9 November 2019
Jacket time
Nanukamachi in Yamagata
Yamagata has 2 areas full of shops and restaurants. The station area is like most station areas, focused on business men and travelers, but Yamagata has more than just that.
About a kilometre away from the station is an Nanukamachi, which is a series of really nice tourist shopping streets. Lots of boutique stores, department stores, restaurants, ice cream shops, hiking gear stores, bike shops, cafes, cat cafes, hedgehog cafes, but no girl bars. Its the family friendly tourist part of Yamagata. I liked it. I was surprised it was so large and vibrant. There also seems to be new buildings under construction.
It was raining a bit, but there was still people everywhere, so I am ready to cast my vote, Yamagata > Niigata.
Now for my key rant. I have done this rant before. The hotel I am staying in makes you hand your key to reception every time you leave the hotel, so they know you are not in your room and can go through your stuff.
They even showed me an English laminated card explaining I must do this for security reasons. Fine, I dont really want to carry around the Alcatraz jail sized key anyway.
So this evening I arrive back at the hotel, go to reception, different girl from earlier is at the desk. I ask for the key to my room, tell her the number slowly and clearly. She asks for no ID, hands me a key for room 711 instead of 701. I checked the photo I had wisely taken of the key on my phone, showed her it is 701, which is what I said. She just takes back the wrong one and hands me the right one.
This is idiotic. Not only is it a security issue for me, as anyone can walk in and ask for a key and get it, but its also likely to get me thrown in jail. Allow me to explain.
Lets pretend I had not taken a photo of my key, and vaguely remembered the number of my room, incorrectly, and asked for 711 by mistake and was given it. Then I go and open the door to 711 and a Japanese female is in there getting undressed, screams, people come running, I get arrested, I try and explain the hotel screwed up and gave me the wrong key. I am a single white male traveling in Japan who entered a naked Japanese girls room. Life in prison.
Sort this shit out Japan, its the second time I have been given the wrong key!
Here is the main street in Nanukamachi. A lot of places around here are called Nannas this, Nannas that. Does Nanu mean Nanna in Japanese? Nanu Nanu?
This complex is full of little arts and crafts shops, staying open late on Saturday.
There is a warehouse complex converted into little alleyways of restaurants.
The far end of Nanukamachi.
There are 3 or 4 little department stores, all busy, all with basement food areas. Some with little restaurant areas too.
Unfortunately its raining, so only one fool is standing in the rain watching these 2 children receive some kind of an award from the mayor.
Another street full of shops and restaurants.
Many of the restaurants were busy, generally they were welcoming of customers. That might sound strange, but lots of small restaurants and bars in Japan are not looking for new customers. They are semi-private, you are not supposed to go in unless someone has invited you. A lot of Niigata seemed to be like that, no sign saying open, no indication of what was being served inside. Here in Yamagata its setup for tourists, no one is a local.
My dinner tonight was particularly great. Yes its noodles of some kind, but I had no idea what it was, and still dont now after eating it. I think it was called everything noodles, and it was delicious. It definitely contained potatoes! Possibly pineapple? And lots of big chunks of chilli.
Here is the key from my above extended rant. The existence and concept of this I despise.