To ring in the new year I visited Yamagata prefecture on the northern part of the main island of Japan. After a three hour trip by bullet train, I was greeted by a winter landscape and beautiful mountains.
The calm and crisp atmosphere was quite different from Tokyo. Though there weren’t many people,
and they weren’t getting much use out of their bus stops, it was a refreshing change of pace.
From the father and son team doing some free skiing on a small incline in a parking lot,
to the ducks meandering in a local pond,
there were many opportunities to relax and take in the sights. That is, as long as you are able to handle the cold.
The weather didn’t stop me from enjoying some bizarre ice cream flavors though. Burdock root and rice being a highlight.
However, I didn’t try the curry udon in a can I found in a local vending machine. The sign makes special note that you can buy your canned noodles with cigarettes together as an added convenience. What a combination.
funny one. the cigarettes and noodles.
Glad to have found your blog again!
Happy new year- Ian