【Aikido × Travel】Enjoying an Aikido Seminar and Dojo Visits in Prague, Czech Republic – 06
As I followed the path up the stairs, the view opened up to reveal Prague’s beautiful cityscape, filled with rows of unified brick red rooftops.
Since it was the autumn season, the contrast with the colorful trees made the scenery even more striking.
A guard stood at the entrance, and once we stepped inside, a number of buildings spread out before us
“Is that the castle behind us?”
“This whole area is the castle. And that over there is St. Vitus Cathedral.”
I learned that Prague Castle was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992 and is considered one of the largest castle complexes in the world.
The staircase inside the South Tower of St. Vitus Cathedral spirals upward like a tornado, and the viewing platform reaches an impressive height of 100 meters.
By the time I finally reached the top— breathing a bit heavily —the view was so vast and breathtaking that it left me speechless. No matter which direction I turned, a completely different panorama unfolded.
“In the Czech Republic, you can tell the era of a building just by looking at it. The area in front is the Old Town, the large buildings in the distance are from the socialist era, and the quirky ones nearby are modern apartments.”
It made me realize how the Czech landscape reflects the many eras the country has lived through.
“So… where exactly is Prague Castle?”
“All of this is the castle.”
He had explained this earlier, but I still couldn’t quite accept it. In my mind, a “castle” meant something like Cinderella’s Castle—one single building.
“Are all Czech castles like this?”
“No, not at all. I’ll take you to another one next time.”
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With ten minutes left before the changing of the guards, we returned to the main gate square, where a large crowd had already gathered.
My friend, who is over 180 cm tall, could see everything from the back, but at 160 cm, I made my way toward the front to find a good spot.
Soon, a window opened and the military band began to play. Even after the music stopped, nothing happened for a while. Then, from outside the gate, the guards marched in, and the ceremony continued for about 30 minutes.
“Standing guard at the castle all day must be a tough job.”
“Only elite soldiers are chosen for this, so no one wants to quit.”
Apparently, the salary is quite good as well.
The castle’s park is filled with tall trees, and the golden autumn leaves create a beautiful scene that feels different from Japan’s fall colors.
With the guards’ uniforms and the surrounding scenery, it felt as if I had wandered into a world of princes and princesses from a Disney movie.
Even the tunnel leading outside the grounds was intricately designed, reminding me that this truly is the nation’s most important castle.
When the rain began to fall harder again, we opened our umbrellas and headed back into town. My friend then took me to a Michelin starred Italian restaurant.
I ordered pasta, while my friend chose soup as a starter—but the soup that arrived was so large it hardly looked like an appetizer.
“With just that soup and some bread, I’d be perfectly satisfied.”
In the Czech Republic, it’s common to have soup before a meal, and this “soup culture” would end up saving me many times later on.
My pasta was freshly made, cooked al dente, and simple yet wonderfully delicious.
With our stomachs full, I wondered where we would go next—only to be guided to a café for a relaxing tea time.
My friend’s favorite café was unfortunately full, so we went to another one, but it was just as charming, like something out of a fairy tale.
Even with my already full stomach, I enjoyed a pistachio cheesecake and a warm ginger tea.
Next month would be December. It was still a little early for the Christmas markets, but many shops were already filled with Christmas goods.
Just hearing the word “Christmas” makes me excited, so I’d love to visit again during the market season.
After strolling through the town, my friend drove me back to the hotel, where I rested for a while.
Later that evening, we met again and went to another Italian restaurant. Italian cuisine is apparently very common in the Czech Republic.
Since lunch had been late and filling, I wasn’t very hungry. I planned to order only a salad, but because I was feeling a bit under the weather, I skipped the beer and chose a warm soup instead.
My friend, who had to drive, ordered a non alcoholic beer mixed with fruit juice called “Nealko Radler.” I tried a sip, and it was surprisingly refreshing.
The vegetable packed soup warmed me up, and the salad topped with mozzarella —one of my favorites—and tuna was the perfect combination.
Since I prefer meals with lots of vegetables, like Japanese cuisine, I tend to get tired quickly from the heavier European dishes. It made me understand why many people here choose vegetarian or vegan options.
Tomorrow, my friend will take us to a classical concert.
Thank you so much for the wonderful day and for driving me back to the hotel.
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