Man, what a day! Seriously, I can’t even. So, I’m an ichthyologist, right? Spent the whole day in Kuroiso, Japan. And lemme tell ya, it was a rollercoaster.
First off, Kuroiso is this cute little town. Nestled in the Tochigi Prefecture, it’s got that chill vibe. You got the mountains, the rivers, and oh, the fish! But today? Today was a whole different story.
I woke up late. Classic me. Rushed outta my hotel on Kuroiso’s main drag, Kuroiso-machi. I was supposed to meet some local fishermen at the river. But guess what? I forgot my notebook. Ugh! How do you forget your notebook when you’re studying fish? Like, duh!
So, I sprinted down Kuroiso’s narrow streets. I passed by the Kuroiso Onsen. Man, I could’ve used a soak. But no time for that! I was on a mission. I finally made it to the river, and the fishermen were already there. They were laughing, joking, and I was just like, “Hey, sorry I’m late! I’m a hot mess!”
They were super chill about it. One guy, Takashi, he’s this old dude with a beard like a wizard, he just chuckled and said, “You’re here now, that’s what matters.” I love that guy.
We started talking about the local fish. Kuroiso’s got some cool species, like the Yamame trout. They’re beautiful! But then, outta nowhere, this kid runs up. He’s like, “Hey! There’s a big fish in the river!” I’m thinking, “Yeah, right, kid.” But I followed him anyway.
We get to this spot, and OMG, there it is! A massive Yamame! I’ve never seen one that big. I was freaking out. I whipped out my phone to snap a pic, but my hands were shaking. I mean, this fish was like a celebrity!
But then, the kid’s dog jumps in the water. Splash! The fish freaks out and swims away. I was like, “Nooooo!” I could feel my heart breaking. I mean, come on!
After that, I needed a break. So, I headed to this little café on Kuroiso’s side street, Yamaguchi-dori. They had the best matcha latte. I sat there, sipping my drink, trying to calm down. But then, I overheard some tourists talking about the Kuroiso Shrine. They were raving about it. I thought, “Why not?”
So, I hiked up to the shrine. It’s on a hill, and the view? Wow. You can see the whole town. I felt a bit better. But then, I tripped on a rock. Classic me again! I almost face-planted. I laughed it off, but inside, I was like, “Really? You can’t even walk?”
At the shrine, I met this lady. She was super nice and told me about the local legends. Apparently, there’s a story about a fish spirit that protects the river. I was like, “That’s my jam!” I told her I study fish, and she was all excited.
But then, I got a call. It was my boss. He was like, “We need that report ASAP!” I was like, “Dude, I’m in Kuroiso! Chill!” But no, he wasn’t having it. I hung up, feeling all kinds of angry.
I decided to head back to the river. I needed to clear my head. On the way, I passed by the Kuroiso Market. Fresh fish everywhere! I couldn’t resist. I bought some sashimi. Best decision ever!
Finally, I got back to the river. The sun was setting, and it was beautiful. I sat there, eating my sashimi, and just watching the water. I felt at peace.
So, yeah, Kuroiso was a wild ride today. From almost missing my meeting to chasing fish and tripping at a shrine. I laughed, I cried (kinda), and I ate some bomb food. I love this place, even when it drives me nuts!
Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings. But for now, I’m just gonna chill and enjoy this view. Kuroiso, you’ve got my heart!