Thanks to my #Japanese friend #Fuka's recommendation, I tried the same #matcha 🍵 store in #Kyoto today. Here you can experience the traditional matcha taste instead of the "commercial matcha" with a bunch of sugar. Of course, meals here also fall under the latter category. 
Today, I had lunch at #Mumokuteki, a trendy #vegan #restaurant in #Kyoto. The restaurant is not only a restaurant but also a part of the restaurant that is like a "vegetarian" Muji, selling locally sourced organic food, comfortable and simple clothing and decorations, handmade utensils, and well-preserved vintage furniture.
Their lunch is a fine selection of brown rice 🍚 , curried pumpkin, pickled potatoes 🥔 , vegetables 🥬 , radishes, etc., served with lettuce salad, fried plant steak 🍃🥩 with special sauce, and miso soup.
The best part is the dessert - sundae! A frosting made from soy milk 🍼 , topped with black coffee ☕️, and served with tiramisu, blueberries 🫐, and strawberries 🍓, it's a taste you won't find anywhere else! 
It's a small vegetarian #restaurant with an owner/chef/waiter, and can only accommodate up to four groups (12 people) at a time. This is the first time in my life that I have eaten #vegetarian #okonomiyaki, and yummy😋 
Interestingly, today is #GoshoAoyama's 60th birthday. I didn't find out about it until I walked into the memorial hall to buy tickets😅 I’m so lucky😍 
I spent the whole day today on a train to go to Hokuei, Tottori, a very small Japanese town that is the hometown of #GoshoAoyama, the author of the famous manga "#Conan". There is a memorial hall where many of Gosho's #manga drafts are collected. 
I'm having dinner at #Osaka Dōtonbori: #ramen 🍜 + fried dumplings 🥟 + a cup of oolong tea 🍵 
「對嘛！這才是日本！」，看著窗外的壯闊，我心裡這樣想著。
離開了大阪與京都那個充滿中文、韓文、英文嘈雜的喧囂，到了鳥取的鄉村，我感受到了如同上週在北海道的舒適。
第一天抵達大阪時，滿街的霓虹燈，地鐵上永遠爆滿、喘不過氣的擁擠，夜晚四處可見陰暗的小巷弄，讓我很失望……「嗯……我不是想要到另一個香港」，我心裡碎唸著。
每次出國，我都希望自己能從旅途中學到些什麼。作為一個都市小孩，我不喜歡踏出國門，仍然生活在國際化的大都市中。壯闊的山林，一望無際的草原，感受自然的美，是我旅途中不可或缺的休憩氛圍。把自己從舒適圈抽離，一個人感受那種語言不通，卻與當地人共同乘坐同輛列車的融合，調配出一種獨特地歡樂泉源。
車廂裡，穿著白色學生制服和帽子的中小學生在車廂間來回奔跑著，即便是在列車高速進行中。青春無敵搭配兩旁車窗外的田野，像極了花田一路動漫中的場景。
也許，沒有觀光客的荼毒；也許，那是一種自私的獨享；也許，只有一個人的大膽嘗試，你才能發現日本真正的美。 
I just had South Asian curry 🍛, and lettuce salad 🥗 with Sesame Dressing at an Indian 🇮🇳 or Pakistani 🇵🇰 restaurant next to Tottori station. 
猜猜看我要去鳥取做什麼？ 
This is a #vegan #restaurant 🍃🍴 owned by a #Taiwanese #woman. I didn't notice it at first, but when I saw the traditional Taiwanese bags on the wall, I started to think...is the owner of this restaurant Taiwanese? Or do they like Taiwan a lot?
I communicated in English until I asked them at the checkout, "Are you #Taiwanese? The chef replied, "My mother is Taiwanese. He speaks Japanese, Mandarin, and some Taiwanese and English. 
#Osaka 🚄➡️ #Kyodo 
Good morning, #Osaka 🌞 
#Sapporo ✈️ ➡️ #Tokyo
Goodbye, #Hokkaido 😊 
#Tram🚃 in #Hakodate, #Hokkaido, #Japan 🇯🇵 https://nostr.build/av/f3f205118465110e9a448f7abd5fd6abf8ad81bcc423c55ce98deb99ba441e05.mov
It's been a week since I arrived in #Japan 🇯🇵 ! The biggest impression I had during this week is that the traffic in Japan is very reassuring and safe, all drivers wait for passersby to cross the crosswalk, I didn't even hear a car horn here.
On a politically incorrect note: I think maybe the #Taiwan under Japanese rule before 1945 was as beautiful as the Japan I see now! Maybe everything changed since 1945 when the government of the Republic of #China 🇹🇼 brought the worst and worst culture in mainland China to Taiwan. 
A devastating fire in August 1907 resulted in the loss of over 12,000 homes, almost half of the city, including the public meeting hall where citizens congregated. Despite suffering personal losses in this disaster, Soma Teppei, a prosperous merchant, generously donated ¥50,000 to aid the city's recovery. His contribution enabled the completion of this building in 1910.
The structure, boasting a symmetrical design, serves as a testament to the Western-style architecture prevalent in Hokkaido during the Meiji period. Its upper floor features a balcony with skylights and pillars adorned with decorative capitals that accentuate the entrance and porches.
The building's cultural significance led to its designation as an important cultural property in May 1974. A comprehensive restoration process was carried out over three years and completed in 1982. Further restoration efforts were initiated in September 2018 to preserve its historical integrity. 
Originally established in 1909, the former branch office of the #Hokkaido government in #Hakodate was restored in 1982, which also saw the construction of a park around it. A notable architectural feature of this building is its portico, comprised of a two-story roof upheld by four Corinthian-style columns and pillars that subtly widen at the midpoint, a design known as the Entasis style.
This Western-inspired edifice holds significant value as it captures the essence of Hakodate during the late Meiji era, as well as embodying the historical trajectory of Hokkaido's development. In recognition of its cultural and historical importance, it was designated as a tangible cultural property by the Hokkaido Government in 1985.
From the early 18th century, this location served as an administrative hub under the control of either the local Matsumae clan or the Tokugawa shogunate. Following the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Amity with the United States in 1855, the port of Hakodate was opened, and the local magistrate's office was reinstated. However, its susceptibility to maritime attacks necessitated a more secure administrative center for #Hokkaido, leading to the establishment of Goryokaku. Consequently, in 1864, the office was moved to this safer location. 
I'm going to finish my trip in #Hokkaido! I'm taking #JR Hokkaido from #Hakodate to #Chitose. Tomorrow morning I will be leaving for #Osaka and #Kyoto. 
I have put the English version of the article in detail on #Medium.
https://medium.com/@FaustoChou/why-does-sakamoto-ryoma-who-has-never-been-to-hokkaido-before-have-a-memorial-hall-in-hakodate-b6053d1392d1 nostr:note1pc07v8pzehh7m4vdrjka8m7y6366syjzn2sw9qt2kdtcxfv0j5pq0hj3c3