Takanosu -> KitaAkita
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.234395,140.353088&spn=0.245989,0.461838&t=k&hl=en
Well a wee while since I wrote anything here. Something about being in the country and just enjoying the wide open spaces.
Currently we are in KitaAkitaShi, northern Akita, northern Honshuu, staying at my wifes parents house. This town, formerly known as Takanosu (hawks nest) has a population of about 21,000 down from 27,000 20 years ago. Including the other towns which joined in the merger earlier this year the population is just over 40,000. I was trying to think of somewhere in Aotearoa to compare it to, Nelson or Karamea sprang to mind, but nowhere really fits. It is a declining farming community with an ageing population; like much of Japan.
A google search for Kitaakitashi brings up first a broken link to a design company and then a link to a site dealing with depression! Searching for Kitaakita brings one to the towns website (Japanese only) and the wikipedia entry.
There are a couple of nice restaurants - Ast (pronounced Asuto) near the Itoku supermarket and Vagabond (climbing cafe) on the main street just up from the railway station. Ast is open during the day as a cafe (without food) and as a restaurant from 5pm. The owner also has a Japanese-style restaurant and has put in a great deal of effort to create a place which wouldnt be too out of place in Wellington. The only thing missing is a decent long black of course, but in my 6 and a bit years in Japan I havent yet found one so it isnt too surprising. They also have a wide range of cocktails at quite cheap prices.
Vagabond is a little less posh, offering more standard Japanese-foreign food - izakaya fare and mongolian barbecue with a climbing wall and quite a relaxed setting. We had been drinking for a bit when we got there so we didnt give the wall a shot, but next time!
(the friendly owners of Vagabond)
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