Week 73: March 20 – 24, 2023
Day 504: March 20, 2023
Monday – Rumoi
Despite a chilly start at 2 degrees, the day looks promising with temperatures expected to warm up to 9 or 10 degrees under sunny skies. Today, I'm back at my main school, Rumoi High School, ready to resume work.
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| Rumoi High School 3.20.23 |
This week marks the final stretch of the 2022-2023 school year, with a shortened class schedule, giving students a sense of closure and achievement. While I didn't have any collaborative projects today, I was able to assist Matsuda-sensei in preparing for the Eiken exams, helping him with writing practice. I also supported Ms. Regene, an ALT in Fukuoka Prefecture, by serving as a judge for music videos created by her students.
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| Dolphy during "pre-operation" |
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| Dolphy is now as good as new |
After returning home, my family and I fixed my daughter’s favorite toy, Dolphy. We added more cotton, and seeing her happiness when it was as good as new made it all worthwhile.
Day 505: March 21, 2023
Tuesday – Vernal Equinox Day (春分の日)
It’s Vernal Equinox Day (春分の日) today, which is a public holiday here in Japan. It also means that it is officially spring.
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| Today is the Vernal Equinox Day holiday here in Japan. It only means one thing... We're off on another road trip |
We woke up to a beautiful morning, and with a forecast of sunshine all day, we decided to continue with our planned "Vernal Equinox Road Trip." Our itinerary included a return visit to the town of Biei, followed by first-time visits to Kamifurano and Furano City.
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| Fukagawa Rumoi Expressway |
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| We filled up our tanks at the Moda Club Serufu in Asahikawa City |
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| We also made a brief stopover at the 711 on the outskirts of the city. |
We left Rumoi City at around 7:20 AM. Since it was a long drive and my pregnant wife was driving, we made some stops along the way. The first was at Moda Club Serufu Asahikawa (gas station) to fill up our tank and also take a toilet break. The next one is at the nearby 711 to buy and eat breakfast.
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| The rows of white birch trees |
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| We took photos on this scenic road just in front of the Seven Stars Tree |
From there, we continued to the northern part of the town of Biei (美瑛町) to visit the following places:
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| Seven Stars Tree |
🌲Seven Stars Tree
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| This is the closest visitors can get if they want to see the Parent and Child Tree. |
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| Parent and Child Tree |
🌲 Parent and Child Tree
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| Tree of Ken and Mary |
🌲 Tree of Ken and Mary
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| It's time to go to the town proper of Biei |
We then continued to the town proper and visited the following places:
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| Biei Shrine's Torii gate |
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| Biei Shrine |
🟍 Biei Shrine
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| Nakamachi Park |
🟍 Nakamachi Park
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| Four Seasons Tower |
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| Inside the observatory of the Four Seasons Tower |
🟍 Four Seasons Tower
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| Biei JR Station |
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| The bus stop beside Biei JR Station where one of the scenes in First Love was shot |
🟍 Biei JR Station
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| National Route 237 going to Kamifurano |
After enjoying what Biei has to offer, we then drove to our next destination which is the town of Kamifurano (上富良野町). We visited the following places:
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| Kamifurano Trick Art Museum |
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| Miyamatoge Art Park |
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| Inside the Kamifurano Trick Art Museum |
🟈 Miyamatoge Art Park and Kamifurano Trick Art Museum
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| Kamifurano Shrine's Torii gate |
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| Kamifurano Shrine |
🟈 Kamifurano Shrine
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| Hinode Park |
🟈 Hinode Park
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| Panorama Road |
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| You can see Mt. Furano in the distance |
🟈 Panorama Road
From there, we headed to Furano City (富良野市). These are the places that we visited:
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| Looking for a parking spot near the shrine in Furano City |
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| Furano Shrine's Torii Gate |
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| Furano Shrine |
➤ Furano Shrine
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| McDonald's Furano |
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| Late lunch at McDonald's Furano |
➤ McDonald’s Furano
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| Ningle Terrace |
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| Exploring Ningle Terrace |
➤ Ningle Terrace
Day 506: March 22, 2023
Wednesday – Teshio
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| Teshio High School 3.22.23 |
It’s another sunny morning here in Rumoi City. Today, I will be visiting Teshio High School. It’s my 15th and also last visit for the school year 2022-2023. For this trip, I used my 2-day Moekko Free Ticket.
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| During our break time, we watched the World Baseball Classic match between Japan and the USA. Japan won 3-2. |
Here’s my workload for today:
2nd period – Jeopardy @ 1A of Miyakoshi-sensei6th period – Jeopardy @ 2A of Miyakoshi-sensei
Day 507: March 23, 2023
Thursday – Embetsu
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| Walking to Embetsu Agricultural High School |
It’s a bit cloudy today but regardless it’s getting warmer and warmer by the day. Today, I will be visiting
Embetsu Agricultural High School. It’s my 30th and also last visit for the school year 2022 – 2023. For this trip, I used my
2-day Moekko Free Ticket.
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| Check out what I have found along the road |
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| Embetsu Agricultural High School 3.23.23 |
Just as luck would have it, I picked up 1000 yen on my way to school. I was kind of short today as I still haven’t withdrawn cash. Such luck!Here’s my workload for today:
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| 3rd period with Sasaki-sensei |
3rd period – Pinoy Henyo @ 1A of Sasaki-sensei5th period – Pinoy Henyo @ 1B of Sasaki-sensei
Day 508: March 24, 2023
Friday – Tomamae
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| Tomamae Commercial High School 3.24.23 |
It is a cold and cloudy day. Today, I’m heading to Tomamae Commercial High School. It’s going to be my 33rd visit and also my last for this 2022 – 2023 school year. For this trip, I’m using my 1- day Moekko Free Ticket.
Farewell program to the transferring and retiring teachers
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| Hasegawa-sensei giving his farewell speech |
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| The "farewell walk" |
I didn’t have any collaboration work today as it is the closing ceremony of the school year. What made me emotional at this event was the fact that my JTE, Hasegawa-sensei, would be retiring already. He was one of the best JTEs that I have had in my 2-year stint as an ALT. I had several trips and had so many wonderful memories with him.
Regardless, life has to move on and hopefully, the next JTE will be as great if not greater than him.
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| Grocery shopping at MaxValu in Rumoi City |
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| Next stop: COOP Rumoi |
After getting home, I headed out once again. First, I accompanied my wife to buy some ingredients at MaxValu and when she wasn't able to find what she was looking for, we headed to COOP to get the rest.
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| Off to Entree for a nomikai with my coworkers from Rumoi High School |
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| アントレ |
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| Sashimi and sweet ebi |
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| Fresh meat and vegetables for sukiyaki |
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| I had fun chatting with my co-workers |
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| A nomikai isn't complete without beer |
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| A nomikai isn't complete without beer |
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| Nijikai: Taiyo |
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| Finally, there's a karaoke! |
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| Sanjikai: Myu |
My day didn’t end there, as I had to head out again that evening—this time with friends from Rumoi High School. We hopped from one nomikai to another, starting at Entree, then Taiyo, and finally Myu. They wanted to check out another spot afterward, but with a road trip planned for the weekend, I decided to call it a night (or rather, a morning), getting home around 2 AM.
This week was a mix of emotions for me. Some of my friends will be leaving next school year, which is bittersweet, but I’m grateful for a very productive week. My family and I also took the opportunity to explore new places like Kamifurano and Furano during the Vernal Equinox holiday. However, it was tough to say goodbye to Hasegawa-sensei; it felt like losing a close friend. Still, I’m optimistic about the future and hopeful that my next Tomamae JTE will be just as enjoyable to work with.
Read more:
Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 73
Japan Diaries 4: Day 505
Moekko Free Ticket 14th Season
Seven Stars Tree
Parent and Child Tree
Tree of Ken and Mary
Biei Shrine
Nakamachi Park
Four Seasons Tower
Kamifurano Trick Art Museum
Kamifurano Shrine
Hinode Park
Panorama Road
Furano Shrine
Ningle Terrace10 Things to Do in Furano City
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