Adventure - Cascadian Abroad

Wakaba

April 4, 2014 by Robert Haddan

On a rainy Kawagoe day, we ventured west to Wakaba in search of Nitori, best described as the Japanese Ikea (although there actually is an Ikea in Saitama).

Not unlike its Swedish sister, Nitori is chalk full of useful household items as well as items you never knew you needed until you saw them in their full big box store display glory.

Take this item, for example. For just 761 yen (around $7.60), you get not one, not two, but THREE items in one! This miracle product goes from blanket to shawl to skirt in seconds. Amazing!

A multipurpose item at Nitoria in Wakaba

Best of all, Nitori has also copied Ikea’s best feature (well, maybe second best feature after the snack bar), the demo room.

This Japanese couple appeared to be imagining themselves sitting down to a nice dinner. Perhaps those glasses are filled with red wine or sake, easing away the stress of a long day at the office.

After dinner, they’ve retired to the living room. Nuzzled closely on the couch, they’ve tuned into their favorite NHK television show and settle in for a lazy night with their new furniture set from Nitori.

Across the street from Nitori is Hard-Off and Hobby-Off, a chain of second-hand electronics as well as new toys and collectibles.

Among the many gems found inside, a classic rock album wall featuring the likes of KISS, Aerosmith and the Beatles; a teenage dream of video game consoles, including the Japanese version of the Super Nintendo, Super Famicon; and a crib full of grumpy teddy bears.

Awesome finds at the Hard-Off and Hobby-Off

Our rain-soaked journey through Wakaba wrapped up at Ringer Hut. From the outside, it looked sorta like an Alpine villa. The line out the door has been a good indicator that something delicious is waiting inside, so we ventured in.

The food was the usual fair of noodles and soup, but served with what seemed to be their famous sauces. A ginger sauce and a lime sauce added a zing to the dishes. It was also my first chance to practice modifying our order to take out the meat and fish. Our vegetarian versions of the lunch special were quite good, especially with the addition of Ringer Hut’s Signature Secret Sauce.

Sardine Cans

April 4, 2014 by Robert Haddan

We have two stations within walking distance of our apartment. Kasumigaseki Station is about 5 minutes from the university so about 20-25 minutes from our apartment. Matoba Station is about 10 minutes from our apartment Both lines meet at Kawagoe Station which is the hub for Kawagoe. It’s less than 10 minutes from either station to Kawagoe Station.

Some trains are express, some are rapid… you have to look at the schedule to figure out that an express train skips some smaller stations and a rapid train skips some of the bigger stops. I got on one the other day that skipped my stop, but fortunately it stopped just before it, so I was able to get off and wait for the next train.

Usually there’s a place to sit, but sometimes it’s just standing room only. Today was a different story all together. I caught the 8:32 a.m. train to Kawagoe. It was the commuter train. Basically everyone shoves their way in. It was humid and steamy… couldn’t reach any of the bars, so you just plant your feet and lock your core! Fortunately (?) I was by the door, so I was only surrounded by people on three sides.

There’s one stop between Kasumigaseki and Kawagoe. Being by the door was a good lesson… instead of going around you, the mass of people push through you. I ended up out on the platform, stumbling for balance. I’m a pretty sturdy guy, but the mass of humanity moved me like I was on roller skates. You just get back in line with everyone else at the station and get back on the train. It was a good lesson for getting off at Kawagoe Station, where the doors open on the opposite side of the train. I just plowed my way out the door. Paybacks!

Walkabout

March 29, 2014 by Robert Haddan

One of my favorite things to do in a new town is to get lost. Just start walking or driving until you have no idea where you are, then find your way home.

Typically, this isn’t as scary as it sounds. You stay out of dark alleys, keep main roads nearby and use the signs and known landmarks to guide your way back.

I headed out for my first big walkabout on my own. To be fair, I actually started out looking for the train station with the plan of taking it to Kawagoe Station to get Starbucks, but I’m hardly the first person to have a spiritual journey on their way to buy overpriced coffee.

I passed the Belc grocery store and the 100 Yen Shop (the current exchange rate is about ¥100 to $1, so it’s like the Dollar Store only way, WAY better). I bucked temptation, passing more than one of Kawagoe’s many patisseries. And I kept walking… and walking… and walking. I realized I was missing a few tools from previous treks.

First, the lack of a smartphone, GPS, Google Maps, internet, etc. makes you wonder how smart you actually are without these things. All of the buildings are two stories or higher, so it’s hard to find landmarks at a distance. The roads dance about like a ballerina, resulting in a bizzaro world of directional dissonance.

Second, very few of the street signs are in English. Every once in awhile, the fine folks at Kawagoe Public Works throw you a bone and give you a street sign in both Japanese and English. It’s just enough to recalibrate your path.

Finally, I left my water and snacks at home. It was high noon, 70 degrees, and very sunny. Fortunately, the ever-present vending machines appear every few blocks like some desert mirage. I had a pocket full of yen, so I was able to replace electrolytes in the middle of neighborhoods, street corners, parks… really, pretty much anywhere.

You tend to find very interesting things on these kinds of journeys. Kawagoe has several excellent paved paths surrounding recreational areas. In between two of the paths, a long field featured soccer and softball fields as well as an epic putt-putt golf course. Four players used croquet mallets and balls to putt the ball from tee to cup on an 18-hole course.

Community gardens, fantastic public park spaces and small shrines pepper the city’s neighborhoods. Some of the shrines are larger and supported by community donations while others seem to be built and managed by nearby homeowners. The parks are an interesting contrast of brown, dead-looking grass and brand-new playground equipment, tennis courts and picnic tables.

A park in Kawagoe's Isehara neighborhood — A park in Kawagoe’s Isehara neighborhood

The biggest surprise of all is my growing fascination with Japanese mailboxes. I find myself snapping pictures of them left and right. Some are traditional, some playful, but rarely boring.

One of many adorable mailboxes you'll find in Japan — One of many adorable mailboxes you’ll find in Japan

At this point, every trip out of the house results in a walkabout. Can’t wait for the next opportunity to get lost!