OMG, what a day! Seriously, I can’t even. So, I woke up in Hirakawa, right? The sun was shining, birds were chirping, and I thought, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it was NOT chill.
First off, I had to get ready. You know, the whole Maiko thing. The makeup, the kimono, the obi—ugh, it takes forever! I was running late, like, super late. I dashed outta my place on Kōen-dōri, tripping over my own feet. Classic me, right?
So, I’m hustling down the street, and I pass by the Hirakawa River. It’s so pretty there, but I barely noticed. I was too busy freaking out about my schedule. I had a tea ceremony to attend at the Hirakawa City Museum. Like, no pressure or anything.
I finally get to the museum, and guess what? The tea master is late! I’m standing there, all dressed up, feeling like a total fool. I mean, c’mon! I could’ve slept in! But then, when he finally shows up, he’s all zen and calm. I’m like, “Dude, you’re late!” But he just smiles and says, “Time flows differently in tea.” Ugh, whatever.
The ceremony was nice, tho. I mean, sipping matcha while trying not to spill it on my kimono? Challenge accepted! But then, outta nowhere, this little kid runs in, all hyper, and knocks over the tea set! I was like, “Nooooo!” The look on the tea master’s face was priceless. I couldn’t help but laugh.
After that chaos, I needed a break. So, I strolled down to Hirakawa Park. It’s so chill there, with all the cherry blossoms. I sat on a bench, just breathing. But then, this group of tourists comes by, and they’re LOUD. Like, can you not? I’m trying to vibe here!
But then, one of them starts taking pics of me! I’m like, “Uh, excuse me?” But they thought I was part of the scenery or something. I mean, I get it, I look fab, but c’mon! I’m not a statue!
Then, I decided to grab some food. I hit up this little ramen shop on Kōen-dōri. Best decision ever! The ramen was so good, I almost cried. I mean, who knew Hirakawa had such bomb food? I slurped it down like I hadn’t eaten in days.
But then, as I’m leaving, I bump into an old friend from high school. We hadn’t seen each other in ages! We start catching up, and it’s all good vibes until she mentions that she’s moving to Tokyo. I was like, “No way! You can’t leave me!” But she’s all excited about the big city life. I mean, I get it, but still…
After that, I was feeling kinda down. So, I decided to hit up the Hirakawa Castle ruins. It’s a bit of a hike, but the view is worth it. I climbed up, and wow, the sunset was stunning! I felt all the feels. Like, life is beautiful, you know?
But then, I realized I had to get back home. I was exhausted, but I took the long way back, wandering through the streets. I passed by the Hirakawa City Hall and thought about how much I love this place. It’s quirky, it’s beautiful, and it’s home.
Finally, I got back, and I just collapsed on my bed. What a day! I laughed, I cried, I almost lost my mind. But hey, that’s life in Hirakawa, right? Full of surprises and a little bit of chaos. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!