I’m not sure about you, but for me the last three years have kind of merged into one big blob – a seamless period of time where it’s been hard to distinguish one season from the next. Usually, I associate past years with trips I have taken: Vietnam 2018; USA/Mexico 2019 etc – but the last few years stripped all that away. In fact, the last time I was on an airplane was back in October 2019, taking a short trip to Hanoi just a few months before COVID hit.
The various lockdowns and restrictions around the world affected everyone in different ways. Since I lead a pretty quiet life anyway, I didn’t notice much difference. But it had been three years since we had been back to Northern Ireland, and so we were due a visit. With things slowly easing up in Europe, now seemed like the right time to go – and so off we went!
This was the view at Departures (Narita) at about 3pm. Our check-in counter seemed to be the only one open at that time, and so obviously it was super quick going through security. It was busier on the other side, but still nowhere near what it should be. Japan is still closed to international tourism so there are far fewer flights scheduled. While this is surely affecting the economy, from a travelling point of view it was incredibly hassle-free and easy. 
A pretty empty Departures board 
See you in a few weeks, Japan! Next stop: Ireland 
Well, not quite… We had a brief layover in Abu Dhabi, stumbling off the plane in a bit of a haze before our connecting flight. Ten hours from Tokyo to Abu Dhabi, then a four-hour wait, then another eight-hour flight to Dublin. Then a two-hour bus ride. No way will I be doing this route again if I can help it! 
Of course, a shamrock would be the first thing we see once we touched down in Ireland ☘️
I’m from a small seaside town called Bangor in Northern Ireland. I’ve written a little bit about it before on this blog, and while the town itself is getting progressively run down, it still affords a beautiful coastline – rugged when the skies are grey, and picturesque when the sun is out. In Tokyo, I count myself lucky that I have a beautiful beach about an hour away by train. But there’s something different about just being able to leave the house, and walk ten minutes to the coast. Any time we are back, it’s the first thing we do the morning after we land.
The Coastal Path 
You can see a few of the church spires poking up in the distance 
One thing that I was happy to see in my home town was that they seem to be promoting the growth of wild areas – trimming the grass as usual in places, but then leaving huge chunks to be strategically overrun with wild flowers and other plants. It was nice to see bees and other insects flying about, enjoying the environment.
A little wild area at the small roundabout not far from my childhood home 
Incidentally, here is the same area about 100 years ago! 
Bangor Abbey, just around the corner from where I grew up, was founded in 558AD and grew to be a centre of great learning – becoming one of the most eminent missionary institutions in Europe in the Early Middle Ages. During the 8th and 9th century the town was ravaged by Viking raiders and virtually became a ghost town – but when Saint Malachy was elected Abbot of the monastery in 1123, his extensive travels around Europe inspired him to rejuvenate the monasteries in Ireland including Bangor. Of course, when you live in this area of Bangor you just walk past this place every day and don’t bat an eyelid. But it’s a bit mad to think people were walking about here 1,500 years ago. 
We stayed a night down in Cultra where we saw many quaint little houses such as this. 
And on a visit to the small village of Whiterock near Killinchy, we were able to enjoy some tranquil views – with rows of clouds stretching out into the distance. 
Despite staying in Northern Ireland for the duration of this trip, we did dip our toes south of the border, driving through Carlingford and Omeath in County Louth where the Cooley Mountains sweep down to the sea. An area of spectacular scenery, The Cooley Peninsula is a diverse landscape filled with mountain ranges, flat fertile plains, wide valleys, forests and long beaches.
Driving through the Cooley Mountains, not a soul about. 
Standing among the heather 
Some locals we met along the way 
Family time 💙 
Fairy Glen in Rostrevor – a gentle riverside walk that looks like its been plucked straight from a Jane Austen novel.
While Bangor hasn’t changed much and is seemingly just being left to the elements, we found Belfast to be much more lively this time around. Granted, the last time we were there was a cold afternoon in December about five years ago, but a Saturday trip on this visit showed a bustling city – particularly around Ann Street and Victoria Square. We walked around St. George’s Market for the first time, and were surprised by the amount of stalls and international visitors alike.
Passing Holywood on the Bangor to Belfast train line. 
A flower mural outside Belfast City Hall 
I had actually never been inside so we had a nosey – never realised it was so grand. 
There was an exhibition on detailing the history of Belfast. As always, the section remembering The Troubles was sobering. Ironically, our visit coincided with the 12th July ‘celebrations’. Since its beginning, the Twelfth has often been accompanied by violence between Ulster Protestants and Catholics, especially during times of political tension. Protestant loyalists see the Twelfth as an important part of their culture, while Catholic Irish nationalists see many aspects of it as sectarian, triumphalist and supremacist. this year, there wasn’t much trouble – but all the flags everywhere reminded me that Northern Ireland will probably never change.
Of course, things in Northern Ireland look normal and commonplace to me, but for Mrs IKIMASHO – brought up in both America and Japan – it’s all very different. She particularly enjoyed Mount Stewart – a 19th-century house and garden situated on the east shore of Strangford Lough, and just outside Greyabbey where we got married in 2019.
Like I said at the start of this post, simply being by the coast is what Bangor means to me. Time seems to stand still in this little seaside town – but when it comes to the coastline, this lack of change is a good thing. I still remember certain trees standing in the same place from 30 years ago, and rock formations that bring me back to my youth, cycling around. On a clear sunny day, we swam in the sea with one of my best friends and created good memories. And after all, that’s what trips like this are all about.
In order to be allowed back into Japan we had to jump through a number of hoops – downloading the various apps, filling out information, and then also providing a negative PCR test. The latter was the one thing I was worried about, having heard horror stories of people who have left Japan, tested positive during their trip, then have been trapped, unable to get home. Thankfully, our PCR tests were hunky-dory and we also had no problems at Dublin Airport, which had been a bit chaotic in recent months. Before we knew it we were once again in Abu Dhabi, waiting on our connecting flight back to Tokyo. It proved to be a half-empty flight, so we were able to stretch out.
At the gate in Abu Dhabi 
Blue skies greeting us in Tokyo 
Welcome to Japan 
Pocari Sweat and an onigiri on the NEX train. This has become somewhat of a tradition after a trip away, our first taste of being back in Japan.
Until next time…!
IKIMASHO! 
Great blog post showcasing Northern Ireland. Bangor looks amazing in your photos and just shows that with good weather and blue skies, Northern Ireland has a lot of beauty 😊
Thank you for great narrative and excellent photographs. I have yet to visit Ireland and Northern Ireland. I had a chuckle at Mrs Ikimasho’s sun hat – I surmise it folds up well for travel and provides good sun coverage. Most eye catching.
Thanks for the engaging narrative and excellent photographs of Northern Island. I could almost smell the sea air! Mrs Ikimasho’s sun hat was most interesting
Great post & photos. I liked the story about the Bangor Abbey & Viking raiders.
Thank you, everyone! rhodycats – I can assure you, she got some stares!