Webmaster visited Shomyo-ji Temple this week. It was fine day and new green leaves were very beautiful. Access: Tokyo (local train 0:09) Shinagawa (local train 0:33) Kanazawabunko (walk 0:15) @ Nio-mon Gate of the temple The wooden statues of two Nio (the guardians) are on both sides. The precincts can be seen through the… Read more →
Webmaster visited Museum of Musical Instruments in Hamamatsu City last week. http://www.gakkihaku.jp/en/ Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 1:30) Hamamatsu (walk 0:10) @ The entrance of the museum. As it was a weekday when Webmaster visited, the museum was not crowded. There are four main exhibition rooms. The first room is for Asian and Japanese instruments. There are some 330… Read more →
Webmaster enjoyed cherry blossom at Odawara Castle (Odawara-joshi Park) today. Odawara Castle (Odawara-joshi Park) is selected as “Top 100 Sights of Cherry Blossom”. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 0:37) Odawara (walk 0:10) @ After only ten minute walk from Odawara Station, you can reach Odawara Castle (Odawara-joshi Park). Cherry trees are planted along the moats and inside the park. … Read more →
Webmaster took Akechidaira Ropeway in Nikko this week. Tokyo (local train 0:15) Asakusa (express train 1:50) Tobu-nikko (bus 0:40) Akechidaira @ The bottom station taken with Mt. Nantai-san The gondola is ascending to the top station. The capacity of each gondola is 16 persons and the service is ten minutes each. Now Webmaster took… Read more →
Japan’s climate differs from region to region. While it’s snowing in the northern region, the spring herald has appeared in the south already. Webmaster visited Kawazu Town last week which is famous for Kawazu-zakura. Kawazu-zakura is an early blossom variety of cherry which starts blooming about a month earlier than common cherry. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 0:46) Atami… Read more →
Webmaster visited a Japanese garden Oyaku-en before last week. http://www.tsurugajo.com/oyakuen/index.htm Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 1:40) Koriyama (local train 1:20) Aizu-wakamatsu (bus 0:20) Oyakuen-iriguchi (walk 0:05) @ A big snow statue of dog in front of the entrance. Is this a guardian dog? How does Japanese garden look like in snowing season? It’s silent and beautiful although it’s… Read more →
As told in the previous blog dated on 2018-02-13, the second day of the train journey to snow country was suspended due to heavy snowfall. Then, Webmaster decided to visit Tsuruga-jo Castle in Aizu-wakamatsu City before returning to home although the weather was not so pleasant. A photo of the castle in non-snowing time (Wikipedia) Access to… Read more →
The climate of Japan varies from region to region. Normally, it continues fine days in the Pacific Ocean side during winter, but it has heavy snowfall in the Japan Sea side. Webmaster and a friend had a two-day journey to the snow country by train. The first day: Tokyo – (Shinkansen) – Echigo-yuzawa – (JR Joetsu Line) –… Read more →
As you may know, Japan has a fine network of railways. Webmaster had a day trip around Mt. Fuji by train last week. Webmaster started his journey from Matsuda Station. The route was: Matsuda Sta. – (JR Gotenba Line) – Numazu Sta. – (JR Tokaido Line) – Fuji Sta. (JR Minobu Line) – Kofu Sta. – (JR… Read more →
Sometime back, Webmaster visited a sake tasting bar Koshino-muro at Echigo-yuzawa Station of Niigata Prefecture. http://www.ponshukan.com/05_1.htm (Japanese) Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 1:25) Echigo-yuzawa (walk 0:01) @ Niigata Prefecture is known as one of major production area of Sake (Japanese rice wine). Here at Koshino-muro, sake from all 93 breweries of the prefecture are collected and waiting for your tasting.… Read more →