In mid-October, I visited the Wajima Morning Market. As someone who loves morning markets, I had admired this famous market for a long time!
It was just after 10, and the crowds seemed to have already thinned out. I stopped at a stall selling fruit and rice balls. The woman running it smiled shyly, and I shyly asked, “Can I help?” She smiled and said, “Then I’ll go get some more fruit from the truck. Please watch the stall for me.” I never imagined I would become the shopkeeper so easily! “Welcome!”
Then I noticed a pile of bills and coins in a cardboard box inside the stall. That must have been the morning’s earnings. She trusted me, a traveler from out of town, that much! I was touched by her simple sincerity!
When she returned, I told her, “It’s very windy, but none of the money blew away!”
We chatted about everyday things while calling out to customers! Every time I called out, she laughed! We even sold a rice ball along the way!
Later, I bought some fruit from her and reluctantly left.
Two or three months later, in January 2024, a major earthquake struck here, and the entire morning market was destroyed! I was heartbroken and full of regret! I regretted not getting her contact information! This was the saddest trip I’ve ever taken!
Wajima Morning Market | Review by 蘇自強
Other Reviews by 蘇自強
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Osaka Science Museum
A science museum in Nakanoshima, Osaka. Carrying on Japan’s first science museum, the Osaka Municipal Electric Science Museum, it lets everyone from kids to adults learn about science under the theme “Space and Energy.” The planetarium is especially popular for its programs with live commentary by astronomy-savvy staff. With one of the world’s largest screens and a high-performance projection and video system, you can enjoy a stunning, incredibly lifelike starry sky.
Whether for sightseeing or business, people often come to Osaka. Sometimes the hustle and bustle of downtown Osaka can make you feel restless and tense. But if you use a short break to visit Nakanoshima, you’re guaranteed to feel completely refreshed!
Take a walk along the river, visit the rose garden or library, or sit down and slowly enjoy a cup of coffee—it makes you forget you’re in a big city! -
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Namahage Sedo Festival
The second weekend of February (Fri. - Sat.) each year in Oga City, Akita Prefecture, rings in a winter tradition with over 60+ years of history that draws travelers near and far. The festival combines the Sedo Festival, a Shinto ritual performed at Shinzan Shrine on January 3rd each year, with the ancient local tradition of Oga no Namahage, attracting countless visitors every year.
I came to Oga in August. Although I couldn't experience the famous winter Namahage Sedo Festival in person, you can see the terrifying Namahage all over Akita as soon as you enter the prefecture. Luckily, I'm not a child, or these uniquely shaped, fierce-looking demons really would have scared me to death! This is a highly distinctive and deeply meaningful cultural tradition that's worth experiencing!
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Tottori Sand Dunes
Located on the Sea of Japan side of Tottori City in Tottori Prefecture, the Tottori Sand Dunes stretch 16 km from east to west and 2.4 km from north to south, making them one of the largest dune systems in Japan. These dunes, designated as a special protected area and a Natural Monument of Japan, are a major tourist attraction representing Tottori Prefecture.
My first time visiting the long-awaited Tottori Sand Dunes.
After transferring to a bus at Tottori Station, I arrived at the destination with ease. Even though it was already September, the weather here was still just as hot as in Taiwan.
After crossing the main road, a vast ocean view and a “desert” appeared before my eyes. It was truly breathtaking! At that moment, I forgot all about the intense heat and only wanted to walk into the “desert” and experience the feeling of roaming across the frontier. With the sea and sky blending into one and stretching as far as the eye could see, this scenery unlike anything I had ever seen left a deep impression on me! -
