I visited Maizuru for the first time and had a busy day exploring from Amanohashidate to Joganji. Rushing to see all the sights before returning the rental car on time, I barely made it back in time. Now, I decided to explore Maizuru by public transportation until my train back home. However, I realized I didn't have any cash in my wallet, making my return journey uncertain. I went to Maizuru Tourist Information Center at Nishi-Maizuru Station to seek advice on places to visit and how to get there, but things didn't go as planned. With my wallet in mind, I headed to Higashi-Maizuru Station first. I visited Maizuru Red Brick Park, a quaint area with brick buildings and a few tourists. Then, I decided to check out the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force facility open to the public. Seeing the scale of the escort ships and cargo vessels up close was impressive. After the tour, I thought about heading back but saw other visitors entering a convenience store at the entrance. I decided to stop by and was surprised to find a variety of souvenirs and daily essentials. I didn't buy anything due to my wallet situation but couldn't stop thinking about a dry bread snack. I eventually went back and bought the snack along with a unique drink. On the train ride back to base camp, I finally tried the snack and drink. The snack was plain but satisfying, and the drink had a sour plum flavor. Back at base camp, I hesitated to eat the snack as a souvenir but eventually gave in and enjoyed it during a hungry evening. The drink, although a bit strange, was surprisingly refreshing. Overall, it was a memorable experience in Maizuru, and I ended the day feeling energized.

An old man's bicycle trip. Golden Week trip in Maizuru. I don't come to Maizuru very often, so I decided to do some sightseeing while I'm here! I visited the Maizuru Regional Base of the Maritime Self-Defense Force. On weekends and holidays, you can visit the base where the regional fleet is docked. There is a time limit for entry, but it's free for anyone to visit. When I arrived, there were indeed many ships docked, including missile boats, Aegis ships, and supply ships. The size of the ships, especially the helicopter-carrying destroyer, was truly impressive! I even thought about going up on the deck to see more. After the tour, I found a small souvenir shop that sold various goods. I didn't want anything too bulky, so I bought navy-style hardtack. These hardtacks were quite large compared to the usual bite-sized ones. They were filling and had a simple flavor with a hint of sesame, which was surprisingly tasty. I recommend it as a souvenir. Overall, it was a great way to pass the time. If you have the chance, I highly recommend trying it out!

I was wandering around Maizuru city looking for interesting places to visit when I saw many self-defense ships moored at the pier. I noticed some people who seemed like tourists with cameras walking around, so I decided to follow them. Eventually, I found a sign for a self-defense ship tour. I asked a young officer at the gate if I could take the tour, and he said yes, instructing me to park my car in the designated area and fill out some simple paperwork. The tour allowed me to explore the deck of one of the ships that was docked. My excitement during and after the tour can be seen in the photos I posted. However, to make this into a food review article... Upon entering, I noticed a convenience store called Yamazaki Y Shops Smile, which I had never heard of before. The store sold typical grocery items, with canned drinks priced at 90 yen, which is quite cheap. In addition to regular items, they also had: - Equipment for personnel, not available for purchase by civilians, such as hats. - Self-defense force-related goods like camouflage shirts. - Self-defense force manju (steamed buns) from the "Geki!!" series, only available for purchase within the self-defense force. - Genki Batchiri II, priced at 150 yen, caught my attention. The packaging alone would make you want to buy it. The name "Genki Batchiri" seems odd in Japanese, and the addition of "II" raised some questions. Upon trying it, it tasted like a typical nutritional drink, but I later found out some interesting facts: - The manufacturer, Chugoku Kako, produces explosives. - Chugoku Kako sells Genki Batchiri S online. - The main store of Chugoku Kako in Kure sells Genki Batchiri. I am now curious to try all the drinks in the Genki Batchiri series.

I often visit this place. The shop here sells various Maritime Self-Defense Force goods such as T-shirts and hats that you can't find elsewhere. You can also take a tour inside the base, and if you're lucky, you might see an Aegis ship docked. It's recommended to visit in the summer as the winter here is snowy. If you have the chance, be sure to visit. Nearby, there is Amanohashidate and also a beach for swimming! It might be perfect for a sightseeing drive.

Located inside the Maizuru Maritime Self-Defense Force base, there is a shop. I visited it during the base festival. The parking lot is located towards the red brick area. This time, I bought Navy Curry Rice Crackers. The packaging is nice, making it a good souvenir to buy. The curry flavor is strong and has a spicy kick to it. The crispy texture of the rice crackers is also enjoyable. The Navy Curry itself was rich and delicious, although I didn't take a photo of it.

On February 28th, there was an event related to Maizuru City at Kitte in Marunouchi. I found the exhibition at the Maizuru Repatriation Memorial Museum interesting, especially the statistical data, "Mother at the Dock," and the story of a young man who obtained information about Japanese detained in the Soviet Union and sent postcards to their families in Japan. I visited Maizuru about 25 years ago, so I decided to buy a souvenir from Maizuru as a token of my visit. I chose the "Navy Curry," which was quite unique. This curry was developed during the Meiji period and later adopted by the Maritime Self-Defense Force. It contains Kyoto vegetables called "Manganji Sweet Peppers" and small pieces of beef. The seller was listed as "Hiroshi Hayashi SS Smile." I lost the receipt, but I believe it was 880 yen for 2 packs in a box, including tax. I later found out that it is also sold on Amazon for 896 yen. The curry has a good level of spiciness and tastes quite delicious.