Riverwalk, Reno

I took an overnight trip to Reno.  It had been over a decade since my last visit and there have been many changes due to time and possibly the pandemic.  Drawn to the Riverwalk, I spent much of my time around the portion near downtown Reno.

A recent drive to Reno

 It had been over a decade since I had last visited Reno, Nevada.  So, I decided to take the drive and stay overnight before returning.  The video below needed to have audio removed due to copyright issues.  There wasnt much to hear except for the music that I was playing.

My Japan plan for 2021

 As the vaccines become more widespread thoughts of travel can begin to take form.  I will be getting my first shot soon with the followup several weeks later.  All well before the summer months.  For the first time, I have planned a trip for August.

In the northern area of Aomori, you cant throw a rock without hitting a neputa.  And, I will try to hit as many neputa as I can, figuratively.  Neputa or sometimes nebuta, are wire-frame floats that parade through the streets of many cities.  The brightly colored floats come to life when they are lit and night time descends.  The parading lanterns pop against a darkened sky with drums beating in time and flutes lifting spirits.  These festivals land on specific days no matter what day of the week it is.  But many will last long enough to occur one or both weekend days most times.

Aomori is the most well known of the festivals.  Usually Aug 2-7.  Here it is called nebuta.  Back in 2011, this area was a layover on a train ride from Sapporro to Tokyo.  There is a nebuta museum that I stopped into and saw some of the past nebuta that made their way thorough the city streets.  Neputa are typically fan-shaped floats.  There is none of that.  Nebutas are large floats depicting scenes like battles between samurai/gods/dragons or moments in japanese lore to even whimsical themes.  The commonality is the wire-frame structure, paper like covering over the wire-frame, lit from within, and the use of bright bold colors.

Hirosaki, Aug 1-7, to the southwest has their neputa festival and it comprises both neputa and nebuta.  Instead of a loop around a certain part of town, they have different routes depending on the day.  I was able to book a room at the Toyoko Inn near the station and hope to have a room with a view as one of the routes is directly in from of the station.  

Goshogawara, Aug 4-8, is north of Hirosaki and they have tachineputa.  Where Aomori is wide, Goshogawara is tall.  7 meter floats being carried by human power around the center of town.  Adults and children pulling miniature neputa.

To the areas south and west of Hirosaki are Hirakawa, Kuroishi, and Owani.  They too hold neputa parades but to a smaller extent.  So small that I will end up dropping Owani from the list so I dont get neputa overload.  Kurishi runs from Jul 31 to Aug 5 with 2 different parade routes.  Hirakawa only lasts for 2 days, Aug 2-3.  As I will be arriving in the area around 8/3, this will be the first one that I hit up.  It happens, conveniently, in front of Hiraka station.  It will be a good primer of the things to come over the next few nights.

From what I have seen, there will be several yatai at each of the parades.  That being said, I will be indulging in unhealthy faire food for dinner for so many nights.  Must try to sneak in vegetables or a nice salad in the afternoon.

Expect pictures during the trip and I will edit vidoes after my return.  May post some short clips during the meantime

In August, I will be getting my neputa on!!

A joke:good/bad/eh...

On occassion, I will post a joke here and there.  As the title states, they are good, bad, or eh.

Took a screenshot from a website that I frequent and added my own caption.  Low brow humor but I couldnt help it

 

2021

 For 2021, I have an optimistic view that I will be going back to Japan.  A plan that was stifled at many points along 2020.  Because of my pessimism, I have some back up plans.

Plan A, Japan during the Olympics.  Am I crazy to go to Tokyo during the Olympics?  Yes, but I will not be staying in Tokyo during the last week of the Olympics.  I plan to fly into Tokyo, stay for the night, then make my way to Aomori/Hirosaki the next day.  During the first week of August, the neighboring cities have their Nebuta/Neputa festivals.  If I can plan it correctly, I can attend both festivals and possibly browse the apple orchards.  The area is well known for its apple production.  By the time I head back to Tokyo, the clamor for the games will have died down and everything has back to normal.  One of the things on my list is to visit the Gundam Factory in Yokohama.  There is a more animated life sized RX78 Gundam statue that debuted very recently.  I have been to a majority of the locations where Gundam was erected.  While still in construction, the original RX78 statue at a park in Odaiba.  The fully built statue repositioned to Diver City Mall.  And Unicorn Gundam which replaced the RX78.  Other agenda items to be formulated

Plan B, Tokyo in Christmas/New Years.  With the holidays falling the way they are in 2021, a week plus a few days will equal 2 weeks off.  I plan on flying out on Christmas Day hoping flights and airports to be light.  This will be my first time to observe the "illuminations" that happen throughout Tokyo at this time of year.  Lights are strewn around everywhere giving the city a festive feel.  A big deal is made of welcoming in the new year with midnight pilgrimages to temple/shrines.  A few days in Hawaii on the way back to help transition back to my time zone will round out the trip.

Plan C, may not need it but will have one in case A and B fall through.

Nothing is written in stone and the situation is still fluid to the point all plans will go out the window.  Posts this year have been few and far between as travel has been halted.  Like everyone else, Im eagerly awaiting the start of 2021