Webmaster visited the five-story Pagoda of Myo’oin Temple in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Access: Shin-osaka (shinkansen 1:10) Fukuyama (bus 0:10) Kusado-ohashi (walk 0:15) @ This pagoda was built in 1348 and designated as National Treasure. It is 29.1m high. Can you imagine this wooden pagoda is standing for more than 600 years? Close-up of the pagoda… Read more →
Chrysanthemum is one of popular horticultural flowers in Japan. Many varieties have been developed in the history. Even today, many chrysanthemum lovers grow it and exhibitions are held in many places this time. Webmaster visited Odawara Castle this week for one of the exhibitions. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 0:37) Odawara (walk 0:10) @ It was fine today… Read more →
Autumn has come! Webmaster had a day trip to Mt. Nasdake yesterday to enjoy an autumn scene. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 1:10) Nasu-shiobara (local train 0:07) Kuroiso (bus 1:00) Sanroku-eki (ropeway 0:04) Sancho-eki (walk 1:00) Chausudake Peak @ Unfortunately it was foggy but many hikers visited there. Mt. Nasudake is an active volcano. Some fume, of… Read more →
Webmaster had a business trip to Izu-oshima Island and had a short visit to Izu-oshima Volcano (Mt. Miharayama) this week. Izu-oshima is a volcanic island south to Tokyo. (Source: Wikipedia) Access: Tokyo (local train 0:08) Takeshiba (walk 0:02) Takeshiba Pier (ship 2:00) Motomachi Port (bus 0:25) Mihara-sanchoguchi (walk 1:00) @ (Miharayama) The ship to the island departs… Read more →
Red spider lily (Lycoris radiate, Higanbana) is flowering. A longhorn beetle staying on the flower Red spider lily and pampas grass Red spider lily with rice crop Now it’s time for harvest. Rice paddy field after harvesting. Now we are in autumn. End. Read more →
Now rice plant is ripening. It’s still greenish, but will become golden yellow soon. A scarecrow in the rice field called “kakashi” in Japanese Flowering red spider lily (Lycoris radiate, Higanbana), which is one of important members of autumn’s landscape in the countryside. The season of new rice is coming! End. Read more →
Webmaster visited Shibata Castle and Japanese garden Shimizu-en in Shibata City last week. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 2:15) Niigata (express train 0:23) Shibata (walk 0:20) Shibata Castle @ Shibata Castle was the castle of feudal lord Mizoguchi in Edo Era. Free admission. It’s closed from December to march. Omotemon Gate built in 1732 which is designated as… Read more →
Webmaster visited Ichishima Sake Brewery in Shibata City last week. This brewery was founded in 1790. http://www.ichishima.jp/eng/ Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 2:15) Niigata (express train 0:23) Shibata (walk 0:10) @ If you are not a large group with more than ten persons, reservation is not required. They have three exhibition rooms for touristic visitors. The first room… Read more →
Webmaster visited Murakami City last week. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 2:15) Niigata (express train 0:48) Murakami @ Besides salmon, Murakami is known as an old castle town. Some touristic spots Webmaster visited are shown below. Maizuru Park (Maizuru-koen) where three thatched samurai residences are exhibited. Black Wall Street (Kurobei-dori) … Read more →
Murakami is known as the town of salmon. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 2:15) Niigata (express train 0:48) Murakami @ Since old times, people of Murakami have lived with salmon. You can easily come across that salted salmons are hanged from the eaves along the streets. There are several fish shops in the town which specialize in salmon… Read more →