Andrew, Kevin, and I took the Shinkansen from Shinagawa in Tokyo to Shizuoka, and then took a local JR train to Numazu (沼津市 Numazu-shi) .
Numazu is a city in the Shizuoka Prefecture of Japan where Andrew has been teaching for the last year. He'll be there at least another year.
First stop off the train- we had to buy Taiyaki
Taiyaki is a fish-shaped cookie- fish involved- this one is filled with chocolate
Near the Numazu train station and near Andrew's job
We headed for Andrew's Japanese apartment to drop off our stuff.
Nakamise
Andrew's apartment building- take your shoes off at the door please!
Emperor of his castle
Kevin checking out "the bedroom"
Kevin looking out the balcony
Then we went back out. We walked around the Nakamise covered marketplace area. We went to a bookstore and a stationary store but it was closing time so we didn't dawdle too much.
Nakamise
Nakamise-selfie
The sign says "Small children must hold hands with George Washington."
Kevin buying some Shakespeare translated to Japanese.
We decided to go to Andrew's favorite ramen place for dinner, Fat Dragon. There's just one small counter, and it fills up immediately. Then you get the biggest most delicious miso ramen. Andrew and the other Japanese people finished these. I failed so hard I had to apologize to the chefs (SUMIMASEN!) and tell them it was delicious. Then I said something like "I'm little" or "I'm weak."
Walking to ramen
Waiting for Fat Dragon to open.
The chef cooks in front of you
Andrew at the small counter
With our HUGE ramens. Kevin got the spicy fat dragon.
We wanted to see more of the town so we went for a romantic walk along the waterfront and beach.
Numazu Port and Tsunami Wall
Walking along the Ayamibushi Bridge?
Finally, the part we had been looking forward to the most! We met Andrew's friends and coworkers for Izakaya. It was like a pub. We sat in sunken benches at a table close to floor level and the waitress brought many little Japanese plates of food and never-ending beer.
Kevin had to duck to enter
We had little lockers for our shoes
Mitsu and Yumiko deciding which little plates to get
Erik and Andrew's boss "Manager"
Kevin, Andrew, Mitsu
Ayumi making the peace sign and Shigeyuki
Heading home, we passed Blanky's Bar and felt an irresistible pull inside. Why would we want to resist?
Blankey's Bar is a cute little hole
Andrew and Mitsu giggling over sexy vacations with historical figures
Wednesday morning, Andrew had work in a nearby town for a training. We delivered him almost all the way to the town and then Kevin and I went on to Kyoto. Goodbye, Andrew-san!
Andrew off to work, Mt. Fuji in the background
Kevin, me, Mt. Fuji
Numazu manhole covers are beautiful.
