Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine February 2019 | Page 80

Travel | Nagoya
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The Nakasendo route winds its way through
Tsumago on its way to Magome one way, and
Nagiso (with its railway station) the other.
Today, the Nozomi Shinkansen from Nagoya to Kyoto
takes just 35 minutes to cover the 140km route…
Arimatsu was chosen as the 40 th of
53 official ‘stations’ along the road.
As well as being an administrative and
communications post, food and lodgings
(and of course textile souvenirs) were offered
to passing samurai, pilgrims and perhaps
the occasional door-to-door salesman!
There were 13 ‘stations’ on the
Tokaido between Arimatsu and
the \ancient capital of Kyoto. Today,
the Nozomi Shinkansen from Nagoya
to Kyoto takes just 35 minutes to cover
the 140km route…with no stops in between!
And by morning coffee time, you can be
walking into iconic Higashiyama district
with the same sense of wonderment and
relief as the weary travellers who had been
hiking for days (perhaps weeks) along
the ancient routes. Although today,
you’ll arrive at Kyoto Station, so get
a ¥600 (US$5.50) one-day bus pass
and hop on the number 100 or 206.
Walking into History
The Tokaido – having merged with its
corresponding inland route from Tokyo
called the Nakasendo – entered Kyoto
on a thoroughfare just below the hill
on which Kiyomizu-dera Temple stands.
It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
as is Ginkaku-ji Temple at the very north
of Higashiyama, the historical district on
the eastern edge of the city. And in between
the two? Enticing alleys, stepped lanes,
lush gardens, more imposing temples
and curious little boutiques.
Should Kyoto’s scale (and, let’s face it,
popularity) not be for you, take a 30-minute
train ride northwards from Nagoya to
little Inuyama. Its ‘castle town’ – a historic
district of wooden shophouses with plentiful
distractions including rickshaw pullers,
kimono hire and local handicrafts – is
reminiscent of parts of Kyoto’s Higashiyama,
and is a satisfying prelude to the town’s
5 Senses – Scent
BLOSSOMS IN THE PARK
Nagoya is sprawling but generally
low-rise – nonetheless it can be a relief
to escape the concrete jungle, and
be lost for a moment in the fragrance
and dappled sunlight of a leafy, blossom-
filled park. Head, for example, to classical
Tokugawa-en Japanese Gardens near
the Tokugawa Art Museum, the parkland
surrounding Nagoya Castle, or Aioiyama
Ryokuchi Park (on the Sakuradori Line,
Naruko Kita station) with its delightful
bamboo groves.
Nagoya dipadati gedung, namun
umumnya bertingkat rendah. Anda bisa
sejenak meninggalkan hutan beton kota ini
untuk menikmati wangi dan hangat sinar
matahari di taman bunga. Kunjungi Taman
Jepang Tokugawa-en di dekat Museum Seni
Tokugawa atau taman di sekitar Istana
Nagoya dan Taman Aioiyama Ryokuchi
(di Jalur Sakuradori, stasiun Naruko Kita)
dengan kebun bambunya yang indah.