Persona 4 Golden: 7 Things to do in Inaba
Persona 4 Golden Spoilers ahead, but let's be honest, none of you care about Persona so you're all good. The main spoiler will not be revealed and if you have a general jist of what happens in Persona games, you should be fine.
Tired of living in the city? Want to get away from the struggles of every day life? Feel like getting murdered by a serial killer? Come on down to Inaba! You'd be surprised at how much there is to do.
The rural regions of Japan seem to have a bad image lately what with all of the people disappearing into the TV, but we guarantee you'll have a great time. Don't believe us? Here are seven exciting things you can do while you're here!
1. Meet New People
It's true what they say - everyone in the countryside knows each other. So if the feeling of isolation is getting to you, then why not strike up a friendly conversation? You might just learn something new. Some people will be strangers in need and inexplicably require an item that just so happens to be buried in those weird TV dungeons you and your new friends have been diving into. During my time here, I spoke to a high-schooler who was a fan of riddles and challenged me to a battle of wits. Never to be one to back from a challenge, I would talk to him every day and randomly select every dialogue option until I got the right one instead of thinking logically or consulting a guide on the internet.
It's important to meet friends that share a common interest.
You might also meet characters you can be a little bit closer to. The more time you spend with them, the deeper your bonds will become. Helping out your friends gives you a warm feeling inside and the knowledge that you've singlehandedly waded in and solved all problems in their life. Your new TV monster pals also get extra experience, which is very useful if you find that part of Inaba fun. Nerd.
2. Visit Aiya's
One of the best parts about the countryside is its secrets. Sure, everyone knows about that fancy ramen place in Tokyo, but how many people can say they know of the Aiya's in Inaba? Not many. If you are a fan of meat, this should be one of your first stops. Not only can you eat some mouth-watering ramen for only 800 yen, but its heart-warming effects can be life changing - literally. I ate here one night and swear I felt a little more courageous than before.
Eating at Aiya's can be good for the soul (and your stats)
But no mention of Aiya's would be worthy without mentioning the Rainy Day Mega Beef Bowl Challenge! Often described as a "portal to the meat dimension", this colossal dish will set you back 3,000 yen. It is a mountain of meat which takes Knowledge, Courage, Understanding and Diligence to finish. But here's the kicker: if you do manage to finish it, it's completely free. Stop by if you feel like you can topple this gargantuan challenge.
3. Visit the Amagi Inn's Hot Springs
The Amagi Inn might just be Inaba's Crown Jewel. Nestled in the hills, the Inn is a rather popular destination for tourists and is largely responsible for the majority of Inaba's outside traffic. Unfortunately, there was a small incident that happened recently. Nothing too major. Just a TV announcer getting a little bit murdered. It probably isn't the best idea to actually stay the night there at the moment.
But what you can do is visit the gorgeous hot springs! If the countryside wasn't relaxing enough, bring a friend, have a soak and let your troubles steam away. A visit to the hot springs is a great chance to think about the future; where you are, where you're going to go. That kind of thing. It's also a great opportunity to reflect on your past. If your friends accidently forget an ability for their TV Shadow Pal, then this might be a good time to remember.
Tip: If you're writing a post for a video games website and need an image of the Amagi Inn's hot springs, do NOT Google Image search it unless you want to see some extremely worrying fan art. Here's some promo art instead.
4. Enjoy the weather
The weather here is a little different from what you might be used to in the city. You can smell the countryside air in the rain; the heat is not blocked by towering skyscrapers; we don't have any of that fancy central heating when it snows. One definite quirk of Inaba's weather is the fog, which usually comes round after it rains.
The weather can change at a moment's notice. Make sure you check the forecast.
Nobody is sure what exactly causes the fog, but you can't say that it doesn't give off a moody atmosphere. If you're a writer, this might be the place that gives you inspiration for your next horror story! I'm joking of course! There's nothing suspicious about the fog in Inaba.
5. Shop at Junes (Joo Ness)
Everyday's great at your Junes! This popular supermarket chain has taken root in Inaba and is here to serve you. Anything that you could possibly want, you can find here. We even have a food court that serves our high quality Junes-branded food. Not enough for you? Drop by our electronics department that sells the latest and greatest televisions, large enough to throw anyone of any size into!
Junes also acts as a community hub. Just recently we had ex-popstar, Rise Kujikawa put on a special concert with her high school friends. It was amazing! I'm pretty sure her friends had never touched a musical instrument before but somehow they managed to pull it off through sheer force of will.
I still can't believe Rise Kujikawa performed at Junes! #Blessed.
6. Experience the fog
Thinking about it, fog has settled over the region for a while now. I don't think it could do anything bad right? I mean, it's just fog. I asked our local doctor about this recently and he told me that while he has seen an increase in the number of illnesses, he doesn't think it should be anything to do with the fog.
It's been getting a little foggy after school. Make sure you're careful when walking home.
How could fog cause illness anyway? I'm sure things like this happen all the time and it will end soon. Hopefully. pLease just let this end. It's making me nervous. Anyone could be waiting inside the fog. waiting for me. Watching. I see them. The shadows.
It seems pretty foggy in the shopping district too.
7. Become one with The Fog.
Become one with The Fog.