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SENDAI ROAD TRIP
While some people are personally invited (and they're not allowed to say no, thanks to Yuji's earnest expression and Tsurumaru's natural charm) anyone who is friendly with both are welcome to join in the road trip, to have fun, hang out, sleep at a temple and generally have a novel time exploring what was once home.
aka boys visit home and hang out with their friends
As summer starts to come to an end and autumn starts to begin, Yuji comes up with an exciting idea: having learned that Tsurumaru is also 'from' the Sendai region and being reunited with many of his friends, he wants to go on a trip. It's not too difficult to plot a route from Neo Tokyo to his hometown, in Miyagi Prefecture.
While some people are personally invited (and they're not allowed to say no, thanks to Yuji's earnest expression and Tsurumaru's natural charm) anyone who is friendly with both are welcome to join in the road trip, to have fun, hang out, sleep at a temple and generally have a novel time exploring what was once home.
▶ 001. FOX HUNT.
To get to Sendai, everyone must cross through forests and mountains while occasionally stopping by ruined and abandoned cities. The further north they go, the colder and colder it gets until they start to encounter snow on the abandoned highways and roads. When they're close to Sendai, the road they're taking will take them through the abandoned village of Zao.
Zao is a small village in the mountains and there is a heavy layer of snow already. While they won't find any people, they will find many foxes running around. They range in colors like white, black, orange, blonde, and everything in between. While most of them seem ordinary enough, some of them are unusually large and have up to nine tails.
At first, they mind their own business but once they notice the group, they'll become very friendly and start to circle them. The foxes will try to cuddle with them and pick their pockets for valuables. Somehow, they even manage to get items that are locked up inside their vehicles. They try to play games with them using the stolen items. They run through the city and seem to change in size, shrinking and growing to escape them. Just when you manage to grab one, it disappears as if you were chasing an illusion the entire time. It all seems to be harmless fun and they'll eventually relent if you offer them food. After they're fed and have had their fun, they'll start to settle and allow cuddles and pets before the group has to move on to Sendai.
Zao is a small village in the mountains and there is a heavy layer of snow already. While they won't find any people, they will find many foxes running around. They range in colors like white, black, orange, blonde, and everything in between. While most of them seem ordinary enough, some of them are unusually large and have up to nine tails.
At first, they mind their own business but once they notice the group, they'll become very friendly and start to circle them. The foxes will try to cuddle with them and pick their pockets for valuables. Somehow, they even manage to get items that are locked up inside their vehicles. They try to play games with them using the stolen items. They run through the city and seem to change in size, shrinking and growing to escape them. Just when you manage to grab one, it disappears as if you were chasing an illusion the entire time. It all seems to be harmless fun and they'll eventually relent if you offer them food. After they're fed and have had their fun, they'll start to settle and allow cuddles and pets before the group has to move on to Sendai.
▶ 002. SEEING THE SIGHTS.
They'll arrive in Sendai in the afternoon. Maybe because it was once the largest city in the region, the city seems more impressive than some of the other cities they've passed through. While it is largely left to ruin, many of the buildings still stand and the roads are still navigable.
They'll also find a small population of people in the city. They centralize mostly around the station area though people can be found throughout the city. Local families make use of what is left of the city for shelter and live a hunter-gatherer type of life by going out into the mountains and forests to hunt and scavenge for supplies. There is also a group of researchers and military personnel that maintain a small watch station, relaying reports and information from the north down to Tokyo.
Yuji takes charge once they get to Sendai proper, and starts to throw himself into the exciting role of official Sendai tour guide. There are various places he recommends, and they don't have to all go together: he's happy to take anyone who wants to stick with him with him, but people are free to go off on their own and do whatever they want. He's not going to pressure you!
The list of places he offers are as follows:
The people are kind and friendly enough, but due to the isolated and harsh nature of the environment, they tend to be serious and aren't really the types to stick around and have a casual chat. They will, however, answer questions and give directions if asked. By talking to the locals in the area, they can learn they're free to camp out and stay at any unclaimed building in the city if they want to stay. However, if they want to stay somewhere more comfortable, they suggest heading to the coast, where some monks maintain a temple that occasionally hosts guests.
They'll also find a small population of people in the city. They centralize mostly around the station area though people can be found throughout the city. Local families make use of what is left of the city for shelter and live a hunter-gatherer type of life by going out into the mountains and forests to hunt and scavenge for supplies. There is also a group of researchers and military personnel that maintain a small watch station, relaying reports and information from the north down to Tokyo.
Yuji takes charge once they get to Sendai proper, and starts to throw himself into the exciting role of official Sendai tour guide. There are various places he recommends, and they don't have to all go together: he's happy to take anyone who wants to stick with him with him, but people are free to go off on their own and do whatever they want. He's not going to pressure you!
The list of places he offers are as follows:
Many of the tourist attractions from Yuji's time are somewhat abandoned, now, so many of the stores and packed avenues are deserted and empty when they visit. There are still some stores selling souviners and offering gifts to take home, but it's not quite as prolific as it once was - and things are very different from Neo Tokyo.Zuihoden, the mausoleum complex of Date Masamune. Sendaijo Ato, castle ruins that date back to the 1600s. Akiu Falls, a 55 metre waterfall (which is awkwardly frozen, oops!) The Osaki Hachimangu Shrine, from the Edo period. Rinnoji Temple, founded by Shodo Shonin who introduced Buddhism to Nikko. Aobayama Park, the site of the Sendai Castle ruins, surrounded by sakura trees - with the blossoms completely frozen and preserved. Rairaikyo Gorge, a little hike that offers trees, moss covered rocks and a beautiful view of the frozen rivers.
The people are kind and friendly enough, but due to the isolated and harsh nature of the environment, they tend to be serious and aren't really the types to stick around and have a casual chat. They will, however, answer questions and give directions if asked. By talking to the locals in the area, they can learn they're free to camp out and stay at any unclaimed building in the city if they want to stay. However, if they want to stay somewhere more comfortable, they suggest heading to the coast, where some monks maintain a temple that occasionally hosts guests.
▶ 003. NIGHT AT THE TEMPLE.
When it's time to rest and wind down, the group will decide to follow the advice of the locals and head towards the sea. Before they depart, some locals ask them to help take some supplies to the temple since they're going there anyway. The ride might be a little cramped with all of them and the bags and boxes of food and maintenance supplies but at least it isn't a long ride.
Eventually, they'll arrive at Matsushima City. Compared to Sendai, the city is a total ghost town. It won't take long to find it and once they do, it's hard to miss the large temple complex. It is made up of several buildings that are all carefully maintained by monks that are practicing meditation and training.
Some monks welcome them when they arrive. Apparently the supplier in Sendai called ahead to let them know they were on their way. They'll accept the supplies and if the group would like, they can even help carry the food to the kitchens and some of the other supplies to storage rooms. They're more than welcome to stay, though, they are warned that their accommodations will be humble.
Despite the warning, they are provided with comfortable futons, warm blankets, clean robes, hot baths, and simple but filling vegetarian meals. They don't ask for much in return but are happy to accept help maintaining the temple, whether it be with simple cleaning, doing some repairs, or helping to prepare meals. They are also welcome to worship and leave offerings. For those unfamiliar, some of the monks are happy to explain.
The temple also has a direct path to the scenic and renowned Matsushima Bay. It's different from how others might remember it, mainly because the sea freezes leaving sharp and spiky wave formations on the shoreline. As the frozen waves form, they make shattering and clinking sounds. There are also fewer islands than there were in the past because they have been destroyed by past attacks and disasters. However, the bay is still beautiful. There are still plenty of islands to see and there are even some thin paths and bridges connecting some of the closer islands if they want to explore.
Eventually, they'll arrive at Matsushima City. Compared to Sendai, the city is a total ghost town. It won't take long to find it and once they do, it's hard to miss the large temple complex. It is made up of several buildings that are all carefully maintained by monks that are practicing meditation and training.
Some monks welcome them when they arrive. Apparently the supplier in Sendai called ahead to let them know they were on their way. They'll accept the supplies and if the group would like, they can even help carry the food to the kitchens and some of the other supplies to storage rooms. They're more than welcome to stay, though, they are warned that their accommodations will be humble.
Despite the warning, they are provided with comfortable futons, warm blankets, clean robes, hot baths, and simple but filling vegetarian meals. They don't ask for much in return but are happy to accept help maintaining the temple, whether it be with simple cleaning, doing some repairs, or helping to prepare meals. They are also welcome to worship and leave offerings. For those unfamiliar, some of the monks are happy to explain.
The temple also has a direct path to the scenic and renowned Matsushima Bay. It's different from how others might remember it, mainly because the sea freezes leaving sharp and spiky wave formations on the shoreline. As the frozen waves form, they make shattering and clinking sounds. There are also fewer islands than there were in the past because they have been destroyed by past attacks and disasters. However, the bay is still beautiful. There are still plenty of islands to see and there are even some thin paths and bridges connecting some of the closer islands if they want to explore.
