The Backalleys of Kawasaki-shi

For the duration of this blog our group has been talking about various modes of transportation that are all widely and frequently used by many people. For this last section, since we are discussing simple modes of transportation like walking, I would like to talk about something that is not talked about all that often. This would be the back alleys of the residential areas of Kawasaki-shi around Senshu University and the Kenshu-kan. From the narrow streets to the various nooks and crannies, there are numerous exciting places to explore and find out what lies around the corner.

One of the things that I was most surprised about was how despite the population density of Tokyo in general, the city is still very green. There are trees, small forests, and plants everywhere you look, and this greenery gives a very cozy impression. Because of all this greenery, even in the center of a packed residential zone, there are spectacular views and scenery to be found if only you spend the time to search for them. This exploring of the various back alleys around stations, residential areas, and commercial districts has been one of the highlights of this trip. Thankfully, because the large roads are relatively easy to find, if you search for them it is very hard to get lost. Retracing your steps is also very straightforward!

Perhaps my favorite place to go when I’m looking for some beautiful scenery is right next to the Kenshu-kan dormitories. Going up the path to the school, after a little walk there is a side street to the right that opens up into a beautiful field. Looking at it at night - when the wind is swaying the tall grass and the branches of the large trees that stretch far over your head - is a wonderful sight to see. There is also another beautiful valley that is much farther away from the dormitory on the way to Senshu University. When it opens up into a huge valley full of trees from your vantage point far above it, it is quite breathtaking.

I hope you enjoyed this little foray into the back alleys of Kawasaki-shi! I hope that I was able to paint at least a small picture of what they are like. I think everyone should try at least once to walk along the tempting path and sate their desire to explore!

-David

Japan on Foot

Our main mode of transportation over this last month has definitely been the trains. When going to somewhere farther away, the trains are usually the most efficient means of getting there. They can be pretty fast, depending on where you’re going and which line you choose. However, they may not always be the best mode of transportation. When you ride on the trains, you bypass all the little stores hidden in the streets and alleys. A prime example of this is the trip from Noborito to Mukogaoyuen.

The trip is not a very long one. It’s only one stop away by train and only about 10 or 15 minutes walking. This is one of those times when it’s better to walk, as the ride from Noborito to Mukogaoyuen costs 120 yen. The walk between stations is a very interesting one. We’re able to see a variety of shops and restaurants lining the little road on our way back. Highlights of these include a hair salon, a bookstore with its books out in shelves on the street and a store called “Antiques and Junk”. On the train these little stores just pass by, but when you're walking you have a better opportunity to see what they offer and maybe take a look inside.

This is really the best way to discover Japan. Riding the trains the scenery flies by in blurs and it’s difficult to truly experience anything. When you choose to walk instead of take the train, you’re able to explore Japan for yourself. You may just discover your next favourite noodle shop, or that unique souvenir you’ve been searching for. Not to mention the exercise that comes from walking everywhere.

- Ken (Transcribed by Alex)

My Biking Misadventure

A couple of weeks ago I decided to take advantage of the bikes that can be borrowed from the dorms. I thought that since I ride my bike pretty often in summer in Calgary, I could manage to ride a bike in Japan. I wasn’t sure about whether or not helmets were required but there weren’t any provided with the bike so I assumed I would be ok.

The bike rental was fairly simple. You just need to sign your name on a list and have a RA co-sign. The bikes are only rented out for 3 hours at a time so you can’t ride them to school or to the train station to take a train. They’re really convenient if you want to go somewhere close like out for groceries or dinner. There is bike parking in front of most stores, so you can safely leave your bikes when eating or shopping.

For my bike ride I just wanted to test out the differences between Calgary and Japan so I decided to just stick close to the dorms. I chose to just ride to the station and back, just to get the feel of things. At 4 PM I left the Kenshukan, which was not a very good idea. The already-skinny road was packed with people making their ways home and I had to weave in and out trying to avoid them.

The ride was mostly fine until I faced my next obstacle; the bars that prevent cars from driving on the pedestrian path. All of the other cyclists seemed to be navigating them with ease so I decided it couldn’t be that hard. However, looks can be very deceiving. I was having so much trouble getting through the gates, I had to dismount from the bike. I ended up doing a lot of apologizing in Japanese. Luckily the guy directing traffic looked sympathetic.

Cycling in Japan is a very good idea. Public transportation can be very expensive and with all the delicious food in Japan you’ll need some form of exercise. However, there is some advice I would like to pass on. Don’t go biking when all the schools are getting out, especially for your first bike ride. Choose a path that’s not on the way to a train station. Have a bike with a bell attached, to warn people you’re behind them. This might seem a little intimidating, but it really was a good experience.

- Alex

Week 4 - The End to our Journey

Within the month of studying Japanese at Senshu University, we are now approaching the end of our journey. Our final exam has been completed and the stress that was like a dark cloud is finally cleared out. It is a sign of how we are finally free from all the school work we had to go through in the past month. The indescribable feeling of happiness did not only appear on our faces but also in the nice weather we got finally. Today was the first day we have ever experience a full day of beautiful hot sun as we are walking our way back down to the dormitory from school. The one month in Japan, we got to see and experienced how the Japanese choose which form of transportation suited best in their daily lifestyle.

The group of us went to further investigate in the area of where we stayed. From the time we leave the dormitory to either go to school or go to the train station, we had to commit ourselves into walking the distance. At first, the distance of walking seems a bit too much for those who are not use to walking anywhere back in Calgary. Some of us who drives most of the time, thinks walking is like a chore. Back in Calgary, walking anywhere is not as easy as you think. The problem lies within the spacious spread from the place you are initially at to the place you would like to go. In Japan, every little space of land does not go to waste. We can all see the difference right away. From the houses in the nearby neighbourhood to the vendor stores by the station, everything is closed in together. Through this perspective, our brain made us believe the time in walking to our destination doesn’t seem like a long distance. Everywhere you turn there is at least something to look at, from the local retailers to the vending machines. The case in Calgary would be complete opposite. With nothing to look at while you’re walking to a short distance, it seemed like you’ve been walking forever with no progress. It would also help if you have a group of friends to walk with. During the rush hour in the early morning and afternoon, we learned ways to sneak through the many crowds of students as they are heading towards the university. We see a lot of them walking closely together or some may choose to bike up the path. We find some people who choose to ride a bike learned to be skillful at it. The danger in trying to avoid hitting other people and trying to get through is a daily strategy. Each of us had summarized the best of the best in this last week together.

Throughout the four weeks I’ve been here in Japan, and as much as I would like to talk about the many good things about subway trains. I would like to talk about the safety of the walking path. All the female students are very aware of the danger in walking alone at night. I can sense the danger they are talking about when I walked with my friends during night time. Near our dormitory, we have to go through a narrow path way if we need to go to the supermarket, train station, and out to places to eat. The inconvenient is always that ten minute walk back and forth. If you really think about it, within the ten minutes, anything can happen. The narrow path in the dark is just as worst as walking in a dark sketchy alley. A Japanese conversation partner had told us to be careful once the sun sets. She had a friend who had been attacked by a “pervert killer” as the female Japanese student describing the attacker. It may sound funny at first as we all laughed at the matter. At the same time, it should not be a laughing matter. The best solution is never walk alone. Even when walking with another female friend, it may not seem safe. As a female student myself, I always look alert in case someone would try anything. Never take your time in walking, when you look like you’re in a hurry, people usually don’t pay attention to you. At least that’s how I see it. Always stick to the usual path, not a good idea if you decided to take a short cut. Overall, I do enjoy the time walking in Japan. Since I am one of the few who drives all the time in Calgary and very much dislike walking, I actually don’t mind walking a far distance. This has been a good experience and I learned a lot through this short journey.

~Mandy ^.^