Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 52

Weekend 52: October 29-30, 2022

Day 362: October 29, 2022

Saturday – My Wife’s Birthday

Today is an important day because it is my wife's 35th birthday. We had originally planned to stay the night at Jozankei, but Ella's school play was postponed until today.

I did my best to help prepare the dishes for my wife's birthday celebration
I did my best to help prepare the dishes for my wife's birthday celebration

Baked sushi
One of the dishes that we made was baked sushi

Hence, we spent the morning preparing food for our mini-celebration. We made baked sushi, pad thai, and honey chicken wings. Our neighbor Deguchi-sensei also sent cake and sake as a gift to my wife.

Midorigaoka Elementary School
Off to Midorigaoka Elementary School

Ella is one of the narrators for the Kaguya Hime play
Ella is one of the narrators for their Kaguya Hime play

Kaguya Hime cast
Congratulations to the teachers and the Kaguya Hime cast

Before 2:30 PM, we went to Midorigaoka Elementary School with Teacher Kanda to watch Ella’s presentation for their Kaguya Hime play. Ella did great as one of the narrators. I was surprised that she memorized her lines and it was in Japanese.

Happy birthday my love, KC Nicerio
Happy birthday my love, KC Nicerio

Happy birthday my love, KC Nicerio

Happy birthday my love, KC Nicerio

When we got back home, we had a simple feast as a family. Overall, we might not have traveled today during my wife’s first birthday here in Japan but we are still very thankful that we got to celebrate it together.


Day 363: October 30, 2022

Sunday – Tomamae Gang Goes to Wakkanai

Last Friday, Hasegawa-sensei invited me and the two other ALTs in Tomamae on a road trip to Wakkanai City. Since we were all available today, our road trip pushed through as planned.

Hasegawa-sensei came to pick me up
Hasegawa-sensei came to pick me up

Driving along Route 239
Driving along Route 239 

Obira Roadside Station
We made a brief toilet break stop at Obira Roadside Station

Tomamaeda Bear
I didn't miss the opportunity to say hit to Tomamaeda Bear

Hasegawa-sensei picked me up from my home at around 7 AM and then we drove to Tomamae City Hall in the town of Tomamae (苫前町)  to pick up Jon and Mike.

Otonrui Wind Farm
We passed by the Otonrui Wind Farm

45°N Monument
45°N Monument

45°N Monument
45°N Latitude Monument

From Tomamae, we made a brief stop at the 45°N Latitude Monument in the town of Horonobe (幌延町) to take some photos before continuing our drive to the Sarobetsu Wetland Center in the town of Toyotomi (豊富町).

Sarobetsu Wetland Center
Sarobetsu Wetland Center

Sarobetsu Primeval Flower Garden
The wetland center was still closed when we arrived so we first explored Sarobetsu Primeval Flower Garden

Sarobetsu Primeval Flower Garden
Sarobetsu Primeval Flower Garden

A picture with Mike, Jon, and Hasegawa-sensei
A picture with Mike, Jon, and Hasegawa-sensei

The Sarobetsu Wetland Center was already opened after we explored the wetlands. We watched a tourism video of Rishiri Island
The Sarobetsu Wetland Center was already opened after we explored the wetlands. We watched a tourism video of Rishiri Island

Inside Sarobetsu Wetland Center
Inside Sarobetsu Wetland Center

We continued on to Wakkanai City via Route 106
We continued on to Wakkanai City via Route 106

We explored the wetlands using the elevated wooden path behind the center. The place was very scenic. During our visit, we were the only people there so we got to take our time and take hundreds of photos of the Sarobetsu Primeval Flower Garden.

We turned left to Route 254
We turned left to Route 254

We then drove back to Route 106 to continue on our trip to Wakkanai City (稚内市) using the coastal road. These are the places that we visited in Wakkanai City:


We had lunch at Dino's
We had lunch at Dino's

Hasegawa-sensei recommended this place to us
Hasegawa-sensei recommended this place to us

 
⦽ Dino’s 

Cape Soya
We finally reached our main destination - Cape Soya

The Statue of Rinzo Mamiya
The Statue of Rinzo Mamiya

 ⦽ Cape Soya

Kashiwaya - Japan's northernmost store
Kashiwaya - Japan's northernmost store

 ⦽ Kashiwaya

From Cape Soya, we drove to the White Path or White Road
From Cape Soya, we drove to the White Path or White Road

White Path / White Road
White Path / White Road

The scenery around White Path is also picturesque
The scenery around White Road is also picturesque

 
⦽ White Path / White Road


Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower
Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower

Hasegawa-sensei really is a funny dude
Hasegawa-sensei really is a funny dude

The view from the observation deck
The view from the observation deck


Aside from going to the observation deck of Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower, we also checked out the museum on the tower's ground floor. It was there where my phone battery died on me. That only meant that there were no photos from that point on. 

The museum area of Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower
The elevator going to the observation deck

The museum area of Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower

The museum area of Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower

The museum area of Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower

The museum area of Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower

The museum area of Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower

Before driving back home, we went to Etchan in the city center and ate ramen for dinner. Mike generously paid for our food.

From there, Hasegawa-sensei drove us home. The drive back home was an adventure in itself as we almost crashed into a deer somewhere on the outskirts of Embetsu and also almost ran over some foxes in Haboro and Obira.

Thankfully, we all arrived home safely. Overall, today was a fun and memorable road trip with my Tomamae JTE and ALT co-workers. I hope that we get to travel again someday soon.

Read more:

Japan Diaries 4: Week 52
Japan Diaries 4: Day 363

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