Staying in Nago

If it’s New year in Japan, it must be Nago!

This cat touched my heart. It is a survivor and a warrior who has clearly had a tough life with one ear missing and the other tagged. We hope it has a home. It looks well fed and its coat looks healthy. The cat was wary of us but not bothered by our presence.

This banyon tree, over 300 years old, is a cherished part of Nago in the centre of the old part of town. It is protected by a square tall metal fence around the tree. As well, the road naturally curves out keeping cars away from its base.

The tree is a gnarly old specimen but quite beautiful with its chaotic maze of branches and aerial roots that hang from above, attach and thicken to form the trunks that support the overhead limbs.

An adjustment one must make in visiting Okinawa is that the majority of the buildings are made of concrete. They are solid but don’t weather well. If finances allow, we see some buildings that get refreshed with new paint .

Let us introduce you to the mascot of Nago. He is pictured on the left side of this sign which shows the attractions in the area.

As you can see, nothing is far away in Nago. The signage includes the historic small brewery called Tsukyama. Of note as well is the giant beer brewery in town called Orion. They also offer tours, but just like last year at this time, they are closed.

Nago has a very colourful manhole showing some of the area’s natural beauty.

This structure houses the Nago Market, a long standing feature. Unfortunately, modern times have created commerce in large malls at the edge of town, and it is a struggle for town centres to thrive. Happy to see the skiing snowmen on display for Christmas again.

Okinawa has many features and elements that distinguish it from the rest of Japan. One of these is the pair of Shisa that are present at the entrance to each home and business.

Shisa are creatures from Okinawan mythology that stand watch and protect people from evil spirits. A cross between a dog and a lion, they are considered friendly and comforting. The statues are found throughout the Okinawan islands; perched on rooftops or standing on guard at the front gates of residence and public buildings. They are always found in pairs. The female Shisa has a closed mouth to keep the good spirits in, while the male Shisa is open mouthed to scary away the evil spirits.

It is quite festive at the old town market with people stocking up on food for the New Year.

The Nago Market has a number a small shops . There are two excellent bakeries selling local baked goods.

We rode a few km’s out from the centre of Nago to the Aeon Mall. It has a huge grocery store, a bookstore, and a few restaurants.

We went to the Udon restaurant and had dinner. Barry had beef udon with an egg and tempura.

Mary Ellen had an udon bowl with curry beef.

Image not found :( — A sashimi platter would be a treat.

For so long we didn’t understand what this brightly coloured slice was on food we had ordered. Now we know and we are more inclined to eat it.

Spy x Family is a Manga book series. It has recently been made into an anime tv series. Inside the packaging is sparkling wine for New Years.

Barry’s dinner looks so yummy. He has small servings of chicken, prawns, salmon and beef with tomatoes and cheese in the centre…a feast.

Oh darn, we forgot to buy some Boy Band lemon squash.

Today's ride: 23 km (14 miles)
Total: 1,829 km (1,136 miles)

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