The Golden Week Holiday here at Smith’s School of English Sagamihara is always a welcomed break. Golden Week in Japan can be a bit hectic with travel because most of the citizens are on vacation at the same time. This is part of the reason we shut down a week early. The other part is; well, we are lucky to work with Smith’s!
I usually take this opportunity to travel back to the USA, but not this year. Instead, I found the city of Numazu, located on the northwestern side of Izu Peninsula. I had never been there, and thought it might be a good place to enjoy fresh seafood, as it is a fishing port.
It is quite far from Sagamihara, but it only took about 60 minutes of train time- The JR Yokohama line to Shin-Yokohama, and a high-speed Shinkansen ride to Numazu.
Short Travel from Sagamihara on This Golden Week Holiday! So Easy and Worth Doing!
I spent 2 nights at the Riverside Hotel, which was very comfortable. With perfect weather, I enjoyed a walk to the port to see many vendors selling the day’s seafood catch. There were so many seafood restaurants in the area, it was hard to choose. I finally went into what looked like a good restaurant and had some of the best sushi of my life. Sitting down at the counter, I let the chef decide what kinds of sushi to serve me- a 15-piece “omakase.” Wonderful.
The second day I travelled a few local train stops down the JR Tokaido line because I wanted to see that beautiful bay- and smell it, listen to it, feel it. I bought some onigiri and green tea at the train station and walked a few minutes to the bay. The strength of the trees impressed me; obviously winning the fight of a few typhoons.
I sat down on a log and opened my rice ball; taking in the view and smell. Not more than 2 minutes later, a hawk swooped down out of nowhere and grabbed my lunch right out of my hands! Part of it fell to the sand, and the bird returned to gobble up the rest. This happens along the coastline of Japan, and I had forgotten. Smart birds.
Lots of walking, and to another good restaurant near Numazu Station. I wish I had a full year to travel Japan, because there is so much to see and do. But I’m lucky. I can do it again next August. I think I’ll travel somewhere north.
Jim, Smith’s School of English, Sagamihara
My colleague Derek had an interesting Golden Week Holiday last year; also by the sea. Can you imagine there being a desert in Japan? Well, there is, sort of…here.
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