Man, what a day! Seriously, Shibata is wild. I woke up thinking it’d be just another boring day, but boy, was I wrong.
So, I hit the streets of Shibata, right? First stop, the famous Shibata Castle. I mean, who doesn’t love a good castle? But when I got there, it was like a scene from a horror movie. The place was packed! Tourists everywhere, snapping pics like they were at a rock concert. I was like, chill, people! It’s just a bunch of old stones! But then I saw the cherry blossoms. OMG, they were in full bloom! I totally forgot my grumpiness.
Then I strolled down Kōen-dōri. This street is like the heart of Shibata. Cute little shops everywhere. I popped into this tiny café called “Sakura Sweets.” Best matcha latte ever! I swear, I could’ve bathed in it. But then, I spilled it all over my shirt. Ugh! I was like, great, now I look like a walking green tea disaster.
After that, I decided to check out the Shibata City Museum. I thought, “Hey, let’s learn something today.” But the exhibits were kinda boring. I mean, who cares about ancient pottery? I was half asleep until I saw this one exhibit about the local legends. There was this story about a dragon that supposedly lived in the river. I was like, “No way! A dragon in Shibata?!” I got all hyped up, imagining it flying over the city.
Then, I headed to the Shibata River. It’s beautiful, man. The water was sparkling, and the sun was shining. I sat on a bench, just chillin’. But then, outta nowhere, this kid runs by, chasing a soccer ball. He kicks it, and BAM! Right into the river! I couldn’t help but laugh. The kid was like, “Noooo!” Classic!
But then, my day took a turn. I was walking down the street, minding my own business, when I saw this old lady struggling with her groceries. I rushed over to help her. She was super grateful, and we started chatting. Turns out, she’s lived in Shibata her whole life! She told me stories about the city, like how it used to be a major post town. I was like, wow, this place has some serious history!
But then, I got a bit too curious. I asked her about the best ramen in town. She pointed me to this hole-in-the-wall place on Kōen-dōri. I was like, “Let’s go!” But when we got there, it was closed! I was so mad! I mean, how can a ramen shop close in the middle of the day?
So, I ended up at this other place. It was decent, but not what I wanted. I was hangry, and the ramen was just okay. I was like, “C’mon, Shibata! You can do better!”
After that, I needed a pick-me-up. I found this little park, and there was a festival going on! Food stalls everywhere! I grabbed some yakitori and it was fire! I was in heaven. I even danced a little. Yeah, I know, embarrassing, but who cares?
As the sun started to set, I walked back to the river. The sky was painted in pink and orange. I felt so grateful. Shibata, you crazy little city, you surprised me today. I laughed, I got mad, I made a new friend, and I ate way too much food.
So, yeah, that was my day in Shibata. Full of ups and downs, but totally worth it. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!