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Golden Week is a collection of 4 national holidays in a seven day period, starting around the last week of April and ending on the first week of May. April 29 is the Showa emperor's birthday and May 3,4 and 5 are the other 3 national holidays. So for this year, there were 2 consecutive long weekends, 3 and 4 days respectively. Most Japanese people choose to travel this time of the year, us joining the pack too, sometimes to visit Rinka's folks down south, but this year we wanted a nearer destination.
April is my golden month. It spring holiay, thus my work days are pretty scarce. But I still feel the urge to do something special and travel with the rest of country come Golden Week. Its just too hard to stay at home, when you have a feeling that your family might be the only one left in your apartment building. Imagine coming to work after the holiday, and most of your colleagues would put their omiyage, a souvenir (usually a snack item made of a popular local produce of a town or city) on each and everyone's work desk. Everyone having something special to say, and
you just say," I didn't go anywhere because my house needed so much cleaning". Yeah right!
My excitement for our trip made me want to go home, since I set foot at work that morning. We got this great deal to stay at this expensive hotel at the Marina City in Wakayama. Marina City is a reclaimed resort island that has a European theme park, and an Italian-themed hotel overlooking a yacht club, made to look like a typical European Mediterranean Coast. Well thats what the website said, not having been to Europe, so can't tell for sure if it succeeded in replicating its inspiration.
A room with a view of the sea usualy cost 250 USD a night, but Rinka was able to get a good internet promo price of 130 USD a night. Of course a sale that much in Japan is so good to be true. The catch is you can only check in at 7 pm and the check out time is at 10 am.
It took us almost 2 hours to reach the place from our place in Osaka. My kids had their usual hotel routine of putting the matress springs to
test by jumping on them non stop. Then, we had our dinner, wine, a bubble bath for the kids, watched Mummy 2 on TV then it's bed time. It was short but nice bonding moment with my kids, not thinking about having to work the next day.
Woke up to a lovely view. Blue waters with all these fine yachts all in neat rows. For a moment I thought, would it be sweet, to own one of those rich men's toys. The view of the marina from our hotel balcony, and even from our bath was sort of worth the price of the hotel room. We had light breakfast, took some pictures, checked-out and proceeded to discover what other things this man-made island has in store for us.
First stop was an adventure fair for kids. There were 5 or 6 challenges to choose from. A pirate course, a dinosuar course, among others. We chose the athletic obstacle course. I felt it would be easier since i will be accompanying the kids, fewer Q and A in Japanese the better. Amazing how my son, Akira, seemed to breeze through with most of the challenges quite easily and my Hannah
ain't that bad too. It was a good 20 minute work-out with my kids. After we left, I realized the people manning the course did not charge us of the 500 yen entrance fee. Thinking back, Im sure the young guy at the entrance, maybe younger than 15, knowing I didnt speak Japanese, just decided to usher us in immediately, so he didn't have to explain to me how to use the ticket machine. Well thanks to him we saved 1,500 yen.
We walked further and saw the European theme park, which we never intent to visit. We know in the not so distant future we will expereince the real Europe.
Wakayama is also famous for its "onsen" hot springs. Our package included an onsen use for 2 people. But it turned out to be a very warm spring day. So we made a pass on the onsen.
So off we go to the islands famous fish market. What a delight! Tiger prawns, octopus, tuna, lobster, and loads of other jewels of the sea. Tourists can buy seafoods and then rent a babrbecue table and have their own feast. Another nice option is for them to dine
at the buffet restaurant, that offers a wide variety of the freshest sushi and sashimi.
The market also has an exhibition of how tuna is cut, sliced, and prepared We had a good spot to watch the exhibition. A tuna weighing 40 kilos was on display. As crowds gathered, I explained to Hannah, what we are about to witness. I was excited too, as I love sushi and sashimi. Tuna is very expensive in the city and usually its the frozen kind, and how it feels on your tounge can a be a little off. But this tuna, right in front of me was different, freshly catch and would soon land on our buffet table, gave me immense happiness.
Then suddenly, Hannah said, " why will they cut the fish, I am so sad." Looking at the jubilant crowd, I somehow questioned our excitement, now I felt like we are all here to witness a public persecution. We left after 5 minutes, feeling sad for the fish, but more sadder is the fact that I still love to eat it. Then I have to explain to Hannah that the tuna was cut because we are hungry and we
needed to eat something.Not even sure if my explanation justified anything, but I'll just leave it at that. And as I predicted the sushi/sashimi buffet was so good. We went for a little shopping then headed home.
From the train station, near our apartment we saw this alley of tress totally covered with purple, pink and white flowers. Flashbulbs and crowd were also to be seen, it was really beautiful. Then we saw a poster at the station exit announcing that there was an azalea festival lasting through the Golden Week. Wow! 5 years living in the same area, and we never knew that such beautiful spot can be seen within 5-minute walk from where we live. We went the next day and just had a great time seeing the beautiful azaleas in full bloom.
The last day of the Golden Week also marked "kodomo no hi", translated as children's day. But actually it should be son's day, as it is in facta celebration for the boys in the family. But, there is "hina matusuri" or doll festival in March for the girls. For kodomo no hi, families usually just had a simple celebration of dining out. Some
families also hang outside their house a pole with 3 various sizes of "koinobori" (koi fish streamer). It depicts a family of fish, a father, mother and the son. We were lazy this year to set up our koinobori, so we just bought a cake for my dear Akira that has koi fish in it. Cheers to my son and wishing him a prosperous life ahead of him!
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littlewing
Cindy
A happy and prosperous life to you all :)
Another lovely blog - inspiring me to go to Japan :) Love the way you explained to Hannah about the fish, hope your Koi brings prosperity and happiness and harmony to your home.