Man, today was a wild ride in Shiozawa! Like, I woke up thinking it’d be just another chill day, ya know? But nah, life had other plans.
So, I’m rollin’ outta bed, and the first thing I see is the view from my window. Mt. Naeba lookin’ all majestic and stuff. I mean, who wouldn’t wanna start their day with that? But then, I step outside, and it’s like, bam! The weather’s all over the place. One minute it’s sunny, the next it’s pouring. Classic Shiozawa, right?
I hit up the local konbini on Shiozawa’s main street, Yuzawa Road. Grabbed my usual: onigiri and a can of iced coffee. But guess what? They were outta my fave flavor! Ugh, I was so mad. Like, how do you run outta tuna mayo? It’s a crime!
Anyway, I’m walking down the street, and I see this old dude trying to cross the road. He’s like, taking his sweet time. I’m standing there, thinking, “C’mon, man! I got places to be!” But then, he looks up and gives me this huge smile. Like, it’s contagious or something. I couldn’t help but smile back.
Then, I head over to the Shiozawa Onsen. I needed to relax after that konbini drama. The hot springs are the bomb! I’m chillin’ in the water, and it’s like all my stress just melts away. But then, this group of tourists shows up, and they’re LOUD. Like, can’t you just enjoy the peace? I mean, c’mon!
After that, I decided to take a stroll around the Shiozawa area. The streets are lined with these cute little shops. I pop into one selling handmade crafts. The lady there is super nice, and she starts telling me about the history of Shiozawa. Apparently, it used to be a major post town during the Edo period. Who knew?
But then, I see this sign for a local festival happening later. I’m like, “Heck yeah! I’m in!” Festivals in Shiozawa are lit! Food stalls, games, and all that good stuff. I can already taste the yakitori.
So, I’m wandering around, and I bump into my buddy Kenji. We start chatting, and he tells me about this crazy hike he did up Mt. Naeba. I’m like, “Dude, you’re nuts! I can barely handle stairs!” But he’s all hyped up, showing me pics on his phone. The views are insane!
Then, outta nowhere, it starts pouring again. I’m like, “Seriously?!” So, we duck into this little café on Shiozawa’s back streets. It’s cozy, and the coffee is amazing. We’re just chillin’, laughing about random stuff. Kenji’s got this wild story about a raccoon stealing his lunch. I can’t even!
Finally, the rain stops, and we head to the festival. It’s packed! The energy is electric. I grab some yakitori, and it’s everything I hoped for. I’m munching away, and then I see this dance performance. These kids are killing it! I’m clapping and cheering like a total dork.
But then, I spot this guy trying to juggle fire. I’m like, “Dude, you’re gonna set yourself on fire!” And guess what? He drops one of the torches! It’s chaos for a sec, but he catches it. Everyone’s cheering, and I’m just there, heart racing.
As the night goes on, I’m feeling all the feels. Happy, excited, a bit scared. Shiozawa’s got this vibe, man. It’s like, you never know what’s gonna happen next.
By the time I head home, I’m exhausted but so pumped. Today was a rollercoaster. From konbini drama to fire juggling, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Shiozawa, you crazy, but I love ya!