Visiting Nagoya, a charming town of merchants and industry

A new week of exploration awaited us, and to start we changed base. With regret we left the coziness of our Higashiyama apartment and sent our luggage to Tokyo from Kyoto station taqubin.With our backpack ready for our overnight stay, we left for Nagoya.

I had in mind a visit to the Chrysanthemum Dolls of Nagoya Castle, as well as illuminations around the castle or some pottery at Yakimono World. But it was such a beautiful sunny day the walk to the castle gave us enough view of the castle, so we decided to get to the Shikemichi historic townscape conservation district, not too far from the train station, where old fashioned merchant warehouses lined a long street.

We had our lunch in the large event hall next to the castle, which was a Noh theatre building.

And soon afterwards we roamed aimlessly until I found there was the Toyota musueum next to the station! And the location is located wonderfully at the old site of its textile factory. A large park overlooks the high rise building and at the end of it the entrance to the museum.

All kind of machinery for textile making are shown and working in the museum. And so it turned out it all started as Toyoda, a textile factory.

 

 

 

 It also explains the processes from harvested cotton to thread to fabric. Then with the evolution of machinery and the context of war and industrial and engine revolution the museum path and contents switch to car making. The process of making a car is then shown, up until the fabric for its seats.

 

 

 

The museum then of course showcased all the robotics involved in making a car.

And eventually the robotics involved got its limelight in the form of the robot playing violin.

 

It was fascinating to see the evolution of machines and the company over time. It was truly fantastic to have stumbled on this, as it was different from what we have seen and done so far. And we all received a freshly weaved square towel at the end.

We finally got to our lodging (Kyoya Ryokan), into which we had a tatami room overlooking a typical cute Japanese garden, with a private bathroom. But there was also a common bath I missed.

Japan 2015 - logistics of travelling with parents

This was the highlight of the year, and one of my greatest life achievement: Between two jobs, I took my parents to Japan. I could afford so with the sudden exchange rate crash at the beginning of the year (airfare was suddenly 20% cheaper).

 

And so the whole year was excitedly spent in planing for this autumn trip. This would be my first trip with company in Japan, and I had to budget for 2 hotel rooms most of times, or a double or large room in minshuku. The Japan rail pass was of course used for all transportation, and the main meal of the day was breakfast, usually included in the accommodation.

The challenges were many:
-keeping a comfortable pace of traveling as there are much to see, and we have different rhythms
-selecting sights and activities that capture the local customs and spirit (zen, megalopolis, matsuri, onsen, food)
-satisfying their interests (Japanese gardens, industries, temples, markets, castles, trains, etc..)
-trying to experience something I have not experienced or seen yet.

Of course the trip sightseeing was great, but what was amazing and unexpected was also how I discovered and enjoyed my parents reactions. It was my parents' first trip in Asia and I was not aware of their expectations or prejudices. So it was with much amusement, laughter and sometimes incredulity that I experienced their wide eyed reactions or comments.



Resources and tips:
Thanks to Japan tourism website, all the major sights were covered using the Japan railpass for 2 weeks.

Since my previous trips were all traveling south from Tokyo, this time the itinerary was from Hiroshima traveling to Tokyo on Honshu island, with a quick side trip to Shikoku island. We would cover one city/town per day in average, and no more than 2 planned activities to allow for leisure exploring and getting lost, covering architecture (temples, castles), town histories, Japanese gardens, and Japanese factories.

We planned to but did not send our luggage (one suitcase and rucksack each) from the Kansai airport to the hotel by TAQ-BIN upon arrival, while we find our way. But we used the service from Okayama hands free travel counter in the train station to our hotel in Kyoto, and again from Nagoya to Tokyo. We traveled on a rucksack only to the onsen as there were bus travel from Kobe.

I also made sure we were not changing hotel everyday, but settles in a strategic town and explore the surroundings in daytrips:
Hiroshima based
Okayama based
Kyoto based
Nagoya based
Tokyo based


What to pack? For the season layered warm clothes are best. Of course my parents had to pack their medication. But other than that we could find everything else from the many kombini (convenient stores).


Itinerary
Landing in Osaka Kansai airport
Hiroshima - peace park and eating historical street food in Okonomimura
Miyajima - Itsukushima shrine and old town
Okayama - Kourakuen
Takamatsu - Ritsurin koen
Kurashiki - merchant warehouse and strolling along canals
Himeji - climbing a martial architecture world heritage castle
Kobe-Arima onsen - buying a suit and omotenashi experience in 7th century onsen town
Kyoto - history and culture strolling in the west capital
Osaka - Shin Osaka and wet market
Nagoya - minshuku stay and impromptu Toyota museum visit
Shizuoka - views from Nihondaira ropeway to Kunozan Toshogu shrine
Tokyo - Eating sushi in Tsukuji at 4am and Kagurazaka matsuri
Leaving from Narita airport

Accomodations
Hiroshima: Chisun Hotel Hiroshima
Okayama: Okayama Koraku hotel
Arima onsen: Hana Koyado
Kyoto: APA Hotel Gion
Higashiyama airbnb (Kyoto Amanogawa)
Nagoya: Kyoya Ryokan
Tokyo:
Mercure Ginza
The B Ikebukuro