Now, many Green fruits have started growing bigger! Oranges Grapes Pears Kaki (Persimmons) We can enjoy them in July to October. Please visit countryside of Japan! End. Read more →
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Season’s topic – Children’s day and kashiwamochi rice cake (2020-04-26)
5th May is the Children’s Day in Japan. It’s national holiday. A family with children (boys) puts up koinobori – carp-shaped streamers – in their garden this day wishing the boys can be strong and courageous as carp. (Traditionally in Japan, carp is the symbol of vigor and vitality.) Of course, today, we celebrate this day for both boys… Read more →
Spot report – Apricot blossom in Fuchu Museum (2020-02-19)
Webmaster visited the apricot garden in Fuchu City Kyodonomori Museum (Fuchushi-kyodonomori-hakubutsukan) this week. Tokyo (local train 0:50) Bubaigawara (bus 0:06/walk 0:20) Kyodonomori-seimon-mae @ Japanese apricot (Prunus mume) blooms in February, about one month and half earlier than cherry blossom. Therefore, we Japanese consider apricot blossom a notice of that the arrival of spring is not very far. … Read more →
Spot report – Riding Steam Locomotive (2020-02-10)
Webmaster went to ride a steam locomotive (SL) in Yokokawa of Gunma Prefecture last weekend. Tokyo (shinkansen 0:55) Takasaki (local train 0:35) Yokokawa @ The steam locomotive stars from Yokokawa Station, which is a small station located at the Eastern foot of Usui Pass. The railroad extended to the other side of the pass until 1997 when Bullet… Read more →
Spot report – Otsuka Museum of Art (2019-12-18)
Webmaster visited Otsuka Museum of Art in Tokushima Prefecture last week. https://www.o-museum.or.jp/ This museum is of fine art ceramic reproductions. The museum houses more than one thousand reproductions of treasured Western artworks in actual size, from ancient frescoes to modern paintings. Although all exhibited are reproductions, but those are reproduced (printed on ceramic boards) very detailedly. Moreover, visitors… Read more →
Spot report – Takayama (2019-11-22)
Webmaster visited Takayama three weeks ago. Takayama is a small city in the central mountainous region, which maintains an atmosphere of old Japanese town. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 1:45) Nagoya (express train 2:25) Takayama @ Sakurayama-hachiman Shrine Takayama Festival Float Exhibition Hall Miyagawa Morning Market and colored carp in Miyagawa River. Jin’ya Morning Market Historic… Read more →
Spot report – Aquarium Sagamihara (2019-08-26)
Webmaster visited Aquarium Sagamihara in Kanagawa Pref. this month. Access: Tokyo (local train 0:55) Sagamihara (bus 0:25) Fureai-kagakukan-mae @ The entrance hall and an approach to the main exhibition room. This aquarium isn’t very big, but has fine exhibition of fresh water life of Sagami River which is the largest river in the prefecture. … Read more →
Season’s topic – Wild Hydrangea (2019-08-23)
Webmaster found a wild hydrangea “tama-ajisai (Hydrangea involucrate)” in Hakone. The buds on top of sprays. Its name “tama” means a ball because of the shape of the bud. It starts to bloom. Now in Bloom. End. Read more →
Spot report – Yugyo-ji Temple (2019-08-07)
Webmaster visited Yugyo-ji Temple in Kanagawa Pref. last week. Yugyo-ji Temple is the headquarters of Jishu sect. The temple has the long history since 1325, although the original buildings are not left. Access: Tokyo (local train 0:44) Fujisawa (walk 0:15) @ It needs to walk for 15 minutes from Fujisawa Station. Once passing through the Somon Gate, visitors… Read more →
Spot report – Oyama-afuri-jinja Shrine (2019-08-06)
Webmaster visited Oyama-afuri-jinja Shrine in Kanagawa Pref. last week. Access: Tokyo (local train 0:14) Shinjuku (local train 0:54) Isehara (bus 0:25) Oyama-cable (walk 0:15) Oyama-cable (cable car 0:06) Afuri-jinja (walk 0:05) @ From the bus stop, it needs to walk for 15 minutes to the station of cable car. There are souvenir shops and restaurants along… Read more →