boats ~ a short sea trip8

Today is Friday. That is great!

Come on my weekend!!!!

Actually, today is the last weekday of August. So I got much task in office than usual. (^_^; I hope that I will take enough rest in the holidays.

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Today 's picture is that I took in the outskirts of Takamatsu. Because the sea there was inland sea, I really enjoyed calm waterline and relaxing time. When I walked around he beach side there, I heard only the sound of ripples, footsteps, and a creak of mooring rope to those boats.

It is one of the ideal types of afternoon in a holiday for me.^ ^

country road ~ a short sea trip 7

I would like to continue the topic.(^_^)

After arriving at Port of Takamatsu, I rode my bike and go touring around the city.

It seems to be that Takamatsu is relatively small city than other big cities like Kobe etc. Thus, It is very easy to access such a country road within 15 minutes from the downtown. Not bad, I suppose.^ ^

I was relaxed and really enjoyed touring, but that day is very hot even though it was slightly cloudy weather. It was about 30 minutes later that I took this picture, when my bike overheated and stopped in the way of mountain pass !! It was my first time to face overheat of vehicle...(^_^;

It took 30 minutes to recover. Umm....... I really experienced an instructive event that time.

My (mini) bike ~ a short sea trip 6

Hi, I came back to the domitory just a little while ago. I was relatively busy today to take over the duty from my collegue....

Now, I have this blog provided by "blogger.com", but I just suppose its speed of respose is fataly slow....(-_- # Since I have other blog accounts, I wonder if I should move this blog to other space...

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Anyhow, today's picture is my bike in front of the station in Takamatsu city. It is Honda Super Cub. The first model was put to the market in 1958, almost 50 years ago! That year is when Tokyo Tower was completed!! Even today, this is very popular bike in the world. Umm..... what a perfect design (^_^;;

Because the ground of Kobe, where I had lived, shelves up to Mt. Rokko, I got this bike from my friend for daily use. Thanks to this convenient machine, I really enjoyed my Kobe days^^

Port of Takamatsu ~ a short sea trip 5

Hi, I wanna continue showing you the rest of my sea trip.


The ferry arrived at Takamatsu. It took about 3 and a half hours from Kobe. I saw a few ships for domestic and international service in the port. I suppose that ship in this picture is for domestic liner service, owned by a famous logistics company.



We can see the downtown of Takamatsu just over the ship, where one big building is. Takamatsu is one of the main cities in Shikoku region. Its population is about 670 thousand, and their principal food is Udon; rice noodle (!!?) Here is known as the place where people like Udon very much (^_^)

After that the ferry arrived at Takamatsu, I rode my mini bike to go into the city.

on the deck ~ a short sea trip 4

Today is Sunday. I enjoyed vacant schedule to recover from a cold. I wish I will be fully fine by Monday (^_^;;

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I have shown you some pictures which I took in my past trip. And today's picture is what I took on the deck of the ferry.

The ship went under the big suspension bridge, entered into Seto Inland Sea from Osaka Bay. The Sun was rising behind the ship. I took it when the sun reached just on the edge of stern mast.

I remember my grand father, he was a petty officer of a aircraft carrier in the last wartime, often told me how impressive the view from a ship was. I must experience for myself to some extent what he went through on the sea ^ ^

I will show you a picture in Takamatsu City in next article.

Pearl Bridge ~ a short sea trip3

Today, I want to show one more picture.

After leaving Port of Kobe, we can see a big bridge on the west horizon.

It is Akashi Kaikyo Suspension Bridge as the longest suspension Bridge in the world. It was built in 1998. And its length is 3911m. Though I heard a longer bridge will be built somewhere within a few years, but no doubt we can be overwhelmed by its appearance.

The ferry went under the bridge, and headed straight for Takamatsu City.

ships in Seto Inland Sea ~ a short sea trip2

Yesterday, I had a cold, and got fever. It is hard trial to go to work in such condition... I hope that I will regain by next week(^_^;;

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Anyway, I want to go on the story of sea trip.

I took this picture at just outside of the Kobe port. There are many kinds of ships there. Especially in the morning, we can see the ships arriving at Kobe for domestic service.

Port of Kobe, it used to be the biggest port in Japan, even in Asia. Since 1973 to 1978, the number of containers handling had been the most in the world. It had been really one of the international hub ports, however, got heavy damage by the earth quake in 1996.

Even today, over 10 years after the earth quake, the rate of operation is limited up to about 80% of one before that event. But now there is getting the aspect as a popular sightseeing spot, making the best use of its facilities.

Anyhow it was really wonderful sight that many ships came and went across the sea in the morning sunshine.

departure ~ a short sea trip 1

Last summer, when I lived in Kobe, I got on the ferry between Kobe and Takamatsu. This is a commuter line, people and trucks take it for daily use.

The ferry terminal in Kobe is just near the central part of the city. So we can use it very conveniently. (the picture was taken in Takamatsu terminal)

I got on the ship which left Kobe in early morning. When I arrived at the terminal, there were a few people in waiting room, and big trucks beyond my expectation.

Several decades minutes later, the hatch of the ship was open, and people and trucks successfully got on her. I also got into the hold driving my bike.

The ship started the engine, and moving back from the pier. This is the most exciting moment during the voyage, I suppose.

Now, let me show some pictures taken from the ship, using next a few articles^^

a sea trip

Have you ever felt like a sea trip?

At least, I have. I have had several sea trips during my free time.

Though a long way voyage is fascinating, but a short line is easy to get on. In that sense, "Seto Inland Sea" where is in the west part of Japan, is very interesting area; there are many commuter ferry and speed boat line for daily use.

Last summer, when I lived in Kobe, I took one of the commuter ferry between Kobe and Takamatsu with my Small bike. I found some relatively good pictures of this trip, I would like to show them, using next several articles.

I would very much appreciate checking this page again (^_^)/

seaside scene

Though I am not specially good at any marine sports or leisure, I often visit seaside or waterfront area. This photo was taken in Shonan Seashore where one of favorite spots in Kanagawa-prefecture.

Actually I was born in Yokohama where is the mainstay port, seaside and port side area is familiar sight for me. It might be something to do with the way to choose my current job...

However that may be, the attraction of seaside area could be quite wide and open air, I assume. In addition, refrain of monotonous waves makes unhurried passage of time. We can be relaxed through being enthusiastic in our own play and thinking something distant beyond the horizon.

Now, I wonder if I should try something to touch and familiar with the sea much more^^

"the feast of lanterns"

The first half of this week, it is so called "the Bon", the feast of lanterns. Its sense is originally comes from Buddhism, and nowadays it means summer vacation term for many Japanese.

During the term, people get off the job, and go back to each original place with their families, or go abroad to enjoy their vacation.

Thus many factories and companies stop their service, and workers can be free from their tasks. On the other hand, many sightseeing spots and long way transportation are considerably crowded.

Actually, I did not have any holidays during the term to get in September. But thanks to other customers' holidays, I have not got tasks in this week, even if I am in office to get ready to cope with customers' orders.(^^;

Under the elevated high way....

Though there is no person and cars insight, I can hear noises of the city. Highway is often compared to arteries of body. The lines of cars coming and going are one of the symbolic views of urban area.

"Metropolitan Expressway" in Tokyo was built in 1960s, just before Tokyo Olympic. Because of its time schedule and difficulty of obtaining enough space in well-developed urban area, the ways had no choice but to be narrow and winding roads.

So drivers who use this highway should pay attention to narrow lanes, sharp bends, and crowded other cars. In addition, thanks to their unrefined figure, it is said that they have spoiled the landscape.

But the highway have been used for over 4o years. I wonder if it is becoming one of original scenery of this city.

Where I live

Since this April, I live in Tokyo. I am let use company's domitory in Monzen-nakacho, one of old residential district in the downtown.

There is Sumida-river, the most famous river in Tokyo here. In the evening, we can see light-up of bridges over the river. Figures of people who enjoy walking, fishing etc. at the sidewalk are familier sight.

I also like to walk there after coming back from the work.