Webmaster visited a historical city Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture. Access: “Itami AP, Osaka (plane 0:45) Matsuyama AP (bus 0:15) Matsuyama @ Shin-osaka (shinkansen 0:50) Okayama (express train 2:45) Matsuyama @ The tram running in the center of the city may be convenient for touristic activities, It costs 180 yen for a ride, and the service is frequent enough.… Read more →
A huge wreath made of pampas grasses called “chinowa” is set in the precincts of many Shinto shrines in June by the lunar calendar, which approximately corresponds to July by the solar calendar. In our tradition, we believe chinowa has magical power. If we pass through for three times as shown in the photo, we can get rid of… Read more →
Uwajima taimeshi is a bowl of rice topped with seasoned sashimi of tai (sea bream), which is originally a local cuisine of Uwajima and now offered even in neighboring areas. Access: Itami AP, Osaka (plane 0:45) Matsuyama AP (bus 0:15) Matsuyama (express train 1:20) Uwajima @ Shin-osaka (shinkansen 0:50) Okayama (express train 2:45) Matsuyama (express train 1:20) Uwajima @… Read more →
Webmaster visited Kamikochi where one can enjoy pure nature and alpine view. Official website of Kamikochi https://www.kamikochi.org/ Access: Tokyo (local train 0:14) Shinjuku (express train 2:40) Matsumoto (local train 0:31) Shin-shimashima (bus 1:00) @ Kappa-bashi Bridge, which is only 6-minute walk from the bus terminal, and the view from the bridge. Kappa-bashi Bridge at the… Read more →
Hoba-maki is a sweet of specialty in Kiso Region of Nagano Prefecture, which is made of rice flour and sweet red beans wrapped in hoba, and steamed. Access: Tokyo (local train 0:14) Shinjuku (express train 2:30) Shiojiri (express train 0:27) Kiso-fukushima @ It’s only made in early summer between late May and middle July when hoba, the young… Read more →
Spring is coming. Early-blossom varieties of cherry have started to bloom. One day in this week, Webmaster had a walk to citrus groves in the hillside of his home town. Most of the deciduous trees do not bud yet. The season of mandarin oranges, which is the most popular and most produced, has finished already, but some other… Read more →
Webmaster visited Ryuko-ji Temple in which precincts there is a five-story pagoda. Access: Tokyo (local train 0:44) Fujisawa (local train 0:11) Enoshima (walk 0:03) @ This is Niomon Gate, the main entrance to the precincts. A pair of Nio guards the gate. Then, the next Sanmon Gate is on top of stairs. … Read more →
Webmaster visited Hakone-jinja Shrine. The shrine is located at the shore of Lake Ashinoko on Mt. Hakone. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 0:37) Odawara (bus 1:10) Moto-hakone (walk 0:15) @ Mt. Hakone is an active volcano with huge caldera, and Ashinoko is a caldera lake. This lake has a legend of the dragon with nine heads which had caused… Read more →
6th August is the memorial day of Hiroshima on which the atomic bomb was exploded 75 years ago, at 8:15AM of 6th August 1945. (Wikipedia) Some 350 thousands people lived in Hiroshima City at that time. 80 thousands were killed directly by the explosion, and 140 thousands had died until the end of the year by the acute symptom… Read more →
It’s still in rainy season in the central part of Japan. Rice plants are growing up well. When having a walk after the rain this morning, Webmaster encountered many frogs resting on leaves at the riverside of a stream. Those are amagaeru frogs (Hylinae japonica), the commonest frog in Japan. Well grown individuals become more… Read more →