Chubu Centrair International Airport (Centrair) is one of the gateways to the skies of Japan, and if you're a fan of FUN! JAPAN, you might have used it at least once.
Of course, Centrair functions as a transportation hub, but if you listen to the stories of the "local people", you might be able to experience content around the airport that isn't well known, and you might be able to enjoy a different kind of fun.
This time, we hear from Ms. Kawaguchi, who was born and raised in Tokoname City near the airport and currently works at the JTB Mikawa branch, about how to enjoy Centrair and its surroundings that make you want to take a little detour.
Centrair, which has been a transportation hub for cities like Nagoya, might feel like a place where you can enjoy even if you stay.
The "Gateway to the Sky in the Chubu Region," Centrair, the unique "Pottery Walking Path" in Tokoname, is a healing spot for me
"Chubu International Airport" is located right in the middle of the Japanese archipelago, with many international and domestic flights departing and arriving here. It is one of the most demanded airports in Japan, known as the "Gateway to the Sky in the Chubu Region," and also called "Centrair."
How does the airport, which is the "starting point of the journey" for tourists, look to the locals?
This time, we asked Ms. Kawaguchi of the JTB Mikawa branch.
"I was born and raised in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture, and lived there until I was a high school student. When I went to university, I started living alone in Mie. I've been to various places in the past, but as I grew older, I gradually started to seek peace of mind, and the 'Sky Deck of Centrair' in my hometown became my most comfortable and healing place without realizing it."
Ms. Kawaguchi's family home is very close to Centrair, so she often had lunch at Centrair with her family and watched airplanes from the Sky Deck when she was a child. Also, when she was in kindergarten, she has a memory of participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony when Centrair opened, and she has always had a familiarity and longing for the airport.
"The Sky Deck is very wide, and the airplanes are close, so it's a spot where you can see the moments of takeoff and landing up close. I personally love the atmosphere of airplanes and airports, so when I have something to think about, I casually come here, buy coffee at Starbucks in the airport, and watch the airplanes. Also, in winter, the entire deck is decorated with illuminations, so you can enjoy a different atmosphere than usual!"
Centrair is a place where it's not uncommon to go for fun with family, friends, or a significant other. In November, they hold an illumination event, making it something of a symbol for the locals.
Another recommendation is the "Pottery Walking Path" in Tokoname.
"The Pottery Walking Path is, I think, a unique tourist spot in Tokoname. You can enjoy a leisurely stroll through the town, which is filled with Tokoname-yaki pottery shops, halls, and ceramic buildings. When I was in elementary school, I often visited on field trips or for social studies, but I didn't really understand its charm (laughs). However, as an adult, I can feel the atmosphere and realize that it's a great place.
Recently, there have been more stylish restaurants and cafes, and my friends come to visit for sightseeing and pottery wheel experiences. In the spring, there is a local festival, and it's also a route where you walk while pulling festival floats, so I think it's a spot with memories for the locals."
Tokoname City is known as the birthplace of "Tokoname-yaki" pottery. It's recommended not only to buy but also to experience pottery making. Ms. Kawaguchi's grandfather has been making pottery as a hobby since long ago, and he often made pottery in his grandfather's Tokoname-yaki hut when he was little. Also, in the elementary schools in Tokoname City, there are "pottery wheel rooms", and they often learn about Tokoname-yaki as part of their classes.
"Pottery making takes about an hour to create and about two weeks to bake. It's interesting to get your hands dirty with clay, an experience you don't usually get. It's recommended even for beginners."
Ms. Kawaguchi taught us the charm of Tokoname ware.
If you come to Tokoname, you must visit this place! A famous Japanese confectionery shop known to all the locals
"Okura Mochi" was born in Tokoname in Showa 26. It has been loved for many years by the craftsmen of Tokoname ware. It is a local specialty that involves the pottery culture, using plenty of ingredients from the Chita Peninsula.
"Although the main product of the Japanese confectionery shop is Okura Mochi, I also recommend the shaved ice on the summer limited menu. It's much larger than regular shaved ice, so it has an impact and the taste is excellent!
The inside of the shop has a quaint atmosphere of a Japanese confectionery shop, so you can relax. In summer, it's especially popular and can be crowded, so you may have to wait for about 2 hours. Therefore, it's recommended to visit with plenty of time to spare."
Daizo Mochi is also close to Centrair, so why not take a break after arriving at the airport or before returning home?
Unexpectedly unknown customs and culture of Aichi residents
"Tokoname is a small area, so there is a strong sense of attachment to the local area."
"In Kansai, there are many people who feel close, but in Nagoya, it is said that there are many people who keep a good distance from others."
"People in Nagoya may tend not to want to leave Nagoya even after they become adults. The access to other areas is just right, with 1.5 hours to Tokyo by Shinkansen and 1 hour to Osaka. It's not too urban, not too rural, and has everything, so I feel that there are quite a few people who want to raise children in Nagoya. Anyway, people in Nagoya have a strong sense of attachment!"
There are various regions in Aichi Prefecture, but this time, we asked Ms. Kawaguchi, who is from Tokoname, about the charm of her hometown.
Although Tokoname City, the location of Chubu Centrair International Airport, may not have many people staying due to the immediate transfer to other areas upon arrival, I got the impression that it is a town greatly loved by the locals after hearing Ms. Kawaguchi's story.
And I learned again how the locals enjoy "Centrair" and the "traditional Tokoname-yaki town". If you've come all the way to Tokoname, why not spend a precious and wonderful time just like the locals?
I would like to continue to actively promote the tourist attractions of Aichi Prefecture that are hidden in the local area.
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