are.<br>
Nayoro City's population peaked at about 37,000, but even so, this shopping street seems too large.<br>
I speculate that people from neighboring cities and towns may have come here to shop.</p>
<p><img src="/images/2024/1/nayoro-005.jpg" alt="Road width of Neyose-dori" title="Road width of Neyose-dori">
It's one lane on each side, but there's plenty of room for parking for deliveries and shopping.<br>
The shopping street is called Neyose-dori Shopping Street, but the city name is Nayoro City (nayoro-shi), so I'm not sure why the reading is different.<br>
Why is that?<br>
The name "Nayoro" is derived from the Ainu word "Nay-or-putu" (river-place-mouth), which refers to the confluence of the current Nayoro River and Teshio River, and kanji were applied to it.<br>
So I don't know why the street is called "neyose."</p>
<h2>Storehouses made of brick, similar in shape to mainland storehouses but clearly different</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2024/1/nayoro-006.jpg" alt="Brick storehouse instead of earthen storehouse" title="Brick storehouse instead of earthen storehouse">
Earthen storehouses have white walls, but Hokkaido storehouses are made of brick. It's a bit strange to see a storehouse shaped like those on the mainland but with brick exterior walls.</p>

【Hokkaido Cities: Nayoro】Walking around Nayoro Station, the central station of Nayoro City, one of the core cities of Northern Hokkaido

<p><img src="/images/2023/12/tsunashima-003.jpg" alt="Tsunashima Station building" title="Tsunashima Station building">
The station building was renovated in 2001. It's a beautiful station building, so I thought it had been recently renovated.</p>
<h2>Opened as Tsunashima Onsen Station</h2>
<p>Originally, it was named "Tsunashima Onsen" with the purpose of developing it as a hot spring resort town, but during the wartime system, "Onsen" was removed and it became "Tsunashima" Station.<br>
Wartime systems do strange things, don't they?<br>
It's said that there was a need to self-restrain from luxurious names, but why that was necessary is a complete mystery.</p>
<p><img src="/images/2023/12/tsunashima-001.jpg" alt="Ticket gate at Tsunashima Station" title="Ticket gate at Tsunashima Station">
What's surprising when getting off the station is how lively it is.<br>
People waiting to meet up are noticeable even in front of the ticket gate.<br>
It's a bit unexpected for a bedroom town residential area, but there are many restaurants near the station, which probably contributes to this.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hNl8XN4chn4?si=fsGSsuL2B30w3tAR" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<h2>A new station has been built and is attracting attention</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2023/12/tsunashima-004.jpg" alt="East exit of Tsunashima Station" title="East exit of Tsunashima Station">
The Tokyu Shin-Yokohama Line opened, and Shin-Tsunashima Station opened about 100 meters from Tsunashima Station on the Tokyu Toyoko Line.<br>
It doesn't seem like that many people are transferring there.<br>
The characteristic of Tsunashima Station was that it had high ridership even before the new station opened, even though it wasn't a transfer station. You can reach Shibuya Station or Meguro Station within 30 minutes, so convenience shouldn't be an issue.<br>
It's also 10 minutes to Yokohama Station.</p>
<ul>
<li>About 28 minutes from Shibuya Station to Tsunashima Station (Tokyu Toyoko Line).</li>
<li>About 60 minutes from Ueno Station to Tsunashima Station (Yamanote Line, Tokyu Meguro Line).</li>
</ul>
<h2>Shopping around Tsunashima Station</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2023/12/tsunashima-002.jpg" alt="Shopping street in front of Tsunashima Station" title="Shopping street in front of Tsunashima Station">
Regarding shopping around Tsunashima Station, there's a Tokyu Store in the station building, and an Ito-Yokado about a 5-minute walk away.<br>
There's also a shopping center called Apita Yokohama about a 15-minute walk away, which probably gets crowded on weekends.<br>
There are many restaurants around the station, including both chain stores and independent shops, so you shouldn't have trouble living here.</p>
<h2>I thought it might be good for young single people</h2>
<p>It seems livable for families, but I think it's more suited for young single people.<br>
Young people stood out when walking through the city. It's probably easy for students and new workers to live here.</p>
<h2>To help you understand the atmosphere of the city</h2>
<p>I was encouraged by a real estate acquaintance to write articles for people looking for properties.<br>
I plan to continue this for a while.<br>
I think it would be helpful since people rarely visit at night when looking for properties.<br>
I hope you find it useful.<br>
If you're in real estate and would like me to film this city, please contact me.<br>
<a href="https://forms.gle/MgDpDDxfiXJH5sEMA">Please contact us through this Google Form</a></p>

【For People Looking for a Place to Live: Tsunashima Station】The charm of a bedroom town that opened as Tsunashima Onsen Station - an interesting history (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture)

<p><img src="/images/2023/12/kitami-001.jpg" alt="JR Hokkaido Sekihoku Main Line Kitami Station" title="JR Hokkaido Sekihoku Main Line Kitami Station"></p>
<p>The station building doesn't appear in the Netflix drama "First Love," but the station where the two main characters meet and get off the train together is Kitami Station.<br>
The platform and ticket gate appear in the drama, but the cityscape doesn't.</p>
<h2>Kitami Station was originally opened as Notsukeushi Station and later renamed</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2023/12/kitami-002.jpg" alt="Old Kitami Station (Notsukeushi Station) building and new station building" title="Old Kitami Station (Notsukeushi Station) building and new station building">
It opened as Notsukeushi Station in 1911. "Notsukeushi" is derived from the Ainu name "Nup-kes" with kanji applied.<br>
This area of Hokkaido was established as Kitami Province after the Boshin War, and because it was the center of the province, it became Kitami City in 1942.<br>
Along with that, Notsukeushi Station was renamed to Kitami Station.</p>
<h2>Walking through the shopping street, there's a Tonden Clock Tower in the center</h2>
<p>The central area was developed by Tonden soldiers.</p>
<p><img src="/images/2023/12/kitami-003.jpg" alt="Tonden Clock Tower" title="Tonden Clock Tower">
There's a large shopping street near the station, and in its center is the Tonden Clock Tower.<br>
The Kitami Cultural Center has a Tonden soldier's house built when settlers first arrived in 1897.<br>
It seems to be a restoration combining materials from two buildings, but it's hard to believe people lived in this wooden house in temperatures below -10 degrees Celsius.<br>
It's hard to imagine how harsh the development of Hokkaido was.<br>
I wonder if watching the movie "Year One in the North" would help me understand a bit.</p>
<h2>Good atmosphere with interesting buildings - I hope architecture lovers will walk here</h2>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9_Bc_FoHxRg?si=JsJnjFSZr6upiZrp" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
As you can see in the video, the sidewalks are wide and it's quite an impressive shopping street.  
Kitami City's population hasn't decreased much, so considering the desolate feeling around the station, it seems this city has also become suburban.  
It's moving to walk while thinking about the development era while looking at the Tonden Clock Tower.  
There are many buildings with a good atmosphere that evoke the era, and the arcade is solid, so I hope it becomes more active.  
It's a bit disappointing to think about it that way.
<h2>The shopping street was desolate because it was early morning</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2023/12/kitami-006.jpg" alt="JR Hokkaido Sekihoku Main Line Kitami Station" title="JR Hokkaido Sekihoku Main Line Kitami Station">
It was 9 AM. Since stores weren't open yet, the timing of my walk was a bit too early.<br>
Next time, I'd like to walk when the stores are open.<br>
Perhaps because Hokkaido gets a lot of snow, there used to be many shopping streets with arcades.<br>
Many have been removed due to aging and population decline, so I hope the arcade in Kitami's shopping street remains as long as possible.</p>

【Hokkaido Cities: Kitami】Walking through the city featured in Netflix drama "First Love"

<p><img src="/images/2023/12/ageo-002.jpg" alt="West exit of Ageo Station" title="West exit of Ageo Station"></p>
<h2>Ageo Station has good access to central Tokyo</h2>
<p>Despite not being a station with multiple lines, it has the second-highest ridership among stations on the Takasaki Line after Omiya Station (Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture).<br>
It's higher than Takasaki Station (Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture) or Kumagaya Station (Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture), which are transfer stations for the Shinkansen.</p>
<ul>
<li>About 45 minutes from Shibuya Station to Ageo Station (Shonan-Shinjuku Line).</li>
<li>About 35 minutes from Ueno Station to Ageo Station (Ueno-Tokyo Line).</li>
</ul>
<p>It may depend on the time of day or day of the week, but it's quite convenient.</p>
<h2>Video of the area around Ageo Station</h2>
<p>This was filmed after 8 PM, but even at this time, quite a few people are walking around the station area.<br>
There's no entertainment district with bars, and there are no solicitors or hostess bar staff around the station, so the public safety seems good.<br>
There are hostess bars a bit away from the station, so it might feel different if you go there.</p>
<p>I recommend watching the video since visiting at night when looking for a place to move is quite a high hurdle.<br>
I've filmed all around the station, so you should be able to get a sense of the atmosphere around Ageo Station at night.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ukI_M3v2QGk?si=p8fqXAtloCdIDOFQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>

<h2>Shopping around Ageo Station</h2>
<p>There's an Ito-Yokado Ageo Ekimae store immediately to the left when exiting the west exit of the station, which seems convenient (open from 10 AM to 9 PM).</p>
<p><img src="/images/2023/12/ageo-003.jpg" alt="Department store at the east exit of Ageo Station" title="Department store at the east exit of Ageo Station">
There's also a Maruhiro Department Store Ageo store at the opposite west exit, which is nice. Well, I guess people don't shop at department stores much these days.</p>
<p>There aren't that many convenience stores right in front of the station, but there seem to be several stores if you walk a bit.<br>
I went to the nearest 7-Eleven from the station when filming, and it was quite crowded with a line, so maybe it would be better if there were more convenience stores.</p>
<p>Also, there's an Aeon Ageo about a 10-minute drive west from the station, and an Aeon Mall Ageo about a 10-minute drive southeast from the station, so shopping on holidays seems good too.</p>
<h2>Ageo Station developed from a post town on the old Nakasendo Road in the Edo period</h2>
<p>The old Nakasendo Road passes through the east side of the station, showing that Ageo was once a post town.<br>
So the area around the station isn't just a new residential area but also has a retro atmosphere.<br>
I think this balance is the charm of this city.</p>
<p><img src="/images/2023/12/ageo-004.jpg" alt="Shopping street at the east exit of Ageo Station" title="Shopping street at the east exit of Ageo Station"></p>
<h2>Final thoughts and summary</h2>
<p>My impression is that there aren't that many restaurants around Ageo Station.<br>
It's probably a city where many people live a suburban lifestyle. Actually, I've heard it's a ramen battle zone, but I think the ramen shops are scattered throughout the city.</p>
<p>There are also many large parks, and nature still remains, which seems attractive for families raising children.<br>
Regarding property prices, I thought rental prices are relatively affordable while still being convenient (please refer to real estate sites for details).</p>
<p><img src="/images/2023/12/ageo-001.jpg" alt="Shopping street at the west exit of Ageo Station" title="Shopping street at the west exit of Ageo Station"></p>
<h2>To help you understand the atmosphere of the city</h2>
<p>I was encouraged by a real estate acquaintance to write articles for people looking for properties.<br>
I plan to continue this for a while.<br>
I think it would be helpful since people rarely visit at night when looking for properties.<br>
I hope you find it useful.<br>
If you're in real estate and would like me to film this city, please contact me.<br>
<a href="https://forms.gle/MgDpDDxfiXJH5sEMA">Please contact us through this Google Form</a></p>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h2">Introduction to iPhone apps used when filming walking videos</p>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">App for recording walking routes: Ride with GPS: Bike Navigation</p>
<p class="text">You can record not only bicycle routes but also walking routes without problems. The route planning feature is especially convenient.</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/ride-with-gps-bike-navigation/id893687399?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/0d/ae/8d/0dae8d61-de41-82f9-7db3-e5f556dec237/AppIcon-0-1x_U007emarketing-0-7-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="Ride with GPS: Bike Navigation" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">App used for live streaming: PRISM: Live Streaming App</p>
<p class="text">The feature is higher video quality than the official YouTube app's live streaming function. I think many people use it for live streaming walking videos</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/prism-live-streaming-app/id1319056339?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/c0/4c/5c/c04c5cc5-bf2d-2f2a-d1db-e92e43a3c43a/AppIcon-1x_U007emarketing-0-7-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="PRISM: Live Streaming App" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">Standard camera is good, but video recording app: Blackmagic Camera</p>
<p class="text">I think it's especially convenient for people who edit videos with DaVinci Resolve. The standard camera is good too, but being able to adjust settings in detail is nice</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/blackmagic-camera/id6449580241?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/08/50/8c/08508c82-9c60-0e8e-8511-765d6e2b5898/AppIcon-1x_U007emarketing-0-8-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="Blackmagic Camera" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>

【For People Looking for a Place to Live: Ageo Station】Ageo City with a growing population. The charm of a city with good balance of old and new, convenient location (Ageo City, Saitama Prefecture)

<p><img src="/images/2023/12/nemuro-010.jpg" alt="JR Hokkaido Nemuro Main Line Nemuro Station" title="JR Hokkaido Nemuro Main Line Nemuro Station"></p>
<p>The easternmost existing station is Higashi-Nemuro Station ahead, but the terminus of JR Hokkaido's Nemuro Main Line is Nemuro Station.<br>
I like this station building full of local character.</p>
<h2>A city of marine products</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2023/12/nemuro-001.jpg" alt="Shop selling Hanasaki crabs in front of JR Hokkaido Nemuro Main Line Nemuro Station" title="Shop selling Hanasaki crabs in front of JR Hokkaido Nemuro Main Line Nemuro Station"></p>
<p>Shops selling Hanasaki crabs line up in front of the station.<br>
It seems you can have them boiled fresh on the spot, not frozen.<br>
However, I have a shellfish allergy, so I can't eat them.<br>
When I come to Hokkaido, this is always disappointing.<br>
Steam rises from large pots, and crab lovers would probably get excited.</p>
<h2>Nemuro City also has noticeable population decline</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2023/12/nemuro-006.jpg" alt="Nemuro city shrouded in fog" title="Nemuro city shrouded in fog">
On this day, it was shrouded in fog. I think you should be able to see the sea from here normally.<br>
Nemuro City also has quite serious population decline.<br>
As of 2023, about 22,500 people. In 2016, it was about 27,000, so a decrease of 4,500 people in 7 years.<br>
That's quite a decrease.<br>
A former student from when I was a vocational school instructor lives in Nemuro, and they said the lack of good high schools is a concern.<br>
It's still more than 10 years away, but it's still worrying.<br>
I wonder what the population will be by then.</p>
<h2>The farthest place from Tokyo</h2>
<p>The night before, I rented a car near Chitose Airport, went shopping, passed through Sapporo, and stayed in Obihiro.<br>
That morning, I filmed around Obihiro Station and moved to Kushiro. After filming around Kushiro Station, I headed to Nemuro.<br>
I planned to travel quite a distance this day, going through the Shiretoko Peninsula to Abashiri City.<br>
I wish I could explore each city more leisurely, but I had to push on.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sLwo23HHat8?si=644thUKpbDCXP_ql" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<p>However, even using highways partway, it's 423 kilometers from Sapporo.<br>
Going west from Tokyo, that's about the same distance as past Nagoya to Shigaraki Town in Shiga Prefecture, or going northeast, to Kurihara City in northern Miyagi Prefecture.<br>
The sense of distance in Hokkaido always bugs out. Every time I go, I think I want to travel Hokkaido leisurely someday.</p>
<p><img src="/images/2023/12/nemuro-005.jpg" alt="Warehouse typical of Hokkaido" title="Warehouse typical of Hokkaido"></p>
<p>If you use Nemuro-Nakashibetsu Airport, it might not be that far from Tokyo, but via Chitose Airport, it's probably one of the farthest places from Tokyo.<br>
I've also been to Makurazaki City in Kagoshima Prefecture, but even that felt much closer than Nemuro City or Wakkanai City in Hokkaido.</p>
<h2>A city that makes you think a bit about the Northern Territories</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2023/12/nemuro-003.jpg" alt="Advertisement tower saying &#x22;Return the Northern Territories!&#x22;" title="Advertisement tower saying &#x27;Return the Northern Territories!&#x27;"></p>
<p>Another characteristic or impressive thing about Nemuro City is probably the Northern Territories issue.<br>
The number of former residents of the Northern Territories is decreasing, and I don't hear about it as much as before, but when I come to Nemuro, I'm reminded of the Northern Territories.<br>
There's an advertisement tower saying "Return the Northern Territories!" in front of the station, and signs are installed throughout the city, so you can't help but think about it.</p>
<h2>Heading to Nemuro from Kushiro through Akkeshi</h2>
<p>After filming around Kushiro Station, I headed to Nemuro on National Route 44.</p>
<p><img src="/images/2023/12/nemuro-008.jpg" alt="Shop selling Hanasaki crabs in front of JR Hokkaido Nemuro Main Line Nemuro Station" title="Shop selling Hanasaki crabs in front of JR Hokkaido Nemuro Main Line Nemuro Station">
I had oysters at the roadside station "Akkeshi Gourmet Park" along the way.<br>
Two for 600 yen seems cheap, what do you think?<br>
They were quite delicious.</p>
<p>The road from Kushiro to Nemuro was more Hokkaido-like than I imagined.<br>
Endless flat fields, ranches with cows and horses, forests on both sides of the road that make you uneasy—it was interesting to see landscapes you can't experience on the mainland.</p>
<h2>I don't think you'll have many opportunities to go, but I recommend visiting Nemuro</h2>
<p>My brother and close acquaintances traveled around Hokkaido when they were university students.<br>
I don't think you'll have many opportunities to go unless you're at an age with plenty of time like your student days, but if you travel to Eastern Hokkaido, please stop by Nemuro.<br>
There may not be any particular tourist spots, but it was a city with a mysterious charm and beautiful surrounding scenery.<br>
I want to go again.</p>

【Hokkaido Cities: Nemuro】Walking through Nemuro City, the easternmost city in Japan

<p><img src="/images/2023/12/komagome-002.jpg" alt="East exit of Komagome Station" title="East exit of Komagome Station"></p>
<h2>Exiting the east exit, small shopping streets stretch north and south</h2>
<p>It's also a transfer station for the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, with the north and south exits on that side and the opposite side being the east exit, which is a bit confusing.<br>
I worry that first-time visitors might get lost. Moreover, if you mistakenly exit on the wrong side, there's quite a distance—it probably takes more than 5 minutes to walk.<br>
Couldn't they have better signage?</p>
<p>In terms of rent, of course it's not cheap since it's on the Yamanote Line, but compared to popular stations that are always at the top like Ebisu Station, it's definitely cheaper.</p>
<p><img src="/images/2023/12/komagome-001.jpg" alt="North exit of Komagome Station" title="North exit of Komagome Station"></p>
<p>The east exit has a ticket gate that doesn't look like a Yamanote Line station. There's a vegetable shop right next to it that's quite busy.
The north and south exit station building was renovated in 2006, but the east exit still looks like this in photos.
Yamanote Line stations have ticket gates on the non-main side with a similar atmosphere, but this local feel is probably only at Uguisudani Station and Komagome Station.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/soY6wYxkOcE?si=qy9_oxH5XQ5v2xzH" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<p>Rikugien Garden is also right near the south exit, enhancing the atmosphere of the city. It's nice to have lots of greenery.</p>
<h2>Since it's a Yamanote Line station, convenience is no problem</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2023/12/komagome-004.jpg" alt="South exit of Komagome Station" title="South exit of Komagome Station">
It's also a transfer station for the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line.
Since it's a Yamanote Line station, convenience is naturally no problem.</p>
<ul>
<li>About 22 minutes from Shibuya Station to Komagome Station (Yamanote Line).</li>
<li>About 10 minutes from Ueno Station to Komagome Station (Yamanote Line).</li>
</ul>
<p>The frequency is also incredibly high, so you won't have any problems. It's always crowded, so you probably can't sit down for commuting or school.</p>
<h2>Shopping around Komagome Station</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2023/12/komagome-003.jpg" alt="Shopping street at the east exit of Komagome Station" title="Shopping street at the east exit of Komagome Station"></p>
<p>Exiting the east exit, shopping streets stretch north: Komagome Satsuki-dori, Shimofuri Ginza, Somei Ginza, and south: Azalea-dori, Tabata Ginza.
They're not large, but there are supermarkets, so you shouldn't have trouble shopping.
The east exit side has small restaurants scattered around, and exiting the north/south exits, there are chain stores, so you should be able to live comfortably.</p>
<h2>To help you understand the atmosphere of the city</h2>
<p>I was encouraged by a real estate acquaintance to write articles for people looking for properties.<br>
I plan to continue this for a while.<br>
I think it would be helpful since people rarely visit at night when looking for properties.<br>
I hope you find it useful.<br>
If you're in real estate and would like me to film this city, please contact me.<br>
<a href="https://forms.gle/MgDpDDxfiXJH5sEMA">Please contact us through this Google Form</a></p>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h2">Introduction to iPhone apps used when filming walking videos</p>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">App for recording walking routes: Ride with GPS: Bike Navigation</p>
<p class="text">You can record not only bicycle routes but also walking routes without problems. The route planning feature is especially convenient.</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/ride-with-gps-bike-navigation/id893687399?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/0d/ae/8d/0dae8d61-de41-82f9-7db3-e5f556dec237/AppIcon-0-1x_U007emarketing-0-7-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="Ride with GPS: Bike Navigation" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">App used for live streaming: PRISM: Live Streaming App</p>
<p class="text">The feature is higher video quality than the official YouTube app's live streaming function. I think many people use it for live streaming walking videos</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/prism-live-streaming-app/id1319056339?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/c0/4c/5c/c04c5cc5-bf2d-2f2a-d1db-e92e43a3c43a/AppIcon-1x_U007emarketing-0-7-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="PRISM: Live Streaming App" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">Standard camera is good, but video recording app: Blackmagic Camera</p>
<p class="text">I think it's especially convenient for people who edit videos with DaVinci Resolve. The standard camera is good too, but being able to adjust settings in detail is nice</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/blackmagic-camera/id6449580241?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/08/50/8c/08508c82-9c60-0e8e-8511-765d6e2b5898/AppIcon-1x_U007emarketing-0-8-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="Blackmagic Camera" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>

【For People Looking for a Place to Live: Komagome Station】The charm of a station on the Yamanote Line with no large entertainment district, retaining a downtown feel (Toshima Ward, Tokyo)

<p><img src="/images/2023/11/chiba-002.jpg" alt="Entertainment district in Chiba" title="Entertainment district in Chiba"></p>
<h2>Too many station names with "Chiba" around Chiba Station</h2>
<p>Around Chiba Station, there are too many station names with "Chiba" in them, which would confuse people coming from other prefectures.<br>
Of course, Saitama also has the problem of too many station names with "Urawa," but this is equally or more confusing.</p>
<p>Personally, I feel the "Chiba" problem is even more confusing than the "Urawa" problem.<br>
That's because within about a 10-minute walk from Chiba Station, there are "Shin-Chiba Station," "Higashi-Chiba Station," "Keisei Chiba Station," and "Chiba Central Station."<br>
Usually, when "Shin" (new) is at the beginning of a station name followed by the region's main station, you'd think it's a Shinkansen station name, right? That's usually the pattern, isn't it?<br>
Well, Chiba doesn't have a Shinkansen, so it's impossible, but I wish they'd consider this.<br>
It seems to be a known problem online that the area around Chiba Station is confusing.</p>
<p>And not just the station names, but the city structure is also quite complex.</p>

<h2>The relocated JR Chiba Station and Keisei Chiba Station</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2023/11/chiba-003.jpg" alt="Entertainment district in Chiba" title="Entertainment district in Chiba"></p>
<p>In 1963, 60 years ago, Chiba Station was relocated to its current position.<br>
The old Chiba Station was between Higashi-Chiba Station and the current Chiba Station.<br>
Of course, for convenience, Keisei Chiba Station was also relocated. And it relocated to the current Chiba Central Station as Keisei Chiba Station.<br>
And the current Keisei Chiba Station opened as JNR Chiba Station-mae Station.<br>
It must have been quite confusing when they relocated.</p>
<ul>
<li>Old Chiba Station → (relocated) → Current Chiba Station</li>
<li>Higashi-Chiba Station (opened) near old Chiba Station</li>
<li>Old Keisei Chiba Station → (relocated) → Keisei Chiba Station → (renamed) → Chiba Central Station</li>
<li>JNR Chiba Station-mae Station (opened) → (renamed) → Current Keisei Chiba Station</li>
</ul>
<p>These changes make the roads and city structure confusing.</p>
<h2>The old main street extending from the old Chiba Station</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2023/11/chiba-001.jpg" alt="Suspicious neon in Sakae-cho" title="Suspicious neon in Sakae-cho"></p>
<p>When Chiba Station was relocated, department stores and shops also relocated accordingly.</p>
<p>What's interesting is the old main street called Humming Road Palsa (Sakae-cho Shopping Street) extending from the old Chiba Station to the prefectural office, which retains a main street feel but also has a somewhat suspicious atmosphere.<br>
Around this old main street, there are flashy adult entertainment shops that catch your eye.<br>
There are also women standing on the sidewalks.<br>
It seems that when the old Chiba Station was relocated, adult entertainment shops were built on the vacant land. But why adult entertainment shops?</p>
<h2>Video of the area around Chiba Station</h2>
<p>This is a video touring the entertainment district around Fujimi (Fujimi-cho?) where many solicitors are standing on the streets, passing through the area from Chiba Station to Sakae-cho.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QOy3wmPuHi4?si=PDC8mNHiF3CuG4rI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<p>Major stations or stations in large central areas usually develop around the station or have organized grid-like layouts, but I think the area around Chiba Station is unusual.<br>
If I had to say, the area from Chiba Station to Chiba Central Station feels like the main entertainment district. Moreover, the area sandwiched between the Uchibo Line, Sotobo Line, and monorail is thriving.</p>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h2">Introduction to iPhone apps used when filming walking videos</p>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">App for recording walking routes: Ride with GPS: Bike Navigation</p>
<p class="text">You can record not only bicycle routes but also walking routes without problems. The route planning feature is especially convenient.</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/ride-with-gps-bike-navigation/id893687399?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/0d/ae/8d/0dae8d61-de41-82f9-7db3-e5f556dec237/AppIcon-0-1x_U007emarketing-0-7-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="Ride with GPS: Bike Navigation" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">App used for live streaming: PRISM: Live Streaming App</p>
<p class="text">The feature is higher video quality than the official YouTube app's live streaming function. I think many people use it for live streaming walking videos</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/prism-live-streaming-app/id1319056339?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/c0/4c/5c/c04c5cc5-bf2d-2f2a-d1db-e92e43a3c43a/AppIcon-1x_U007emarketing-0-7-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="PRISM: Live Streaming App" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">Standard camera is good, but video recording app: Blackmagic Camera</p>
<p class="text">I think it's especially convenient for people who edit videos with DaVinci Resolve. The standard camera is good too, but being able to adjust settings in detail is nice</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/blackmagic-camera/id6449580241?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/08/50/8c/08508c82-9c60-0e8e-8511-765d6e2b5898/AppIcon-1x_U007emarketing-0-8-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="Blackmagic Camera" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>

【Chiba City: Area around Chiba Station】I investigated the history of the somewhat mysterious city structure

<p><img src="/images/2023/11/hitachi-001.jpg" alt="Ginza-dori Shopping Street in Hitachi City" title="Ginza-dori Shopping Street in Hitachi City">
This photo is from when I went to Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture. I came because I heard there was an arcade on the sidewalks on both sides of this road, but it had already been removed.</p>
<h2>Why do I film and publish videos of cities?</h2>
<p><strong>Going to various cities is just fun</strong>
No matter which city I go to, I always discover something.<br>
It's fun to research and think about what causes large shopping streets to be desolate, or what their history is.</p>
<p><strong>I want to discover and share the beauty of cities</strong>
Every city has beauty. When I film and watch the videos, I discover the beauty of casual street corners, old buildings, and crumbling houses.<br>
I want to share the beauty I discover this way, so I publish on YouTube.</p>
<p><strong>Rapidly changing Japanese cityscapes</strong>
City centers and large cities like Shibuya are constantly being redeveloped and changing.<br>
Cities that have lost population are also changing rapidly, not just shopping streets where the first arcades have been removed.<br>
I want to preserve the changing cityscapes of Japan in the 2020s, where population decline is remarkable.</p>
<p><strong>I want to preserve scenes of people living their daily lives</strong>
Of course, not just the cities, but I want to preserve scenes of people living their daily lives there.</p>
<h2>Current state of cityscapes in Japanese regional cities</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2023/11/sakurai-001.jpg" alt="Chuo-dori Shopping Street in Sakurai City" title="Chuo-dori Shopping Street in Sakurai City">
This shopping street in Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture, also had its arcade removed in 2023.</p>
<p>There are apparently about 760 cities, towns, and villages in Japan with a population of 30,000 or more.<br>
Checking my filming records, I've visited about 300 cities, towns, and wards.<br>
I haven't even visited half yet.<br>
However, I've visited over 90% of cities, towns, and villages in the Tokyo metropolitan area (Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa prefectures), so the unvisited ones are relatively distant cities, towns, and villages outside the metropolitan area.<br>
To visit and film these unvisited cities, towns, and villages, filming trips are essential.</p>
<h2>The money needed to film walking videos</h2>
<p>Of course, filming trips require travel expenses.</p>
<p><strong>I was doing filming trips at a loss, but that's not sustainable</strong>
I used to earn money from side jobs and use that to cover travel expenses for filming.<br>
However, pushing myself to do filming trips like that isn't sustainable.<br>
So to increase sustainability, I've suspended filming in distant locations.<br>
The last distant filming was in Yamagata Prefecture exactly one year ago. Now I'm focusing on the Tokyo metropolitan area.</p>

<p><strong>I want to live a life of car camping while working during the day and filming in my spare time</strong>
To do that, I'm trying to get a car first. A used light van is fine.<br>
Ideally, it would be a Honda N-VAN. Used ones cost over 1 million yen.<br>
It's a bit expensive among light vans. It has safety features and seems reliable for long-distance driving.</p>
<p><img src="https://www.honda.co.jp/N-VAN/top/images/img_mainvisual.jpg" alt="Honda N-VAN" title="Honda N-VAN"></p>
<p><a href="https://www.honda.co.jp/N-VAN/">N-VAN | Honda Official Site</a></p>
<p>The N-VAN is a bit expensive, so realistically, I'm also considering a Daihatsu Hijet Cargo.<br>
That would be around 300,000 to 500,000 yen.</p>
<p><strong>Simulating and calculating travel expenses</strong>
I want to calculate running costs assuming one filming trip per month for 10 days.</p>
<p><strong>Transportation costs (gasoline, parking, etc.)</strong>
When I go to a location, I can work at a place with parking, but if I use coworking spaces, I'll need parking during that time.<br>
Considering maximum fees, I'm thinking about 10,000 to 15,000 yen for 10 days, but it might be cheaper depending on the city.</p>
<p>For gasoline, it's 500 kilometers to Osaka. Light vans seem to get about 15-18 kilometers per liter.<br>
So round trip would be about 10,000 yen, but since I stop at various places and pass through various cities, I think 15,000 yen would be safe.</p>
<p><strong>Cost of places to work (coworking spaces, cafes where work is OK, etc.)</strong>
For example, "E-Office" which can be used at 900 locations nationwide has an unlimited monthly plan for 22,000 yen<br>
<a href="https://e-office.space/">E-Office</a><br>
I think around 20,000 yen per month for unlimited use is typical.<br>
Pay-per-use would be quite expensive, so monthly is probably better.</p>
<p><strong>Food expenses</strong>
For lunch, I think local restaurants for local food would be good. That would be about 1,000 to 1,500 yen.<br>
For breakfast, a pastry, and for dinner, salad and boiled eggs from a convenience store for 500 yen. I'm assuming about 2,000 yen per day.<br>
That would be about 20,000 yen for 10 days.</p>
<p><strong>Bathing fees</strong>
Public baths, super sento, day-trip hot springs—averaging about 1,000 yen per day.<br>
That's 10,000 yen for 10 days.</p>
<p><strong>Total for 10 days</strong>
Travel expenses including unlimited coworking space fees would be 80,000 yen for 10 days.<br>
That's much cheaper compared to using hotels and public transportation.<br>
If I used hotels instead of car camping, just the accommodation for 10 days would cost about 80,000 yen (and with inbound tourism, hotels are hard to get in some places).</p>
<p>Including monthly parking, car maintenance costs would be about 50,000 yen per month.</p>
<p><strong>Equipment costs</strong>
Total equipment purchase costs for 2023
I use a bicycle for filming, but I'm riding one I bought over 10 years ago that I've restored.
Including that, bicycle-related purchases in 2023 were 104,411 yen.</p>
<p>Also, purchase costs for cameras, recording equipment, and peripheral equipment used for filming were 299,790 yen.
I bought more than I imagined.</p>
<p>Total was 404,201 yen.</p>
<p><strong>Other</strong>
Music subscription costs for BGM: 2,844 yen per month<br>
Adobe product subscription costs (Photoshop, Illustrator, Audition, etc.): 6,480 yen per month</p>
<h2>I want to deliver drive live streams frequently, not just walking videos</h2>
<p>If I receive support, I'll have financial flexibility, and I won't need to earn money from side jobs to cover operating costs.<br>
That will also give me time flexibility, and I'll be able to do things I wanted to do frequently but couldn't.<br>
With that time flexibility, I'll be able to do drive live streams frequently from travel destinations.</p>
<p>Of course, I'll be able to film and deliver cityscapes and street corners of regional cities that haven't been fully conveyed.</p>
<h2>What do you think? I'm spending quite a bit on filming, aren't I?</h2>
<p>For about the past year, I've been filming in the Tokyo metropolitan area as day trips. Even so, travel expenses like transportation costs are incurred.<br>
I want to introduce the cameras that evolve every year and preserve higher quality images.<br>
Equipment also costs money—things break, batteries degrade, need replacement when used weekly to operate the channel.<br>
So I'm asking for support in various ways. I'm very happy just to have understanding and empathy.<br>
Further support would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<h2>machidori.ch asks for support in various ways</h2>
<p>machidori.ch asks for support for travel expenses for filming, equipment and material purchase costs, etc. to operate the YouTube channel. I would be grateful for your support.</p>
<div class="paypal-support-wrapper">
  <a href="https://bit.ly/3R6RvD5" target="_blank" class="paypal-support-link">Support machidori.ch via PayPal.Me</a>
  <table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td align="center"><a href="#" onclick="javascript:window.open(&#x27;https://www.paypal.com/jp/webapps/mpp/logo/about&#x27;,&#x27;olcwhatispaypal&#x27;,&#x27;toolbar=no, location=no, directories=no, status=no, menubar=no, scrollbars=yes, resizable=yes, width=900, height=700&#x27;);"><img src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/marketing/web/jp/developer/logos-buttons/download/203x80_c-2-20200120.png" border="0" alt="PayPal｜Bank transfers also 0 yen fees, card points accumulate｜VISA,Mastercard,JCB,American Express, Bank"></a></td></tr></tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="codoc-support-wrapper">
  <script src="https://codoc.jp/js/cms.js" data-css="rainbow" data-usercode="V940arvQkA" charset="UTF-8" defer></script>
  <div id="codoc-entry-r0pkvD4naw" class="codoc-entries" data-without-body="1" data-support-button-text="Support machidori.ch" data-support-message="machidori.ch asks for support for travel expenses for filming, equipment and material purchase costs, etc. to operate the YouTube channel. I would be grateful for your support"></div>
</div>
<ul>
<li>Become a member of machidori.ch to support (YouTube Channel Membership): https://bit.ly/3se89YN</li>
<li>Become a sponsor of machidori.ch videos to support (machidori.ch Shop): https://bit.ly/3tAK8vv</li>
<li>Purchase products from machidori.ch's Amazon page to support (Amazon.co.jp): https://amzn.to/492osIN</li>
</ul>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h2">Introduction to iPhone apps used when filming walking videos</p>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">App for recording walking routes: Ride with GPS: Bike Navigation</p>
<p class="text">You can record not only bicycle routes but also walking routes without problems. The route planning feature is especially convenient.</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/ride-with-gps-bike-navigation/id893687399?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/0d/ae/8d/0dae8d61-de41-82f9-7db3-e5f556dec237/AppIcon-0-1x_U007emarketing-0-7-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="Ride with GPS: Bike Navigation" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">App used for live streaming: PRISM: Live Streaming App</p>
<p class="text">The feature is higher video quality than the official YouTube app's live streaming function. I think many people use it for live streaming walking videos</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/prism-live-streaming-app/id1319056339?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/c0/4c/5c/c04c5cc5-bf2d-2f2a-d1db-e92e43a3c43a/AppIcon-1x_U007emarketing-0-7-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="PRISM: Live Streaming App" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">Standard camera is good, but video recording app: Blackmagic Camera</p>
<p class="text">I think it's especially convenient for people who edit videos with DaVinci Resolve. The standard camera is good too, but being able to adjust settings in detail is nice</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/blackmagic-camera/id6449580241?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/08/50/8c/08508c82-9c60-0e8e-8511-765d6e2b5898/AppIcon-1x_U007emarketing-0-8-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="Blackmagic Camera" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>

machidori.ch asks for support in various ways - here's why

<p><img src="/images/2023/11/okayama-001.jpg" alt="Okayama Castle" title="Okayama Castle"></p>
<h2>The view of Okayama Castle's keep from Tsukimi Bridge is picturesque</h2>
<p>I really like the beautiful shape of Okayama Castle's keep.<br>
I remember being fond of Okayama Castle as a child and treasuring a postcard my mother bought me.<br>
It has quite a lot of charm, so I thought it might be an original keep, but unfortunately, it's a reconstructed keep. So it's reinforced concrete.<br>
If it were original, I think it wouldn't be strange for it to be a National Treasure.<br>
As for which view of the keep is recommended, it's from Tsukimi Bridge spanning between it and Korakuen, one of Japan's three great gardens. It's nice to view it together with the inverted keep reflected in the Asahi River.</p>
<p><img src="/images/2023/11/okayama-002.jpg" alt="Okayama Castle from Meyasubashi Bridge" title="Okayama Castle from Meyasubashi Bridge"></p>
<p>From that Tsukimi Bridge, I head toward the area with Okayama Prefectural Library and Hayashibara Museum of Art. Going almost straight, you hit the inner moat.<br>
Enjoying the stone walls of the main enclosure is what castle lovers do. The stone walls are beautiful because the Seto Inland Sea is a source of stone.<br>
And the view when you look back after crossing Meyasubashi Bridge over the inner moat is also good.<br>
Meyasubashi is the bridge from the main gate side (this is the front entrance) to the main enclosure, and it's named after the suggestion box (meyasubako) that was placed at the bridge's base.</p>

<p>From Meyasubashi, I go through "Crow Castle Road" to the castle town area and head toward Omotecho Shopping Street.<br>
Like Hokkancho Shopping Street introduced in a previous article, this shopping street is also an arcade shopping street along the Saigoku Kaido (old Sanyo Road).</p>
<p><img src="/images/2023/11/okayama-003.jpg" alt="North Clock Tower of Omotecho Shopping Street" title="North Clock Tower of Omotecho Shopping Street"></p>
<p>When I lived in Okayama about 15 years ago, the center of the city was Omotecho Shopping Street, but now maybe the Aeon Mall in front of the station feels more central?<br>
There's an arcade shopping street, a department store called Tenmaya, a large bus terminal, and many restaurants—I came to this area multiple times a week. It's nostalgic.<br>
Walking through the arcade shopping street from the Momotaro-dori side, you immediately come to the North Clock Tower.</p>
<h2>When you reach around Circus Dome (South Clock Tower), closed shops increase and it becomes desolate</h2>
<p>This area has many shops, and it's fun just looking at the shop exteriors.<br>
Right in the middle is Tenmaya's Okayama main store. There are large panels of high brands, giving you the feeling of being at a department store.</p>
<p><img src="/images/2023/11/okayama-004.jpg" alt="South Clock Tower at Circus Dome in Omotecho Shopping Street" title="South Clock Tower at Circus Dome in Omotecho Shopping Street"></p>
<p>Continuing straight toward Higashiyama-dori, the number of open shops gradually decreases. Shops with shutters closed increase.<br>
At a place called Circus Dome on the opposite side from where I entered, there's the South Clock Tower. When you reach this area, it's quite desolate.<br>
I remember occasionally coming to this area to eat ramen.</p>
<h2>Video of walking from Okayama Castle to Omotecho Shopping Street</h2>
<p>This is a video filmed in the spring of 2021. It was the season when cherry blossoms were beautifully blooming at Crow Castle Park (Okayama Castle).<br>
Also, the shopping street wasn't open yet, so you can't tell how busy it is. This happened due to the travel schedule.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yEuzrwSPIIA?si=Et-f8eLmfd69gXgM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<p>Okayama articles are viewed quite a bit, so this is a reintroduction of Okayama Castle and the shopping street in the city center.</p>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h2">Introduction to iPhone apps used when filming walking videos</p>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">App for recording walking routes: Ride with GPS: Bike Navigation</p>
<p class="text">You can record not only bicycle routes but also walking routes without problems. The route planning feature is especially convenient.</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/ride-with-gps-bike-navigation/id893687399?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/0d/ae/8d/0dae8d61-de41-82f9-7db3-e5f556dec237/AppIcon-0-1x_U007emarketing-0-7-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="Ride with GPS: Bike Navigation" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">App used for live streaming: PRISM: Live Streaming App</p>
<p class="text">The feature is higher video quality than the official YouTube app's live streaming function. I think many people use it for live streaming walking videos</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/prism-live-streaming-app/id1319056339?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/c0/4c/5c/c04c5cc5-bf2d-2f2a-d1db-e92e43a3c43a/AppIcon-1x_U007emarketing-0-7-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="PRISM: Live Streaming App" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">Standard camera is good, but video recording app: Blackmagic Camera</p>
<p class="text">I think it's especially convenient for people who edit videos with DaVinci Resolve. The standard camera is good too, but being able to adjust settings in detail is nice</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/blackmagic-camera/id6449580241?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/08/50/8c/08508c82-9c60-0e8e-8511-765d6e2b5898/AppIcon-1x_U007emarketing-0-8-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="Blackmagic Camera" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>

【Okayama City: From Okayama Castle to Omotecho Shopping Street】Walking from around Korakuen's Shiromi Chaya to around the South Clock Tower of Omotecho Shopping Street

<p><img src="/images/2023/11/wakkanai-001.jpg" alt="JR Hokkaido Soya Main Line Wakkanai Station" title="JR Hokkaido Soya Main Line Wakkanai Station"></p>
<p>Wakkanai Station is the terminus of JR Hokkaido's Soya Main Line and is Japan's northernmost station.</p>
<h2>Central Shopping Street (Central Arcade Street) in Wakkanai City</h2>
<p>I visited on July 11. Tokyo was experiencing a hot summer day with temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius, but the thermometer at Wakkanai Station showed 18 degrees.<br>
I was wearing a T-shirt but felt chilly. It's beyond cool—it's cold.<br>
What I want to introduce is a shopping street about a 5-minute walk from Wakkanai Station. It's called Wakkanai Central Shopping Street, and locals apparently call it Central Arcade Street.</p>
<p><img src="/images/2023/11/wakkanai-002.jpg" alt="Russian signage and shops" title="Russian signage and shops"></p>
<p>Isn't it unusual to have signs in Russian?<br>
Apparently, it's a remnant from the 1990s when ferries from Russia came here.<br>
Was it more lively then than now?</p>
<p>If you watch the video, you'll see I walked through every corner of the shopping street, but I only passed a few people.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u3hCmvWVdkE?si=4x1mu9T-sdOaVAoe" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>

<p>There seem to be few open shops, and the impression was of shutters and flyers for tenant recruitment pasted on shutters.</p>
<p><img src="/images/2023/11/wakkanai-005.jpg" alt="Outdoor shop in Wakkanai Central Shopping Street" title="Outdoor shop in Wakkanai Central Shopping Street"></p>
<p>Among them, outdoor shops stood out, but maybe that's because it's a port city for ferries to popular trekking and hiking destinations like Rishiri Island and Rebun Island.</p>
<h2>Wakkanai citizens' soul food "Shio Chamen"</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2023/11/wakkanai-003.jpg" alt="Ramen Daiou Main Store" title="Ramen Daiou Main Store"></p>
<p>The timing didn't work out, so I couldn't eat "Shio Chamen," said to be Wakkanai citizens' soul food.<br>
It seemed like they were closing when I was filming.<br>
In the video, someone who appears to be the owner is pulling down the noren (curtain).<br>
Looking at food photos on Tabelog and such, this definitely looks like something that would warm you up and seems really delicious. I want to try it next time.</p>
<h2>Roadside station "Wakkanai" is almost full</h2>
<p><img src="/images/2023/11/wakkanai-004.jpg" alt="Russian signage and shops" title="Russian signage and shops"></p>
<p>The shopping street is desolate, but many cars, including campers, seem to be using the roadside station for car camping.</p>
<p>It's only about a 5-minute walk to the shopping street, but I wonder if people using the roadside station don't visit it.
I felt a bit disappointed about that.
I hear there are many restaurants around Minami-Wakkanai Station, but I hope Wakkanai Central Shopping Street near Wakkanai Station also becomes more lively.</p>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h2">Introduction to iPhone apps used when filming walking videos</p>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">App for recording walking routes: Ride with GPS: Bike Navigation</p>
<p class="text">You can record not only bicycle routes but also walking routes without problems. The route planning feature is especially convenient.</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/ride-with-gps-bike-navigation/id893687399?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/0d/ae/8d/0dae8d61-de41-82f9-7db3-e5f556dec237/AppIcon-0-1x_U007emarketing-0-7-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="Ride with GPS: Bike Navigation" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">App used for live streaming: PRISM: Live Streaming App</p>
<p class="text">The feature is higher video quality than the official YouTube app's live streaming function. I think many people use it for live streaming walking videos</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/prism-live-streaming-app/id1319056339?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/c0/4c/5c/c04c5cc5-bf2d-2f2a-d1db-e92e43a3c43a/AppIcon-1x_U007emarketing-0-7-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="PRISM: Live Streaming App" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">Standard camera is good, but video recording app: Blackmagic Camera</p>
<p class="text">I think it's especially convenient for people who edit videos with DaVinci Resolve. The standard camera is good too, but being able to adjust settings in detail is nice</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/blackmagic-camera/id6449580241?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/08/50/8c/08508c82-9c60-0e8e-8511-765d6e2b5898/AppIcon-1x_U007emarketing-0-8-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="Blackmagic Camera" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>

【Hokkaido Cities: Wakkanai】Walking through an arcade shopping street with eye-catching Russian signage

<p><img src="/images/2023/11/okayama-hokancho.jpg" alt="Route from Okayama Station to Hokkancho Shopping Street" title="Route from Okayama Station to Hokkancho Shopping Street"></p>
<h2>Hokkancho Shopping Street has roots in samurai starting businesses on the old Sanyo Road</h2>
<p>Exiting the ticket gate at Okayama Station and going right takes you to the west exit.<br>
The east exit has Okayama Castle, Korakuen, and the entertainment district, but the west exit has a highway bus terminal and airport limousine bus stops, so you might go there for those. Oh, and there are hotels, so you'd go there for those too.<br>
Walking north on the west exit street from the station rotary, you'll see an arch (shopping street gate) with "Hokkancho Shopping Street" written on it on the left, which is the landmark.<br>
When you visit shopping streets all over Japan, you'll notice many have aging arcades, but this one is quite nice.</p>
<p><img src="/images/2023/11/okayama-hokancho-shotengai.jpg" alt="Arch of Hokkancho Shopping Street" title="Arch of Hokkancho Shopping Street"></p>

<p>Walking into the shopping street for a while, there's an information board introducing the roots of Hokkancho Shopping Street.<br>
Reading this, it says the roots are that after the Meiji Restoration from the Taisei Hokan (return of political power) at the end of the Edo period, those who returned (hokan) the hereditary stipends (salaries) they received in the Edo period used the compensation money (hokankin) paid by the government to start businesses along the Sanyo Road.</p>
<p><img src="/images/2023/11/okayama-hokancho-shotengai-roots.jpg" alt="Information board about the roots of Hokkancho Shopping Street" title="Information board about the roots of Hokkancho Shopping Street"></p>
<p>Now, there's apparently only one shop that started business with hokankin. On the other hand, I'm amazed that it's been operating for 150 years.</p>
<h2>It's a shopping street with a good atmosphere, so there are also new shops</h2>
<p>The shopping street continues for about 1 kilometer. It extends almost straight west from the entrance.
The old Sanyo Road is also called Saigoku Kaido, and in the era before railways, people walked this road.
I think the road width is close to that of the old highway, but this width is reassuring.</p>
<p>Since I walked it at night, most shops have their shutters closed, but I got the impression that there are quite a few shops with an open atmosphere.
Walking along, there are stylish shops scattered on both sides. Since it's a shopping street with a good atmosphere, new shops probably open here.</p>
<p><img src="/images/2023/11/okayama-hokancho-shop.jpg" alt="Exterior of a shop in Hokkancho Shopping Street" title="Exterior of a shop in Hokkancho Shopping Street"></p>
<h2>Video of walking from Okayama Station to Hokkancho Shopping Street</h2>
<p>Shopping streets near stations are all becoming desolate, but I introduced this hoping that new shops will increase and more people will visit.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wTLMScvV8SU?si=-R20ljY5IzRxwGst" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<p>Okayama articles are viewed quite a bit, so I reintroduced this shopping street with a good atmosphere in Okayama.</p>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h2">Introduction to iPhone apps used when filming walking videos</p>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">App for recording walking routes: Ride with GPS: Bike Navigation</p>
<p class="text">You can record not only bicycle routes but also walking routes without problems. The route planning feature is especially convenient.</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/ride-with-gps-bike-navigation/id893687399?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/0d/ae/8d/0dae8d61-de41-82f9-7db3-e5f556dec237/AppIcon-0-1x_U007emarketing-0-7-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="Ride with GPS: Bike Navigation" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">App used for live streaming: PRISM: Live Streaming App</p>
<p class="text">The feature is higher video quality than the official YouTube app's live streaming function. I think many people use it for live streaming walking videos</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/prism-live-streaming-app/id1319056339?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/c0/4c/5c/c04c5cc5-bf2d-2f2a-d1db-e92e43a3c43a/AppIcon-1x_U007emarketing-0-7-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="PRISM: Live Streaming App" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>
<div class="app-info">
<p class="h3">Standard camera is good, but video recording app: Blackmagic Camera</p>
<p class="text">I think it's especially convenient for people who edit videos with DaVinci Resolve. The standard camera is good too, but being able to adjust settings in detail is nice</p>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/blackmagic-camera/id6449580241?itscg=30200&#x26;itsct=apps_box_appicon" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img src="https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple116/v4/08/50/8c/08508c82-9c60-0e8e-8511-765d6e2b5898/AppIcon-1x_U007emarketing-0-8-0-85-220.png/540x540bb.jpg" alt="Blackmagic Camera" style="width: 170px; height: 170px; border-radius: 22%; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"></a>
</div>

【Okayama City: Hokkancho Shopping Street】Walking through an arcade shopping street with a nostalgic atmosphere at night

<p><img src="/images/2023/11/matsuyama.jpg" alt="Route from Matsuyama-shi Station to Matsuyama Castle" title="Route from Matsuyama-shi Station to Matsuyama Castle"></p>
<h2>Moving from Matsuyama Station to Matsuyama-shi Station</h2>
<p>I haven't been able to visit Akita Prefecture for video filming yet.<br>
I have visited on a trip. I remember eating Inaniwa udon and Hinai chicken then.<br>
After that, I went to an Akita cuisine restaurant in Tokyo and had kiritanpo hot pot.<br>
Indeed, Akita Prefecture has many delicious foods.</p>
<p>But Shikoku also has many delicious foods.<br>
When I went to Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, I ate sea bream rice, nabeyaki udon, and ramen. I remember there were many sea bream dishes.<br>
I remember eating jakoten occasionally, maybe because my mother's roots were in Uwajima.</p>
<p>What I want to say about Matsuyama is that "Iyotetsu" (Iyo Railway), used to go from JR Matsuyama Station to the city center, uses its own transportation IC card that's not compatible with Suica and others.<br>
I googled just to be sure, and it seems it will be usable from March 2024. Good news.</p>
<p>However, like Matsuyama, it's common in castle towns for the main station and city center to be separated.<br>
That's both a good point and an inconvenient point.</p>
<h2>Matsuyama Castle is quite high up</h2>
<p>It's a castle built after the Battle of Sekigahara. Although it's a hilltop castle, it's at a fairly high elevation.<br>
I filmed a video from Matsuyama-shi Station through the shopping street to Matsuyama Castle, and I was completely out of breath.<br>
But the view is excellent. Also, if you watch the video, you'll see the cherry blossoms are incredibly beautiful.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UYuVV2ILlos?si=PuRGs7RfoXjr3G6m" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>

<p>The previous video was filmed during the day, but this one was filmed at night.<br>
It was during the COVID-19 pandemic, so there were few people.<br>
But the large arcade shopping street is nice, isn't it?<br>
I feel like many cities in western Japan have large arcade shopping streets in their city centers.<br>
You can move all the way to near the castle without getting wet in the rain.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xHpI5wDAmDk?si=tdf23ncP7TPVzL7f" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<p>COVID-19 has calmed down for now, so I want to visit again and eat jakoten.</p>

When a certain prefectural governor said jakoten was "poor-looking" - walking through Matsuyama

<p><img src="/images/2023/11/obihiro-kushiro.jpg" alt="Route by car from Obihiro to Kushiro" title="Route by car from Obihiro to Kushiro"></p>
<h2>From Sapporo to Obihiro</h2>
<p>It was the summer of 2022 when I traveled through Hokkaido.<br>
The purpose of the trip was to film walking videos of cities.<br>
Day 1: Stayed in Obihiro.<br>
Day 2: From Obihiro to Kushiro, Nemuro, through the Shiretoko Peninsula, stayed in Abashiri.<br>
Day 3: From Abashiri to Kitami, Monbetsu, Nayoro, Wakkanai, stayed in Teshio Town.<br>
Day 4: From Teshio Town to Yubari, Chitose, and back to Tokyo.</p>
<p>I was supposed to rent a car near Chitose Airport and head to Obihiro, but I forgot my camera equipment, so I went to Yodobashi in Sapporo. I decided to buy what I needed there and then head to Obihiro.<br>
I was supposed to arrive in Obihiro at night, but the schedule ended up with me leaving Sapporo at night and arriving in Obihiro in the middle of the night.<br>
I regret not being able to film Obihiro's night streets.</p>
<p>This is from walking in the morning mist. Watching the video, you can feel the atmosphere of the night streets, which makes me regret it even more.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iNGoqCkfijg?si=FuaDVyelEgN5BnTW" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<h2>The population reversal between Obihiro and Kushiro</h2>
<p>Searching online for Obihiro and Kushiro, you'll find articles scattered about the population reversal.<br>
It seems that in 2020, the population of Kushiro City, which had been the 5th most populous in Hokkaido, and Obihiro City, which was 6th, reversed.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.seikatsu-guide.com/compare/1207/1206/1/">Comparison of statistical data between Obihiro City and Kushiro City</a></p>
<p>Kushiro City developed after the war with three main industries: fisheries, coal (mines), and paper/pulp, but the closure of mines and decline in fishery resources caused the local economy to slump.<br>
Of course, Obihiro City is also in a declining population trend, but it was relatively gradual. Obihiro City's main industry is agriculture, and it seems to have maintained steady performance.</p>

<h2>Kushiro Station area as seen in "The Yellow Handkerchief of Happiness"</h2>
<p>In the movie "The Yellow Handkerchief of Happiness," Kinya Hanada, played by Tetsuya Takeda, who was dumped by a woman in Tokyo, travels to Hokkaido by ferry and first sets foot at Kushiro Station. There's a scene where he buys a hat and jacket at a shop in front of the station.<br>
There's also a May Day demonstration scene, but the cityscape shown has vitality and liveliness. It was an era when coal mines were already a declining industry, but...</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eccxyf4mlIA?si=w6BXgNlZcdGEMyok" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<p>"The Yellow Handkerchief of Happiness" was released in 1977, so 46 years ago. Current Kushiro Station area is said to be ruins in some YouTube videos. Indeed, there are many ruined buildings that could be made into such videos.<br>
If you watch this video, you should understand the situation in front of the station.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g86CAWjxBi8?si=FAysyJ1LHGI6mRFJ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<p>I'd like to visit Hokkaido again around next year. Next time, I hope I can film Obihiro's night streets.</p>

The reversal of liveliness between Obihiro and Kushiro - traveling through summer Hokkaido

<p><img src="/images/2023/11//keisei_tateishi_map_1.jpg" alt="Keisei Tateishi Station just before demolition work" title="Keisei Tateishi Station just before demolition work"></p>
<h2>A city with densely packed aging houses</h2>
<p>The area around Keisei Tateishi Station has a nostalgic atmosphere like traveling back to the Showa era, which I think attracts many visitors.<br>
However, on the flip side, it's a city with densely packed aging buildings, with "building collapse risk" at rank 4 and "fire risk" at the highest rank 5.<br>
If a major earthquake occurs, this would be terrible.<br>
I'm reminded of shopping streets in Kobe with similar Showa retro atmosphere that suffered major damage from collapse and fire during the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.</p>
<p>Additionally, station areas near the city center are all undergoing active redevelopment.<br>
I worry as an outsider whether they can sell all these redeveloped tower condominiums, but apparently they do sell. At least for now.</p>
<p>This video was filmed around Keisei Tateishi Station in July 2023, including areas that would be demolished for redevelopment. It also shows buildings and alleys from the red-light district era that once existed.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8y3NlzV1IFI?si=kh--EZHAoFvQEKTI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>

<h2>Area around Keisei Tateishi Station where demolition work has begun</h2>
<p>I was curious about how demolition work is actually carried out, so I visited.</p>
<p><img src="/images/2023/11//keisei_tateishi_map_2.jpg" alt="Keisei Tateishi Station right after demolition work began" title="Keisei Tateishi Station right after demolition work began"></p>
<p>Walking around the station, you can see white temporary fences installed on quite a scale, and demolition work is being carried out.
It felt like the entire east side of the station, including the station, was being demolished.<br>
I'm curious about what happens to Keisei Tateishi Station after this, so I plan to visit regularly.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b_Tjoac3lmI?si=6sEJgqm4BZqzT-lP" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<h2>Filming vanished shopping streets, changing cities, and desolate cities</h2>
<p>machidori.ch films various cities nationwide—vanished shopping streets, changing cities, desolate cities, cities that still have liveliness—and publishes them on YouTube.<br>
Please start by subscribing to the channel.</p>

Comparison just before redevelopment and right after demolition work began for redevelopment - walking around Keisei Tateishi Station

<p><img src="/images/2023/11//hachinohe_map.jpg" alt="A city full of love for drunks - Hachinohe" title="A city full of love for drunks - Hachinohe"></p>
<h2>A drinking district reached by walking 1 kilometer from Hon-Hachinohe Station</h2>
<p>The city center, known for its developed alleys, is about 1 kilometer, a 15-minute walk from JR Hachinohe Line's Hon-Hachinohe Station.<br>
It's about 6 kilometers from Hachinohe Station, known as a Shinkansen station, so it's a bit far to walk.<br>
Hachinohe Station also functions as a transfer station from the Shinkansen to conventional lines, and while there are hotels and restaurants around the station, it doesn't seem as lively as the city center.</p>
<p>The city center developed after the war when a market was created for repatriates from the battlefield in what was once a samurai residence area of a castle town, and movie theaters were built, and so on.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PwtDa3sZZJA?si=plxugqlPhteJzi6H" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<p>Walking through the alleys, you can see the Showa atmosphere is strongly preserved. I think there were similar alleys and side streets with this atmosphere all over Japan, but they're definitely decreasing due to loss of vitality or redevelopment.</p>

<p>Come to think of it, Kofu's drinking district is also becoming quite desolate, but I think there's a common atmosphere in having drinking establishments lining both sides of narrow passages.<br>
This is from when I walked from Kofu Station to the drinking district.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CJ2UICHSoc8?si=k97XpUbNJzql0uzm&#x26;start=979" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<p>There was a similar drinking district in Kushiro, Hokkaido, but it's even more desolate than Kofu. There aren't many drinking districts with this nostalgic atmosphere like Hachinohe that are still lively.<br>
So it's quite a precious place.</p>
<h2>How is that young man singing on the street doing?</h2>
<p>In the Hachinohe video, I unusually had a conversation with a young man doing a street live performance. He said he was traveling around Japan, so I wonder where he's singing now.<br>
I also lost the flyer I got then, so I can't follow his activities. I regret that.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PwtDa3sZZJA?si=Ll82pO2OeZ3gY3kw&#x26;start=994" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<h2>machidori.ch asks for various support.</h2>
<p>Thank you.</p>

A city full of love for drunks - walking through Hachinohe's city center

<p><img src="/images/2023/11//hibarigaoka_map.jpg" alt="From my alma mater Kobe Municipal Hibarigaoka Junior High School to Kobe Electric Railway Hiyodorigoeshi Station" title="From my alma mater Kobe Municipal Hibarigaoka Junior High School to Kobe Electric Railway Hiyodorigoeshi Station"></p>
<h2>Current state of my alma mater Kobe Municipal Hibarigaoka Junior High School</h2>
<p>According to school information sites, the total number of students is 181. There's also information that it was 165 in 2020, so it may have increased slightly.<br>
Well, it seems it was 246 in 2014, so the overall trend is still declining.<br>
I filmed the junior high school's playground at the beginning of the video, and it doesn't seem to have changed from 40 years ago. The net surrounding the playground, the pool I swam in many times, and the building by the pool haven't changed at all, which is surprising.<br>
The school building has become more yellowish from exterior paint compared to my memory, but like the playground, I don't think it's changed at all.<br>
Indeed, schools might not change anywhere. But even when the number of students has become a fraction, not changing is strange when you think about it.</p>
<p>If you watch this video, you'll see it has an atmosphere like time stopped in the Showa era. It's a mountainous area with little flat land, and geographically, transportation-wise, and population-wise, there are no large commercial facilities, and it's not a city where people gather, so it can't be helped.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LFtYJX72oek?si=qRcYhryylClRDVoX" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<h2>My alma mater elementary school (Kobe Municipal Hibarigaoka Elementary School) became a special nursing home</h2>
<p>My alma mater, Kobe Municipal Hibarigaoka Elementary School, was merged with the neighboring elementary school, Maruyama Elementary School, to become Kobe Municipal Maruyama Hibarigaoka Elementary School.<br>
Right when I was filming this, they were doing construction work to demolish the elementary school building and build a special nursing home. I think it's probably completely finished and become a special nursing home by now.</p>

<p>Incidentally, Kobe Municipal Maruyama Hibarigaoka Elementary School has 263 students.<br>
Hibarigaoka Elementary School was separated because Maruyama Elementary School's student population increased too much. So one of my older brothers is from Maruyama Elementary School, and my other older brother and I are from Hibarigaoka Elementary School.</p>
<p>Kobe City is also among the top cities, towns, and wards in Japan for population decline, so the number of students is probably decreasing.<br>
Like Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka Prefecture, cities with remarkable population decline inevitably give that impression.</p>
<h2>Cityscape that hasn't changed much from 40 years ago</h2>
<p>The details have changed quite a bit, but it hasn't changed much overall in over 40 years, which is strange.<br>
I'd like to visit the places I walked as an elementary school student next time.</p>

Walking through the city where I was born and raised (from my alma mater Kobe Municipal Hibarigaoka Junior High School to Kobe Electric Railway Hiyodorigoeshi Station)

<h2>The article "Introducing the route from Okayama Station to Okayama Castle" is popular (relative to this blog)</h2>
<p>It seems to be from search traffic, but this article is still being read by nearly 10 people per day.</p>
<p><a href="/2011/08/31/1.html">Introducing the route from Okayama Station to Okayama Castle</a></p>
<p>I wrote this about 10 years ago when I was renting a house in Okayama and living a back-and-forth life between Tokyo and Okayama, wanting to introduce the city since I was living there. It's nostalgic.</p>
<p>I still like Okayama and have various connections to it, so I visit every few years. I also visit for filming walking videos.</p>
<p>This video is from when I stopped by Okayama to film while filming various cities heading from Shikoku toward Kansai.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MSxoOqnQMDU?si=-Ek7afpx48Vllgfa" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<p>Okayama became popular after the Great East Japan Earthquake as a city with few disasters, and that popularity hasn't waned since. I understand.<br>
So I'd like to write about the charm I felt when I lived there for about 3 years 10 years ago and the charm I've felt on subsequent visits.</p>
<h2>The charm of Okayama (Okayama City) felt while living there</h2>
<p>The charm felt when visiting on a trip and the charm felt when living there might be a bit different. I'd like to write about that.</p>

<p>When you say "Okayama," it's a bit ambiguous whether you mean Okayama Prefecture or Okayama City. Of course, there's overlap, but Okayama City and areas like northern Okayama Prefecture are a bit different.<br>
This video is from when I walked through Tsuyama, a city in northern Okayama Prefecture. Tsuyama has a completely different charm from Okayama City and is a city I'd recommend in its own way, but in this article, I'd like to start by introducing the charm of Okayama City.
Incidentally, this video was filmed in the middle of COVID-19 when there weren't many people in the city, so it doesn't convey Tsuyama's charm well, so please keep that in mind when watching.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9KGf-0hV07I?si=OQ2-QkZ2oB6Whwn4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<ul>
<li>Many sunny days - called "Sunny Country Okayama"</li>
<li>Few disasters (no active faults in the city, typhoons rarely make landfall at full strength)</li>
<li>City size is neither too large nor too small (personal opinion)</li>
<li>Has a streetcar</li>
<li>Has a castle (castle town)</li>
</ul>
<h2>Sunny Country Okayama</h2>
<p>Actually living there, I found there were many sunny days and the climate was mild and comfortable.<br>
I remember summers were indeed hot with strong sunlight, but I think it was a dry heat rather than humid.</p>
<h2>Few disasters</h2>
<p>As often said, there apparently are no active faults (none discovered). Also, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency earthquake database, earthquakes of intensity 6 or higher have never been observed in the past.
I don't think we can say earthquakes will absolutely never occur in the future, but according to data from the past 100 years published by the Japan Meteorological Agency, only intensity 4 or higher has been observed from effects of neighboring prefectures. That's a bit reassuring.</p>
<p>In the 3 years I lived there, only once did a nearby river almost flood due to a typhoon. Geographically, typhoons usually come from Shikoku or Hiroshima direction, so they seem to hit after weakening to some extent.</p>
<h2>City size is neither too large nor too small</h2>
<p>This is completely subjective, but I never had trouble with shopping. Department stores, the underground shopping area at Okayama Station, and now Aeon near the station probably have most things.<br>
Well, these days you can just buy online, so I don't think you'd have trouble shopping. So while the city is smaller compared to the Tokyo metropolitan area, Osaka area, Nagoya, or Fukuoka, I never had trouble.
Also, the population is about 720,000, which is 22nd among cities, towns, and wards, but as an independent economic zone, I think it's just the right size (same scale as Kumamoto City, Shizuoka City, etc.).</p>
<h2>Has a streetcar</h2>
<p>Exiting the east exit of Okayama Station, there's a Kobe Electric Railway platform right in front.
It's nice to have a city with a streetcar. I don't think this is just personal preference.<br>
I think it adds atmosphere to the city.<br>
I vaguely think that Kyoto and Kobe should have stuck with streetcars instead of building subways that just run at a loss.<br>
Utsunomiya City's newly opened LRT was also nice.</p>
<p>This video films Utsunomiya City's LRT at the beginning.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gySagOf377Y?si=0HaqB8gCg6BaznJt" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<h2>Has a castle</h2>
<p>Cities with castles, or castle towns, seem to have many cities with good atmospheres—maybe because having a castle gives the city structure or weight, or something like that.
Having a castle and a castle town developing around it probably gives the city a form as urban planning.</p>
<p>I like many castles, but Okayama Castle is a flatland castle by a river that you can walk to from the city, and while the keep isn't from the Edo period, I like it because the keep's shape is good.<br>
I think cities need landmarks, and having a castle as a landmark—I'm sure it's been that way since the Edo period. Having grown up in Kobe, a city with little history, maybe I'm drawn to that.</p>
<h2>Please try living in Okayama</h2>
<p>Remote work has become widespread, and we've entered an era where you can live anywhere in Japan, so I think Okayama City is a city worth considering as a candidate.<br>
Cities that are easy to access both the Tokyo metropolitan area and Kansai, have decent airport access, and have Shinkansen are surprisingly few.
Also, the food is delicious. Peaches and grapes are famous, but agricultural products are fresh, and since it's a city near the Seto Inland Sea, seafood is also delicious.</p>

The article "Introducing the route from Okayama Station to Okayama Castle" is still viewed a lot, so I'll write about Okayama's charm again

<h2>I got connected to Nishi-Chiba Station</h2>
<p>At the beginning of this year, I walked around Nishi-Chiba Station in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, but I never imagined I would change jobs to a company in that location.<br>
You really never know what the future holds.</p>
<p>I had several job interviews, but they were all remote, so I wasn't very aware of where the company was located.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qO3uF_KjuFY?si=nzfI_YmlynA4Yz4c" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>

<p>So when I got the job and looked up where the company was, it was near Nishi-Chiba Station, and I remembered filming a walking video there, so I watched the video again and remembered there were quite a few students walking around and there was a shopping street.
It's interesting how a place I happened to film became connected to me.</p>

I changed jobs to a company in Nishi-Chiba

<p>Channel subscribers: 26,717 (October 30, 2023). Sometimes it drops significantly, but overall, when looking at monthly trends, it doesn't decrease and continues to grow steadily.</p>
<p>It's been exactly one year since I went to Yamagata Prefecture, and I've suspended regional expeditions and am mainly filming within day-trip range.<br>
Considering profitability, I've finished the investment phase and switched to activities within profit margins. So I'm comprehensively filming major stations in the Kanto region, focusing on the Tokyo metropolitan area.</p>
<p>The following video is a recent one from Tobu Utsunomiya Station in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, through Orion-dori to JR Utsunomiya Station.</p>
<div class="youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jzb6OMYj8sg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>

<p>I'm thinking of writing an article in another video about the equipment I use and filming methods, so please come back to read it.<br>
I've published 1,114 videos, and while it's still in the realm of a hobby, it's getting close to a life's work.</p>
<p>So I'm thinking I should make effective use of this blog and write articles (I wrote something similar last time and then didn't write for over 2 years).<br>
Well, that's how it is, so please visit when you remember.</p>
<p>Also, on a personal note, I'm starting work at a different company from November 1st. It might be too late to write a resignation entry, but I never imagined changing jobs at 55, so I'd like to write about that too.<br>
I'll continue without pushing myself too hard.</p>
<p>So I'm asking for support for machidori.ch activities (I want to go to regional cities...).</p>
<ul>
<li>Become a member of machidori.ch to support: https://bit.ly/3se89YN</li>
<li>Become a sponsor of machidori.ch videos: https://bit.ly/3tAK8vv</li>
<li>machidori.ch Amazon page: https://amzn.to/492osIN</li>
<li>Channel subscription: https://bit.ly/45uJSvi</li>
</ul>

machidori.ch YouTube channel has passed 3 years

<p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shigeki_takeguchi/37136303576/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_1116"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4336/37136303576_0d1ce7ba94_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_1116"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>There's been another gap, but this is the continuation of walking from Maruyama, Nagata Ward, Kobe to Hiyodorigoeshi.<br>
This is the last part: Kobe Electric Railway's Hiyodorigoeshi Station.</p>

<p>First of all, how do you even read "Hiyodorigoeshi"?<br>
People who know the story of Minamoto no Yoshitsune might have heard of it—it appears in the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani that took place in Suma, Kobe, as the place where they detoured.<br>
Hiyodorigoeshi. It's the story of a surprise attack descending a slope called "Hiyodorigoeshi's reverse fall." There seem to be various theories about the location, so if you're interested, I think reading various books would be interesting.<br>
By around elementary school age, teachers and nearby adults tell stories about Yoshitsune.<br>
Also, when dramas or novels get to Yoshitsune's Battle of Ichi-no-Tani, the story of Hiyodorigoeshi comes up, and these form a story in your head, but then even with a child's imagination, you think "So they went through this area to Suma... surprise attack" and then suddenly "Isn't it too far from here to Suma?" So people are researching this online too, so please search for it.</p>
<p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shigeki_takeguchi/36488727694/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_1115"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4409/36488727694_4cd7521ff7_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_1115"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>This was my nearest station, but it was frighteningly unchanged.<br>
However, I remember the station moved when I was in lower elementary school. I think it was a bit closer to Maruyama, but after moving, it seemed a bit cleaner.<br>
The buildings around the station also seem to have been renovated, but they haven't changed.</p>
<p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shigeki_takeguchi/37153960112/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_1113"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4398/37153960112_b0f7bcb018_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_1113"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The area around the station is called Satoyama, and I remember there were vegetable shops and restaurants when I was a child, and it was a bit more lively.<br>
This restaurant "Hiyodori-tei" was definitely a vegetable shop (that also sold some miscellaneous goods).</p>
<p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shigeki_takeguchi/37136303916/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_1112"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4412/37136303916_c651fd47da_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_1112"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The view from here is also frighteningly unchanged. I commuted on Kobe Electric Railway from Hiyodorigoeshi Station to high school through here.</p>
<p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shigeki_takeguchi/37136303706/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_1114"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4390/37136303706_eede8c8ff3_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_1114"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>A friend who was in the same class from elementary to junior high school lived in the apartment whose roof you can see peeking through this thicket. I'm surprised it's still standing. How old is it?<br>
And the imposing building behind it (elderly care center) obviously wasn't there.<br>
It's like, most of the buildings in this area that didn't exist when I was a child are facilities for the elderly, which makes you feel the times.</p>
<p>Walking through the city where I grew up like this, it's almost unchanged, and I'm surprised by the contrast with how much Tokyo has changed.
Whether it's Shibuya, Tokyo Station, or Ginza, they've changed too much.</p>

Walking through the city where I was born and raised, Kobe from Maruyama, Nagata Ward to Hiyodorigoeshi (4)

<p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shigeki_takeguchi/37136304166/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_1109"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4413/37136304166_ecc5d606cc_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_1109"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>There's been a bit of a gap, but this is the continuation of walking from Maruyama, Nagata Ward, Kobe to Hiyodorigoeshi.</p>

<p>This is Takatori Mountain, the landscape mountain of the city where I grew up.
It's just an ordinary mountain now, but when I was in elementary school, the red mountain surface was partially exposed and stood out. Now it's completely covered in green, which is good, but the symbolic presence has faded, which is a bit sad. There were stories that it was called Kamunade Mountain, and there was a shrine at the summit, so I think it was a somewhat sacred mountain. It's also introduced as a power spot, so probably so.</p>

<p>What I remember well is being taken by my mother to climb it with just the two of us, and my leg hurt, unrelated to mountain climbing.<br>
I found out it was a hip joint disease and had tests and hospital visits, so I remember it well, but I was told it was suspected to be a rare disease with no established treatment, and I lived dragging my leg for a while.
I remember the mountain and the disease, the inconvenient life, and being made to undergo various tests.</p>
<p>I also remember the view from this location vividly.
Every year, for summer vacation homework like landscape paintings, I didn't want to go out in the heat, so I would draw from my house window including Takatori Mountain in almost the same composition as this photo, many times.
Even so, I realize now that I liked looking at this view from the window. I don't know if I looked at it because I liked it, or if my sense of form developed based on it from looking at it, but at this point I can't tell.</p>
<p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shigeki_takeguchi/37153962222/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_1108"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4419/37153962222_edaba1880d_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_1108"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>This photo is of Hibarigaoka Elementary School and Hibarigaoka Junior High School.
The school was so rough that I don't have particularly good memories, but I find it strange that the school building hasn't changed except for repainting.
The whole city is like this—it feels desolate, but overall it hasn't changed, so I get the illusion that only I've aged.
I wonder if many cities in Japan are like this.</p>
<p>To be continued.</p>

Walking through the city where I was born and raised, Kobe from Maruyama, Nagata Ward to Hiyodorigoeshi (3)

<p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shigeki_takeguchi/37153964342/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_1105"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4425/37153964342_bcde1ba41f_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_1105"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>I can't remember what shop it was 40 years ago, but the shop next to this corner shop "Tamagawa" was definitely a candy store.
It also had small toys for children, and it was like a gathering place for children in the area. No one knew the shop name, and there was a nickname or name that children passed down. I can't remember it anymore, though.</p>

<p>Reading <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%95%B7%E7%94%B0%E5%8C%BA">Wikipedia</a>, Nagata Ward's population was 96,871 as of May 2017.<br>
It's quite low compared to neighboring Suma Ward or Hyogo Ward. Well, I think the population moved to surrounding areas like Nishi Ward, Tarumi Ward, and Kita Ward after the earthquake, so that might be the cause.</p>
<p>And reading Wikipedia, I learned for the first time that Nagata Ward has one of Japan's major Koreatowns, and I never knew that until now.<br>
I realize I lived without being very aware of it, and that you don't really know much about local things. Maybe I was just too innocent.</p>
<p>Also, I lived in a place called Genpei-cho, but when I look it up online again, it says there was a Korean labor camp in the same neighborhood, etc.<br>
Come to think of it, I vaguely remember a place like that, but I think the adults around me at the time avoided going near that area and didn't let it come up in conversation.
Yes, it was like living as if it didn't exist.</p>
<p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shigeki_takeguchi/37136304336/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_1107"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4352/37136304336_b106e0634d_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_1107"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>However, walking through this area, I don't meet many people, and not many cars pass through, so I think it's clearly more desolate than 40 years ago.<br>
Many buildings have been renovated and maintained, but those utilizing old buildings stand out. The schools are like that, and the co-op building that felt old even back then is still there almost unchanged.<br>
Thanks to that, there's a sense of reassurance for someone visiting after a long time that things haven't changed, but when I think this scenery might not change until it decays, I get a bit worried.</p>
<p>The photo above was taken right behind the house I used to live in, and it's almost unchanged from the scenery I drew for summer vacation homework as a child. I think the only thing that changed is that a nursing care facility building was built.
The elementary and junior high schools visible from my house window are also unchanged—the only change is that the exterior walls were repainted. I drew them every year back then, so I remember them surprisingly well, but there are no major changes.
When I think that maybe the changes in Japan over these 40 years are only that much, and that Tokyo's city center has changed abnormally, I realize that cities where metabolism no longer occurs can only decline.</p>
<p>There's a photo from my childhood, probably taken by my parents when I was about 5, that reminds me the road in front of my house was dirt.
That eventually became asphalt, sewer pipes were laid and manholes appeared on the road, traffic increased so bypasses and toll roads were built, mountains were developed as residential land and houses were built. Also, an apartment building was built on the field where we played baseball. I think everything was busy back then. Also, constant change was natural, but I never imagined it would stop like this. Yes.</p>
<p>To be continued.</p>

Walking through the city where I was born and raised, Kobe from Maruyama, Nagata Ward to Hiyodorigoeshi (2)

<p>Heading to Okayama Airport to return to Tokyo.
When I got there, the Boeing 787 departure was delayed.<br>
Does it have many problems? So the area in front of the boarding gate was incredibly crowded.<br>
I happened to take the next flight, but that flight ended up leaving first, so I filmed it.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shigeki_takeguchi/6388782493/" title="Untitled by shigeki.takeguchi, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6093/6388782493_ecea3b0c4f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></p>
<p>I think the aircraft's shape is beautiful.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shigeki_takeguchi/6388785527/" title="Untitled by shigeki.takeguchi, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6388785527_5cf7a5a140.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></p>

Boeing 787 - Does it have many problems?

<p>As a study for reporting on travel, I'll introduce the route from Okayama Station to Okayama Castle.<br>
Many people go by streetcar, but it's a walkable distance. About 20-30 minutes.<br>
A bit less than 2 kilometers? (Google Maps route search shows 1.8km)<br>
JR Okayama Station. The Shinkansen and conventional lines are in the same station. The station facility "Sansute" is well-equipped. Convenient for travelers for souvenirs and meals.<br>
There's also a supermarket, Muji, bookstore, etc., and I think many people use it regularly.</p>

<img src="https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6210/6098875422_970da652a4.jpg" alt="">
<p>Exiting the east exit, you can see Takashimaya on the right and Bic Camera on the left. (Incidentally, the west exit has ANA Hotel and a highway bus terminal.) The station square often has events. In the photo, it's small and hard to see, but there's a statue of Momotaro and his companions, and a fountain with an unusual shape. Someone uploaded a video.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGJ1Zt0dZ98" title="Okayama Station Square Fountain" target="_blank">Okayama Station Square Fountain (YouTube)</a></p>
<img src="https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6081/6098338309_a3c388f3df.jpg" alt="">
<p>The streetcar stop at Okayama Station. There are 2 lines: "Higashiyama Line" and "Seikibashi Line." When going to the castle, take the "Higashiyama Line." The one in front is the Seikibashi Line with the new streetcar "MOMO." Okayama's streetcars have <a href="https://www.okayama-kido.co.jp/tramway/iroiro.html" title="various trains" target="_blank">various trains</a> like this.</p>
<img src="https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6084/6098887360_92e759fd85.jpg" alt="">
<p>Momotaro-dori. Bic Camera on the left, streetcar on the right. Walk straight on this Momotaro-dori to the castle.</p>
<img src="https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6182/6098891542_74a6b60dd4.jpg" alt="">
<p>The sidewalk is wide and tiled, making it easy to walk. You should watch out for bicycles.</p>
<img src="https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6194/6098577835_a44df52f43.jpg" alt="">
<p>Walking for a while, you cross Nishikawa Greenway Park, a park that continues along a river. There's a fountain on the left. On the opposite side after crossing the road, there's a police box.</p>
<img src="https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6068/6098579711_2810ce78e2.jpg" alt="">
<p>You come to a large intersection called Yanagawa. About halfway between the castle and the station.</p>
<img src="https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6077/6099128914_6a5bf1170d.jpg" alt="">
<p>Approaching the streetcar "Joka" stop. There's an underground parking lot, and you can see <a href="https://www.okayama-symphonyhall.or.jp/" title="Okayama Symphony Hall" target="_blank">Okayama Symphony Hall</a> with a lavender-colored lower structure.</p>
<img src="https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6197/6098582883_c6372dffe3.jpg" alt="">
<p>On the left is "Tenjin Ramen," an old-fashioned ramen shop typical of Okayama. I haven't eaten there yet. It seems to be open until around 2:30 PM, so there aren't many chances to eat.</p>
<img src="https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6197/6099132258_0e9062e788.jpg" alt="">
<p>The streetcar "Joka" stop and Okayama Symphony Hall. If you take the streetcar to the castle, get off at this stop. I think it was 100 yen from the station.</p>
<img src="https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6188/6098588063_648a240720.jpg" alt="">
<p>A slight slope from Joka to the castle. There's a stone monument saying "Crow Castle Road." Okayama Castle is also called "Crow Castle" (Ujo).</p>
<img src="https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6207/6098592405_177c0b408e.jpg" alt="">
<p>Going up "Crow Castle Road" a bit, you come to a park-like entrance with Korakuen on the left and the castle on the right. Just a bit more.</p>
<img src="https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6090/6099141654_4295dbdfb5.jpg" alt="">
<p>The moat is the Asahi River. Crossing the bridge over that river leads to Korakuen.</p>
<img src="https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6063/6098595279_2150a582a9.jpg" alt="">
<p>It's characterized by black lacquered weatherboards. So the overall impression is of a black castle. This castle also seems to have burned in the war, so it's made of concrete.</p>
<img src="https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6086/6098596621_10d3995863.jpg" alt="">
<p>The stone walls are beautiful because islands in the Seto Inland Sea, which is a source of stone, were territories or nearby.</p>
<img src="https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6201/6098599393_055c432747.jpg" alt="">
<p>The beauty of the stone walls is recommended. Also, it's good that the castle isn't over-maintained. Of course, Korakuen can be enjoyed in each season, so I definitely want to visit in autumn too.</p>