Spring Road Trips Get a Set of Wheels and Get Off the Tourist Trail
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FREE MONTHLY GUIDE COVERING OSAKA • KYOTO • HYOGO • NARA • WAKAYAMA • SHIGA APR 2018 / ISSUE 215 Spring Road Trips Get a set of wheels and get off the tourist trail PLUS+ > THE BEAUTY AND TRADITIONS OF TOYAMA > KANSAI’S BEST OUTDOOR MARKETS > DELECTABLE DINING IN NAKAZAKICHO INCLUDING FIND OUT WHAT’S ON AROUND KANSAI INSIDE THIS ISSUE While it felt like it may never come, spring is finally here, and what better way to make the most of the season than to take a road trip to explore another prefecture? Our writers Randy Poehlman and Jason Haidar have been driving around the Chugoku About Kansai Scene region (p 04) and Toyama Prefecture (p 08) respectively, and have put together some Kansai Scene provides monthly English enticing recommended itineraries. If you’re keen to stay local this spring, how about articles, information and listings for visitors heading to one of Kansai’s unique outdoor markets? Brooke Larsen is in the know and residents of the Kansai area. and brings us all the details of Kansai’s best markets on page 6. If you’re looking for a quaint spot for coffee and cake or a light meal, look no further than the hipster town of Nakazakicho (p 18) – it seems that every time we look, we find another new and Publisher ......................................................Daniel Lee interesting cafe or boutique in that trendy retro neighborhood. If you’re keen for some Managing Editor .........................Celia Polkinghorne festival action this month, check out our events and festivals listings starting on page Editor ........................................................Jason Haidar 10. We hope you enjoy the spring season! Production Manager ..............................Misa Matsui Production Assistant ........................Miyoko Morita Accounts Manager .................................Michiko Lee Art ........................................................Peggy Holsclaw Cinema .................................................Miyoko Morita Event & Festival ....................................Tomoko Ishii Events & Festivals ......................................................10 Live Music ............................................Phillip Jackson Club .......................................................Saiko Fujiwara Art .......................................................................................... 16 Live Music ........................................................................ 19 Contact Kansai Scene General [email protected] Club .......................................................................................24 Editorial [email protected] Advertising Cinema ................................................................................26 ......................... [email protected] Image courtesy of Shitennoji Temple of Shitennoji Image courtesy Tel. ...........................................................06-6539-1717 Classifieds ........................................................................27 ON THE COVER: This month’s Fax. ..........................................................06-7635-4791 cover image is of Shoryoe – the Address .......................................Osaka-shi, Nishi-ku, memorial service for Prince ............................................................ Shinmachi 3-5-7, Getting Around / Maps ...........................................29 Shotoku at Shitennoji Temple, Osaka. ................................................................... Eiko Bldg. 2F ................................................................ Mojoworks KK 04 Website ............................................kansaiscene.com Japan in a Van Get out of town and celebrate the arrival of spring with a campervanning adventure. Write for Kansai Scene If you would like to write for KS, please FEATURE Text: Randy Poehlman contact [email protected] after reviewing our writers guidelines: kansaiscene.com/write-for-us 06 Best Markets in Kansai Enjoy both the sunshine and shopping at these five outdoor markets. DISCLAIMER FEATURE Text: Brooke Larsen Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. We take no responsibility for the quality or content of advertisements. Public and private parties appproached by those claiming to work for or on behalf of Kansai Scene should call this 08 office to confirm the truth of any such claim, especially where A Trip to Toyama money may be involved. Experience the natural beauty and traditional arts and crafts of A BIT OF HISTORY Toyama Prefecture. Kansai Scene was founded by Peter Horvath and Nishikawa Keiko in 2000 and published by Jatin Banker between 2003 – 2011. TRAVEL Text: Jason Haidar 18 Foodspotting Be charmed by the artistic and retro cafés of Nakazakicho. FOOD & DRINK Text: Celia Polkinghorne Kansai Scene is proudly published and printed by Mojoprint Looking for a job, an old sofa or new friends? » kansaifinder.com Connect with Facebook Twitter Instagram Meetup Kansai Scene… kansaiscene @kansaiscene kansaiscene Kansai-Scene Kansai Scene Magazine / ISSUE #215 APRIL 2018 / kansaiscene.com 3 FEATURE Drive Out of Town this Spring Get a taste of van life with a Japanese campervan adventure. Text & Images: Randy Poehlman he majority of visitors castles out the window, hav- Van was a Toyota Voxy equipped to Japan will rely on ing barbecues on the beach, with extra mattresses and camp- the country’s well-es- and driving to and from all the ing equipment. With the back T tablished transporta- major sites on your must-see list seats folded down, it provided tion infrastructure consisting of is too enticing to pass up. If you a comfortable sleeping area mostly trains, domestic flights, are traveling in Japan with your and a great all-around camp- and highway buses. But truly significant other, a few friends, ing experience. creating your own adventure or your family, having your own The main expenses associated requires your own transporta- vehicle is definitely the best with this type of travel are the tion. All the better if you can way to tailor-make your unique price of the rental vehicle, gas combine sleeping quarters with holiday experience. or petrol for the vehicle, and a vehicle. Campervans are in- For our trip, we rented a highway toll charges. However, creasingly popular among tour- Conversion Van from Camper you can significantly reduce ists to Japan seeking to explore x Camper in Osaka and spent a the price of tolls by traveling rural areas and develop a deeper long weekend exploring parts of on public highways and roads, connection with the country Hyogo Prefecture as well as the which are toll-free. We decided and its people. Chugoku Region (Hiroshima, to do much of our driving along For many, the appeal of go- Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and the coastline, following the ing to bed and waking up with Yamaguchi prefectures). The coast in Tottori, Shimane, and 4 Kansai Scene Magazine / ISSUE #215 APRIL 2018 / kansaiscene.com Feature Yamaguchi, so not only did we Sunday morning, we woke up these various rock formations largely avoid tolls, but we were and drove into Izumo City and with a provided flashlight. After able to make various pictur- spent and an hour or so look- emerging from the caves, it was esque beachside stops along ing around Izumo Grand Shrine time to turn our attention to the way. and visiting the city’s old train lunch. Another popular dish in Our first stop was Himeji in station. The rest of the day was Yamaguchi, is a type of yaki-soba Hyogo Prefecture. After scoping mostly spent driving along the (stirfry noodles) dish cooked on out the picturesque Himeji Cas- oceanfront through Shimane a sizzling traditional Japanese tle, we headed to Kagura no yu, and much of Yamaguchi before roof tile. So we set the GPS for a public hot spring attached to arriving at Motonosumi Inari the top-rated Choshuya Yuda a hotel in the city center where Shrine. This shrine outside of restaurant in Yamaguchi City we had a nice long hot soak. On- Nagato City is one of the most near Yuda-Onsen for a scrump- sen (hot springs) and sento (pub- spectacular in the country and tious meal and one last hot lic baths) are ubiquitous all over features a trail of bright red spring dip. Japan, which is incredibly handy torii gates along the coast. After Monday afternoon and even- when traveling in a campervan, meandering through the torii ing was spent making the long which is obviously not equipped gates, you arrive at a rugged journey back to Osaka. Given with shower facilities (On this open area high above where the time constraints and ease of trip we also visited Hikawa Bijin waves crash against the rocks. travel, we opted to take the toll Onsen in Shimane Prefecture It is absolutely stunning, and a road expressway back, with a and Otani Sanso in Yamaguchi clear highlight of the Chugoku planned stop in Okayama. From Prefecture). After bathing, we region. Yamaguchi prefecture is Yamaguchi to Osaka, the tolls found a parking spot adjacent also known for delicious seafood were approximately ¥11,000. KS to the lit up Himeji Castle and and the coveted fugu (poison- drifted off to sleep with a beauti- ous blowfish) is a delicacy. ful view out the back window. The thinly sliced fugu sashimi On Saturday morning, after is available at supermarkets, leaving Himeji, we drove toward and fish markets throughout the opposite coast in the direc- the prefecture and our Sunday Van Rental Details tion of Tottori. We arrived in night barbecue menu featured To rent