Webmaster visited the five-story Pagoda of Myo’oin Temple in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Access: Shin-osaka (shinkansen 1:10) Fukuyama (bus 0:10) Kusado-ohashi (walk 0:15) @ This pagoda was built in 1348 and designated as National Treasure. It is 29.1m high. Can you imagine this wooden pagoda is standing for more than 600 years? Close-up of the pagoda… Read more →
Autumn has come! Webmaster had a day trip to Mt. Nasdake yesterday to enjoy an autumn scene. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 1:10) Nasu-shiobara (local train 0:07) Kuroiso (bus 1:00) Sanroku-eki (ropeway 0:04) Sancho-eki (walk 1:00) Chausudake Peak @ Unfortunately it was foggy but many hikers visited there. Mt. Nasudake is an active volcano. Some fume, of… Read more →
Webmaster had a business trip to Izu-oshima Island and had a short visit to Izu-oshima Volcano (Mt. Miharayama) this week. Izu-oshima is a volcanic island south to Tokyo. (Source: Wikipedia) Access: Tokyo (local train 0:08) Takeshiba (walk 0:02) Takeshiba Pier (ship 2:00) Motomachi Port (bus 0:25) Mihara-sanchoguchi (walk 1:00) @ (Miharayama) The ship to the island departs… Read more →
Webmaster visited Shibata Castle and Japanese garden Shimizu-en in Shibata City last week. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 2:15) Niigata (express train 0:23) Shibata (walk 0:20) Shibata Castle @ Shibata Castle was the castle of feudal lord Mizoguchi in Edo Era. Free admission. It’s closed from December to march. Omotemon Gate built in 1732 which is designated as… Read more →
Webmaster visited Ichishima Sake Brewery in Shibata City last week. This brewery was founded in 1790. http://www.ichishima.jp/eng/ Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 2:15) Niigata (express train 0:23) Shibata (walk 0:10) @ If you are not a large group with more than ten persons, reservation is not required. They have three exhibition rooms for touristic visitors. The first room… Read more →
Webmaster visited Murakami City last week. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 2:15) Niigata (express train 0:48) Murakami @ Besides salmon, Murakami is known as an old castle town. Some touristic spots Webmaster visited are shown below. Maizuru Park (Maizuru-koen) where three thatched samurai residences are exhibited. Black Wall Street (Kurobei-dori) … Read more →
Webmaster visited Iyoboya Salmon Museum (Iyoboya-kaikan) in Murakami City this week. This is a museum/aquarium on salmon. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 2:15) Niigata (express train 0:48) Murakami (walk 0:20) @ Admission:￥600 for adult. Closed on year-end holidays. A figure of salmon near the entrance Video theater near the entrance showing the ecology of salmon and the culture… Read more →
Webmaster visited Suzu Waterfall (Suzuga-taki) in Murakami City last week. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 2:15) Niigata (express train 0:48) Murakami (bus 0:45) Takane (walk 2:00) @, or Tokyo (shinkansen 2:15) Niigata (express train 0:48) Murakami (car 1:00) parking lot (walk: 0.15) @ Remarks: The road to the waterfall is closed during winter. Please confirm if the roar is accessible. … Read more →
Webmaster had a short visit to the terraced paddy field of Kamo (Kamo-tanada) in Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture in the free time during his business trip. In fact, there are many terraced paddy field (tanada) in Uonuma area including Tokamachi City. Kamo-tanada is one of them. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 1:25) Echigo-yuzawa (local train 0:45) Matsudai (taxi 0:10) @ A… Read more →
Webmaster overnighted at Narita on his business trip last week, and had a short visit to Shinsho-ji Temple early in the morning before starting his duty. Access: Tokyo (local train 1:10) Narita (walk 0:15) @ Somon Gate at the entrance. The second Niomon Gate can be seen from Somon Gate. Niomon Gate. After… Read more →