I used the weekend to make a quick trip to a place called Sano in Tochigi Prefecture. I doubt many people in Korea have heard of it, but it is known for its premium outlet mall and Sano ramen. You take the train from Asakusa bound for Nikko, get off partway and transfer, and it takes about an hour and a half. It is close to the city, so it makes a decent weekend getaway when you have not planned anything.
Scenery shot from the train
This is the scenery from a month ago. I have been busy with all sorts of things lately, so it is not easy to post right away.
A view from the window that looked like rain was on its way
Still, after being stuck in the city, getting out to the countryside for the first time in ages really put me in a travel mood.
Sano Station
It is on the small side. There was not much around the station. First, we headed off to get lunch. It was about a 2 km walk to the restaurant..
A little grocery shop we stopped at along the way
They were selling imo fry, Sano’s local specialty, for the astonishing price of 60 yen, so we went in.
Imo fry
It is small potatoes deep-fried, and with the thick sauce and the fact that it was freshly fried, it tasted pretty decent.
A miso manju specialty shop
Miso manju is supposedly another local specialty, but it was more ordinary than I expected.
The Sano scenery
The outlet mall and the ramen bring people in now and then, but it is a quiet, laid-back country town. It really felt like a weekend trip.