Do you know Bonsai? Bonsai is a miniature potted tree which is grown with special trim and care to have an appearance of natural old trees. Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, as its name shows, is a museum specialized in bonsai collection. Webmaster visited there this week. Omiya Bonsai Art Museum: http://www.bonsai-art-museum.jp/en/ Access: Tokyo (local train 0:32) Omiya (local… Read more →
Do you know Makuzu Ware and Mr. MIYAGAWA Kozan I (1842 – 1916) who is the founder and ceramist of Makuzu Kiln? MIYAGAWA Kozan I was born in Kyoto as the fourth son of MIYAGAWA Chozo who was also ceramist. Kozan I took over his father’s workshop, but moved to Yokohama later and established Makuzu Kiln in 1871. Makuzu… Read more →
Webmaster visited Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art. Access: Tokyo (local train 0:55) Sakura (courtesy bus 0:20) @ Admission: depending on exhibitions. The collection of the museum varies from Rembrandt, Impressionism, the Ecole de Paris, 20th century European art and 20th century American art to traditional Japanese art. (Sorry but no photos of the inside of the museum.… Read more →
Webmaster visited Kawagoe History Museum (Kawagoe-rekishi-hakubutukan) where real ninja tools are exhibited. Access: Tokyo (local train 0:24) Ikebukuro (local train 0:30) Kawagoe (bus 0:15 or walk 0:20) Kita-in (walk 0:02) @ This is a small private museum which exhibits historical articles handed down in seven old families in Kawagoe which is an old castle town. Admission is ￥500 for… Read more →
Webmaster visited Hakone Beer. http://www.hakone-beer.com/shop/ (Japanese) Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 0:37 or local train 1:15) Odawara (local train 0:07) Kazamatsuri (walk 0:01) @ You can drop in at the brewpub on your way to/back from Hakone. The building of the Brewery. The brewery doesn’t run factory tours for tourists. Then, we should go to its brewpubs next to… Read more →
Webmaster visited Hokekyo-ji Temple in Chiba Prefecture last month. Access: Tokyo (local train 0:04) Akihabara (local train 0:23) Shimousa-nakayama (walk 0:10) @ It can be a half-day trip (for three hours) from Tokyo . Besides a five-story pagoda, there are other historical buildings in the precincts. The approach with So-mon Gate from Simousa-nakayama Station to the temple … Read more →
Last week, Webmaster visited Nishikigoi-no-sato in Ojiya City where one can meet hundreds of nishikigoi (colored carp). Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 1:40) Urasa (local train 0:30) Ojiya (bus 0:10 or taxi 0:06 or walk 0:20) Honcho-chuo (walk 0:02) @ Even the entrance of a pedestrian underpass in front of Ojiya Station has the shape of nishikigoi. You can take… Read more →
Webmaster visited Numazu Deepsea Aquarium (Numazuko-shinkai-suizokukan) last week. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 0:53) Mishima (local train 0:05) Numazu (bus 0:15 or taxi 0:10 or walk 0:25) Numazu-ko (walk 0:02) @ The main attractions here are deep-sea life and coelacanth. There are various kinds of deep-sea life with curious forms. Then, coelacanths!! There are five specimens. Two… Read more →