Inside My Brain While Traveling

When I was a senior in college, I had so much energy and drive that I would occasionally go on trips on the weekends. That said, the destinations I could afford on a college student's part-time job salary were limited, so I only took three trips that involved overnight stays. Everything else was basically a day trip. This excludes trips back home.

Recently, the lab has been busy, and it's not rare for experiments to be scheduled on weekends. Also, I have part-time work on weekends, so I can't take time off for a while. Because of this, my desire to travel has grown so much that I feel like I'm going to burst. I do have plans to go to Niigata and the Expo in the summer, but I'm worried about whether I can hold out until then.

S-o, I've decided to try and trick myself into thinking I've traveled by talking about the trips I took last year. If I look back on my memories, I should be able to relive them. I'm going to try and easily enjoy a travel mood while reliving those experiences.

So, let's go with the travelogue.

Day 1

In May 2024, just before Golden Week, I was terrified by how much free time I had. Up until my third year, I was busy with my club, so Golden Week was just practice, practice, practice. It was rare to have a whole day completely free. But since I've retired from that club, I basically have no plans on my days off. I don't have a partner, and it was a hassle to call up friends, so I was truly free. Yet, I had time because I had reduced my part-time shifts. Alright, shall I treat myself to a solo trip?

So, I looked back at a 'places I want to go' list I wrote ages ago. What was on it were the words 'Oshino Hakkai.' That's right, let's go to Yamanashi.

Even though I say I'm planning, all I decide is the transportation, the accommodation, and the places I absolutely must go and the restaurants I want to eat at. The area around Oshino Hakkai was a bit of a hassle to stay in, so I decided to stay around Kofu Station. I booked a cheap business hotel near Kofu Station. My means of transportation was a highway bus. While making a silly mistake like going to the wrong bus terminal, I safely made it from Shinjuku to Kofu.

After greeting the statue of Lord Shingen, I headed to the hotel first. I entered the room, put down my luggage, and took a breather. The bus is easy because you can sit the whole time, but sitting for that long isn't easy. Even if someone told me to just stand, standing is tough. I'm being selfish.

It was 4:00 PM, so I went to get something to eat. 'Isn't that early?' you ask? It's to avoid the crowds, you know, what can you do? I don't want to stand in lines when I've gone to the trouble of traveling. At 'Kosaku,' a hoto noodle restaurant near the hotel, I luxuriously ate a super combo of fried shrimp and beer, along with a set of hoto. I can't say I didn't feel guilty about the binge eating, but since hoto is packed with vegetables, I sent that guilt away for today. Please come back on another occasion.

After eating to my limit, I strolled around the station area. I got excited when I saw Mt. Fuji from a random spot. Also, I felt good for some reason. Maybe it's because there are no tall buildings. Kofu Castle also has a nice atmosphere. I'll try going there tomorrow morning.

I bought some Afternoon Tea Lemon Tea, some light snacks, and alcohol at a nearby supermarket and returned to my room. I slept like a log in the hotel's nice bed.

Day 2

Breakfast was a buffet. But before that, I bought a hot coffee at FamilyMart and went to Kofu Castle. It was morning, so I climbed and climbed the stairs while listening to 'Masahiko Kamiyanagi Asaborake' to the top. The view was the best. The sunrise was also beautiful. I returned to the hotel and ate the buffet. This is no time to worry about what others think. I ate heartily and intently. I also gulped down milk. Growing taller. I finished checking out and headed to Oshino Hakkai. There are many transfers.

On the train I transferred to, there was this sign.

That's right, Fujiyoshida City, where Oshino Hakkai is located, was the hometown of Masahiko Shimura, the vocalist of my favorite band, 'Fujifabric.' I loved Shimura-san so much that I even bought his books and poetry collections, so why on earth did I forget? From this point on, the music during my trip was Fujifabric. For now, I listened to my favorite album, 'TEENAGER,' while traveling. I can see Mt. Fuji. Mt. Fuji is truly huge. I'll take a bus from Mt. Fuji Station.

Arrived at Oshino Hakkai. Apparently, the highlights are the eight beautiful ponds. Hmm. The water is certainly beautiful. But more than that, I felt the negative effects of overtourism and left feeling disheartened. I don't want to mention politics as much as possible, and I don't dislike foreign tourists (I studied abroad myself), but I think it's problematic when people block roads to take photos, smoke in non-smoking areas, or talk loudly. I wonder if they would act like that in their own countries; even if they would, this is Japan. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I wanted them to at least follow basic manners, and I thought they should just charge an entrance fee. In the end, I don't have very good memories of it.

But where should I go? Come to think of it, I think I heard the word "aquarium" on the bus. When I looked it up, it seems there is a freshwater aquarium. It's about a 20-minute walk. The comments on the display panels were interesting, and I was able to appreciate the charm of freshwater fish. When I left the aquarium, it was lunchtime. What should I eat?

Then I suddenly remembered I was in Fujiyoshida. Come to think of it, the book by Mr. Shimura that I mentioned earlier had a story about "Yoshida Udon." So what do I have to eat? That's right, Yoshida Udon. I walked and took a bus to "Fumotoya." It seems to be a popular restaurant, but I must have arrived just before the lunch rush ended because I got in right away. It was truly delicious. The meat, the udon, and above all, the burdock root was delicious. It was probably the best burdock root I've ever eaten. I'm really glad I chose this restaurant.

I took the train from Shimoyoshida Station. The departure chimes on the platform at this station are the masterpieces "Akaneiro no Yuuhi" and "Wakamono no Subete" by Fujifabric. I headed toward Tokyo while being sent off by "Akaneiro no Yuuhi" on the train bound for Otsuki.

When I arrived in Tokyo, I was called out for a friend's romantic consultation. At a nearby Royal Host, I heard a report that she had been confessed to by someone but had turned them down, and then we chatted in a park before parting ways. It was fun, but tiring. That friend is now a working professional. We lost touch after she started working, but I wonder if she's doing well. She probably is.

And so, I was able to get a little taste of traveling! All's well that ends well.
I hope you all were able to get a taste of it too.

With this, I'll do my best until my summer trip!!

Thank you for reading this far!
Please let me know your "recommended travel destinations" in the comments section.
(If possible, I'd be happy if it were a place that's easy to get to from Tokyo.)