Two weeks ago, I spent over a week in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington, located in the northwestern United States, for both work and personal reasons. The U.S. was the first foreign country where I lived for years, and I have visited many times since, but as I hadn't had the chance to go in the last few years, I was able to fully enjoy it for the first time in a while.
Seattle is the largest and most beautiful city in Washington State, affectionately known as the "Emerald City" because it is surrounded by water, greenery, and mountains. It is located 180 kilometers from the Canadian border to the north, and is surrounded by Puget Sound to the west and Lake Washington to the east. Not only is it colored by a rich history and culture, but it also has a thriving outdoor recreation and sports scene, and is highly regarded for its living environment, convenient public transportation, and high standard of education, with the University of Washington being a prime example.
In recent years, Seattle has been attracting attention as an advanced IT city. Centered around local companies like Amazon and Microsoft, many IT and gaming companies, as well as retailers like Costco and Nordstrom, and Starbucks, have their headquarters here. Because it is rich in international diversity, it is famous as a liberal and LGBTQ-friendly city. It was a city with a sophisticated atmosphere where a high level of environmental awareness and a proactive approach to preventing global warming permeated various aspects of daily life.
The photo shows the Seattle Great Wheel and the city view taken from a cruise ship.
I went to the Space Needle. The Space Needle is a tower located in the Seattle Center in the downtown area and is known as a landmark of Seattle. It was built as the centerpiece of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, which had a space-age theme. It is 605 feet (about 184 meters) tall and 138 feet (about 42 meters) wide at its widest point, and is said to be designed to withstand winds of 320 kilometers per hour and a magnitude 9.1 earthquake. It is also known as a setting for Hollywood movies such as "It Happened at the World's Fair," "Sleepless in Seattle," "Austin Powers," and "The Parallax View."The Space Needle's observation deck is located at 520 feet (about 158 meters) above the ground. The observation deck, with its glass walls, offered a 360-degree panoramic view and was an open and airy space. It is a spectacular spot where you can overlook not only the Seattle cityscape but also the magnificent scenery of the Olympic Peninsula, the Cascade Range, and Mount Rainier.The observation deck outside is open-air, with no fences to block the view, and is surrounded by outward-leaning glass walls. Sitting on this glass bench and leaning back, I could experience the thrill of feeling as if I were floating above Seattle. There was also an 8-centimeter gap between the glass panels, allowing a comfortable breeze to blow through, which was a thrilling and pleasant experience.On the day I visited, I was able to see all the way to Mount Rainier.Descending the stairs from the observation deck, you will find "The Loupe," the world's first and only rotating glass floor, which opened in 2018. Except for one-third of the center, this section is made of glass and rotates once every 45 minutes using 12 motors. If you were holding onto the glass or pillars to take pictures, you could feel the sensation of it rotating, to the point where the distance between your hands and feet would rapidly increase and decrease, making it impossible to stand still.This is the Space Needle at night. Space Needle tickets allow for a second entry within 24 hours of the first, so I was able to enjoy the magnificent scenery both during the day and at night.This is the night view from the Space Needle observation deck.This is the night view from the observation deck. It was shining as if many jewels had been scattered about.The open-air atmosphere was comfortable and the mood was superb.This is the rotating glass floor "The Loupe" at night. Watching the world rotate beneath the glass floor, I was able to immerse myself in a pleasant feeling of weightlessness, as if I were traveling through outer space.I went to Pike Place Market. Boasting a history established in 1907, it is the oldest and busiest market in the United States. The clock tower and neon signs, which remain as they were back then, are popular as tourist attractions in Seattle.The fish market is at the center, and fresh ingredients such as shrimp and crab were lined up in every available space. The service was also enthusiastic, with performances like the "fish toss," where they throw fish to the register.There were also local crafts and art, and I was drawn in by the exciting mood.In the neighborhood, there were various charming and unique cafes and restaurants. It is said that only the first branch or the only existing store of a chain can open in the Pike Place area. I was very satisfied to be able to eat my way through legendary flagship stores that have lines of customers, such as "Starbucks," "Beecher's Handmade Cheese," a creamy, exquisite chain that arranges the classic American dish mac and cheese in a Seattle style using local handmade cheese, and "Pike Place Chowder," which has won numerous awards as the shop that serves the world's best clam chowder.I went to Kerry Park. It is famous as one of Seattle's three major scenic spots and is a small park on the hillside in the northern part of the city. I was able to get a panoramic view of the wonderful scenery that symbolizes Seattle, from the iconic Space Needle and the downtown skyscrapers to Elliott Bay and Mount Rainier. It was elegant and refreshing.This is the quiet residential area that spreads out in front of Kerry Park.This is the road leading to the seaside. The autumn leaves were beautiful.This is the intersection of Highland Drive and 6th Avenue. It was a particularly charming area even within the residential district.I went to the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum. It displays the works of Dale Chihuly, a renowned glass sculptor from Tacoma, Washington, and the first American to be named a Living National Treasure. I was overwhelmed and intoxicated by the world and atmosphere of his surprisingly fantastic and magnificent works. It is said that five of Chihuly's works and spatial art pieces are also permanently installed at the Toyama Glass Art Museum.This is a room called the Persian Ceiling. It was an immersive experience, as if being wrapped in a colorful, otherworldly space.It was a powerful sight, with blue colors dancing like the sea world and a tower with a strong presence.This is an installation named Mille Fiori. The colorful underwater objects spreading throughout the room were sparkling vividly.The radiance of the sea world was dazzling.This is Ikebana and Float Boat. It is said to be a work inspired by Japanese flower arrangement. I was moved by the sensibility where Japanese tastes melt together and resonate.This is an installation called Macchia Forest. Its dedicated posture toward the light was impressive.This work spreads out in a gorgeous form within a transparent glass room. It looked as if it were having a glamorous banquet with the Space Needle standing next to it.I went on a narrated harbor cruise. It was a one-hour course cruising the coastline of Elliott Bay in Puget Sound and Seattle Harbor while looking at the Seattle skyline.From the cruise ship, I was able to see the Seattle Great Wheel, the Seattle Aquarium, the Olympic Sculpture Park, Myrtle Edwards Park, and more.The narration was a live commentary, like a show, from the top floor of the ship's open deck. Because they spoke in detail and cheerfully the entire time we were on board, the fun was doubled with fresh surprises.It felt very pleasant to be bathed in the sunlight on the ship while being blown by the refreshing autumn breeze.This is the city of Seattle seen from the cruise ship.This is the multi-purpose stadium, Lumen Field, seen from the ferry. It is the home of the Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) for soccer, the Seattle Seahawks (NFL) for American football, and the Seattle Reign FC (NWSL) for women's soccer. I am looking forward to it being used as a venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup under the name 'Seattle Stadium'.In Seattle, I enjoyed local dishes to the fullest, such as fish and chips, loco moco, tacos, chicken wings, cheddar and red cheddar cheese, and sweet desserts. The local specialty coffee and wine were superb and truly delicious. The way of calling 'sparkling wine' as 'bubble wine' was also very nostalgic.This is a globe that was standing as if floating at the very back of the Science Center. It looked like it was shining with happiness, filled with the power of life and peace. It was an emotional Seattle trip.
Continuing to [Washington Travelogue II] Bellevue Edition
