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 →
Webmaster visited Aquatotto Gifu in Gifu Prefecture last month. Aquatotto Gifu is an aquarium of freshwater lives. https://aquatotto.com/pdf/en_pamphlet.pdf https://aquatotto.com/ (Japanese) Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 1:45) Nagoya (local train 0:17) Gifu (bus 0:37) Kawashima-kasata (walk 0:15) @ Admission:￥1,500 for adult. The exhibition starts from the reproduction of Nagara-gawa River which is one of the largest rivers of the… Read more →
Webmaster visited a Japanese garden Okayama Korakuen two weeks ago. It was late autumn already. http://www.okayama-korakuen.jp/english/ Access: Shin-osaka (shinkansen 0:51) Okayama (walk 0:05) Okayama-ekimae (tram 0:05) Shiroshita (walk 0:10) @ Admission:￥400 for adult. Okayama Korakuen is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. The construction of the garden started in 1687 by the order of a feudal… Read more →
Webmaster visited Okayama Castle last week. http://www.okayama-kanko.net/ujo/english/index.html Access: Shin-osaka (shinkansen 0:51) Okayama (walk 0:05) Okayama-ekimae (tram 0:05) Shiroshita (walk 0:10) @ Admission:￥300 for adult. The donjon of the Castle. Original donjon which was designated as National Treasure was burnt by bombing in 1945 during World War II. The present donjon which reproduces its original appearance was re-constructed in… Read more →
Webmaster visited Adachi Museum of Art last week. This museum is famous for a fine collection of Japanese-style painting, and also for its excellent gardens. Access: Shin-osaka (shinkansen 0:51) Okayama (express train 2:25) Yasugi (shuttle bus 0:20) @ The entrance of the museum. It was cloudy. It is prohibited to take photos of the art exhibition… Read more →