Tourism

Sanrio Puroland, Tokyo

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Sanrio Puroland” popular among families mainly children, as a theme park to meet popular Sanrio characters such as “Hello Kitty” and “My Melody”. It is a facility where you can enjoy shows, parades and attractions of Sanrio characters popular with children and women. A lot of tourists visit on holidays, mainly in the family group.
The interior is a moderately spacious structure of 4 stories, and it is also one of the attractions that makes it easy for small children to travel around. There are attractions, show stages, and other amusement sections where you can enjoy games such as claw machine, centering on the square “Puro Village” surrounding the wisdom tree in the center of Puroland. In addition, there are restaurants, cafés and so on, so you can spend your time in the garden all day.

As you walk from the nearest “Tama Center” station, you will see a gate with motifs as a fairytale castle. That is the entrance located on the 3rd floor. If you buy a ticket on the same day, you will be using a ticket counter near this third floor entrance.
In the park, the structure from the first floor to the second floor is a open ceiling structure, and in the center there is the “wisdom tree” which is also a symbol of Sanrio Puroland. Actually it is possible to climb this wisdom tree. As you climb this tree, there is a golden “Hello Kitty happy bell” which is the sacred spot of Sanrio Puroland and it is said that love will be fulfilled if this bell rings. It is a popular spot for couples and female groups.
Not only children and those who like Sanrio characters, they are produced to enjoy even Sanrio characters who do not know much. Why don’t you spend a pleasant day with your children in a fantastic farewell space. Please try visiting Sanrio Puroland once.

One of the Largest indoor theme park in Japan

The “Sanrio Puroland” is one of the largest indoor theme park in Japan, and it is located in Tama-city, Tokyo.

Hello Kitty and My melody

You can enjoy a show appearing the characters such as “Hello Kitty” or “My melody” on the stage, and the attractions using the characters as a motif.

Full-scale musical show

And you can enjoy the full-scale musical show or parade being performed by the characters. In addition, there are the menu which you cannot eat or the goods not to be able to buy only here.

There is the event which you can participate in. If you participate in the event dressing up along some kind of themes, you may be introduced on a stage. You must coordinate clothes with a bang

The characters greeting

You can meet a character other than a show and a musical. The information of “the characters greeting” appears in the official website of Sanrio Puroland and can know when and where you can meet them. Then you can enjoy an attraction and a meal while meeting a character!

Information

Name:	Sanrio Puroland
Adresse:	Shinsogawa 1-7 Toyama-city, Toyama 930-0006 Japan
Access:	Keio Sagamihara-sen Line or Odakyu Tama-sen Line “Tama Center-eki Station” (8 minutes walk)
Tel:	(+81) 42-339-1111
Price/Charge:	Weekdays Passport 3,300 yen (18 years and over) 2,500 yen (3-17 years) Holidays Passport 3,800 yen (18 years and over) 2,700 yen (3-17 years) Please refer the official web page.
Official site:	http://en.puroland.jp/

日本, 〒206-8588 東京都多摩市落合1-31

Yakushima Island, Kagoshima

By finder Leave a Comment

Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

The mysterious island “Yakushima Island” where more than 90% of the islands are covered with forests is also called “water island” brought by rich rain and “forest island” which continues from the Jomon period, attracting visitors. In the beautiful island that is also registered in the World Natural Heritage site, you can see the symbol “Jomon-Sugi” of Yakushima Island, which is also said to be the estimated tree age of 7200 years, “Shiratani-Unsuikyo” valley spreading the mossy deep green world, the nature that you want to see is full.

Yakushima Island is located on the sea about 60 kilometers south-southwest from Kagoshima prefecture Sata Cape, the southernmost mainland, and in 1993, about 21% of the area of the island is a natural rich island registered as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Almost all of Yakushima is a mountainous region, and it is located in an area belonging to the subtropical zone. Snow cover is also observed in the mountains of more than 1,900 meters, with a wide variety of climates ranging from subtropical to subarctic on a single island, diverse creatures are inhabited.
Yaku-Sugi (Cedar Tree) including “Jomon-Sugi” is famous, and many people visit each year. In addition, there are lots of charming spots in the island, such as Nagatahama Beach where is one of the world ‘s leading loggerhead turtles’ spawning places and is also a registered wetland of the Ramsar Convention.
For access to Yakushima Island, if you go by plane, Kagoshima Airport will be the gateway. First of all, you go to Kagoshima Airport from various airports and head for Yakushima Island from there. From Kagoshima Airport to Yakushima Airport there are 4, 5 direct flights a day, arriving in about 35 minutes.
When traveling from Kagoshima to Yakushima Island on a high-speed ship, the boarding will be from the high-speed ship terminal. From Kagoshima Airport to the high-speed ship terminal it takes about an hour by car, in addition to taxis, buses are also operated. From high-speed ship terminal to Yakushima Island, it will take about 2 hours by a high-speed ship and about 4 hours by ferry. Advance reservation is recommended for high-speed ship. The boarding on the day is only possible if there is a vacancy.

The world natural heritage site

Yakushima island where it was registered as the world natural heritage site in 1993, is the island of the natural inheritance that is famous for the Yaku-Sugi (Cedar Tree) including the Jomon-Sugi said to be aged 7,200 years.

It is an round island approximately 60km in south-southwest from the south end of Kyushu, and its circumference is approximately 130km.

The marine Alps

There are more than 40 mountains exceeding 1,000m height including Miyanoura-dake (1,935m) in the island and is called “the marine Alps”.

From a climate of Kyushu to a climate of Hokkaido

This topography makes the climate from the weather of subarctic zone to subtropical zone, and it is to be seen in one island from a climate of Kyushu to a climate of Hokkaido.

And there are more than 70% of plant species of Japan in this mysterious forest which occupies 90% of the island, so it’s called “Oriental Galapagos”.

The biggest cedar tree in Japan

Speaking of Yakushima island, after all Yaku-sugi (Yaku cedar). “The Jomon-sugi” the biggest cedar tree in Japan is discovered in 1966.

More than 7,200 years old

The felling of cedar tree is prohibited now, and you can see Yaku cedar over 2,000 years old including “The Jomon-sugi” which is said more than estimated 7,200 years old.

Information

Name:	Yakushima Island
Adresse:	Kumagegun Yakushimacho, Kagoshima 891-4311 Japan
Access:	By Plane (Yakushima Airport) By Boat (Miyanoura Port or Anbou Port)
Tel:	(+81) 997-49-4010 (Yakushima Tourism Association)
Price/Charge:	Free
Official site:	http://yakukan.jp/

Ushiku Chateau (Facility of Winemaker)

By finder Leave a Comment

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

In Ushiku city, Ibaraki Prefecture, there are sightseeing spots that are perfect for those who like alcohol. It is “Ushiku Chateau” which is the first authentic winery in Japan that Denbe Kamiya, the founder of “Kamiya Bar” in Asakusa built in Ushiku in 1903. Ushiku Chateau, modeled on the existing brewery in France, is a retro brick building. It is designated as an important cultural asset of the country.
“Ushiku Chateau” was the first full-fledged winemaking brewery in Japan that was consistently running from vine cultivation to brewing and bottling at the time of its establishment. It is known as one of the birthplace of Japanese wine. Currently, you can visit beautiful buildings surrounded by lush trees, the Oenon museum and more.

It is the Oenon group that manages Ushiku Chateau. “Oenon Museum” is exhibiting a wide range of historical materials and others. There is an exhibition about not only wine but all kinds of alcohol, and you can also enjoy nostalgic posters etc. Admission is free. Although it is not a big building, it is also recommended that there is a place where you can take a break.
There are many sights in the spacious premises. Not only restaurants and wine shops where wine can be tasted, it is fun just to observe that the vineyards are spreading. At the shop, it is a pleasing point not only to sell wine but also to sell beer. Ushiku Chateau’s original product “Ushiku Winery Grape Castle” and “Ushiku Chateau Beer” are perfect for adult tourism souvenirs.
In addition, there are ginkgo’s forest and bamboo forest in a large premises, and you can enjoy walking when climate is good.

The birthplaces of wine in Japan

“Denbe Kamiya” known for the Kamiya bar in Asakusa, built “Ushiku Chateau” (Chateau Kamiya) in Ushiku-shi, Ibaraki in 1903. It is the first full-scale Japanese wine brewing place that carried out by grape cultivation to brewing and bottling being consistent in those days. And it is known as one of the birthplaces of wine in Japan.

Surrounded by rich green trees

Now, there are “Denbe Kamiya memorial hall” which exhibited Denbe Kamiya’s footprint, a restaurant which can enjoy the wine and microbrewing, etc which can be tasted only here surrounded by rich green trees.

Enjoy wine and craft beer only by chateau Kamiya

The brick red European-style building whith the clock tower, which is a National Important Cultural Property, is the history of Japanese wine itself. Including the OENON museum exhibited the history of the advertisement of the liquor, there are craft beer restaurant and BBQ garden, so you can enjoy wine and craft beer only by chateau Kamiya.

Relatively low in price

You can buy the wine at not only the restaurant but also the stand. It is sweet and is easy to drink, in addition, it is brewed in this facility, so you can drink it relatively low in price.

Popular Spot

It is a spot which is popular also among a family companion as well as the person who likes alcohol.

Information

Name:	Ushiku Chateau (Facility of Winemaker)
Adresse:	Chuo 3-20-1 Ushiku, Ibaraki 300-1234 Japan
Access:	JR Joban-sen Line “Ushiku-eki Station” (8 minutes walk)
Tel:	(+81) 29-873-3151
Price/Charge:	Free
Official site:	http://www.oenon.jp/

Sefa Utaki (Holiest Sites), Okinawa

By finder Leave a Comment

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

In Okinawa there are many places called “sacred places”, but “Sefa Utaki” (Holiest Sites on Okinawa) is a representative of them in particular. “Utaki” is the sanctuary where God resides. “Sefa Utaki” is one of the “Utaki” which was created by Amamikiyo, the god who created Ryukyu (now Okinawa Prefecture), and is still an important place many people come to pray. When visiting here, let ‘s try action quietly refraining.
Sefa Utaki is regarded as a sanctuary for its rich forest. There is a god area in various places, and quiet air like time stops flowing from the moment you enter one step into the forest. It is a place you want to enjoy commemorative photography in memories of the trip, but taking a picture against “Uganju” (a place of worship) to devote prayer is a violation of manner. Let’s keep memories of the trip in the album of the mind.

Sefa Utaki does not have any special buildings. There is only a mysterious atmosphere space, plants, and minerals. If you do not understand this and visit in the same way as visiting other tourist attractions, you tend to have the impression that “there was nothing”. Sefa Utaki is only a sacred place. It is a place registered as a World cultural heritage, but do not forget that.
For Utaki, guidance boards that explain the history and rituals for each point are prepared, but if you want to know more deeply, guide tours are recommended. You can participate in guided tour with 300 yen per person.
In Sefa Utaki, it is advisable to take a leisurely walk with a leeway in the schedule. The journey takes about 60 to 90 minutes. Please feel the sanctuary that the people of Okinawa cherished carefully with your mind and body.

The holiest site of Okinawa

There are many sacred places called “Utaki” in Okinawa.
Among them, Sefa Utaki is considered to be one of the holiest sites of Okinawa.
It is registered as the World Heritage Site in 2000.

The Ryukyu Dynasty period

Sefa Utaki is a sacred place representing Okinawa where national sacred rites have been performed in the the Ryukyu Dynasty period. The faith continues ceaselessly and is protected carefully even now as “sacred space”.

The place men are forbidden

Originally, here was a place from which men are forbidden, so it is said that even the King of Ryukyu changed into clothes for woman when he entered this sanctuary.

Feel a sign of God

Seeing the quiet space where trees verdant with young leaves, the wind blow occasionally, the sunlight pleasantly coming from the gap of the green leaf, those makes you feel even a sign of God. It is located on the hill, so you can see the Kudaka-Jima known as an island of God in the east.

Information

Name:	Sefa Utaki (Holiest Sites on Okinawa)
Adresse:	Chinenkudeken Nanjo, Okinawa 901-1511 Japan
Access:	Naha Airport (60 minutes by car)
Tel:	(+81) 98-946-8817 (Jonan-city Tourism Association)
Price/Charge:	300 yen (Adult) 150 yen (Under 15 years old) Please refer the official web page.
Official site:	http://okinawa-nanjo.jp/

Gion Matsuri Festival

By finder Leave a Comment

Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

The Gion Festival which directs the hot summer of Kyoto taken by the current Yasaka Shrine is a festival that begins from the Heian era and rejects plague and disasters and wish for a peaceful day. The schedule of the festival is a long festival of a period to be held from July 1st to 31st, the main is the pre-festival on the 17th and the post-festival on the 24th. The “Yamahoko-junko” (a parade of beautifully decorated floats) and “Mikoshi togyo” (parade of mikoshi – portable shrines) full of breath are the most interesting points of the Gion Festival.
Early in the Heian era (around 869), plague epidemic spread all over the country including Kyoto, a lot of people died. In those days, it was thought that plague and disaster occurred due to the anger of the pestilence god and the evil spirit of the dead. At the time, this epidemic was said to be the anger of the pestilence god “Gozu Tenno” (a deity said to be the Indian god Gavagriva). Therefore, the people of those days carried out a gorgeous festival, aimed at calming the plague. This is said to be the origin of the Gion festival.
When “Gozu Tenno” was conveyed to Japan as a god who rejects plague and disaster, it became the god of the current Yasaka Shrine, and shrines that worship “Gozu Tenno” spread all over the country. Since it is the guardian deity of Gion-shoja (the Jetavana monastery), these shrines are called “Gion Shrine” and the festivals held there are called “Gion Goryoe” (an attempt to secure protection from the plague of Gionsha, or Yasaka-jinja Shrine). For these reasons, besides Kyoto, there are festivals in various places that being descended from “Gion” like “Hakata Gion Yamagasa” and “Kokura Gion Daiko“.

“Yamahoko-junko” around the city center of Kyoto is so luxurious and beautiful as “a moving art museum”. The meaning of “Yamahoko-junko” is said to make a way for the main god of the Gion festival to purify the evils and sorrows of the city of Kyoto by walking down the floats. Attention is often attracted to luxurious and powerful “Yamahoko-junko”, but the most important part of the Gion Festival is a mikoshi shrine. “Mikoshi togyo” means the peaceful lives of people living in the area by transferring the godly body to the shrine mikoshi, carrying the mikoshi and walking through the areas of shrine parishioners.

Various events are carried out

Kyoto Gion Festival is held in Yasaka-jinja Shrine in July. Various events are carried out for one month, after all the Yamahoko (decorated floats) Junko parade is the most popular.

More than 1,000 years from the Heian era

Originally, it is a shinto ritual of Yasaka-jinja Shrine in Kyoto, the Gion festival that was continued for long time more than 1,000 years from the Heian era. It is said that it began to confine an epidemic prevails at the capital.

The decorations of the festival cars

The Yamahoko is one of the decorations of the festival cars pulled in the rites and festivals of the Shinto shrine.
Installing the artifacts of a house or a mountain on the car, It is called “Yamahoko” which is furthermore decorated with a Naginata (long-handled sword) or a Japanese halberd.

Hanagasa Junko

“Hanagasa Junko” (flower umbrella cruise) on July 24 is also popular event along with “Yamahoko Junko” of the Gion festival which color the summer of Kyoto. A lot of women appear in the event, and its gorgeousness is one of the highlight of the “Hanagasa Junko”.

Feel the history more than 1,000 years

Please enjoy the spectacular of “Yamahoko Junko” and the gorgeous “Hanagasa Junko”. It is a historical and well-known festival of Kyoto, so you can feel the history more than 1,000 years.

Information

Name:	Gion Matsuri Festival
Adresse:	Nijohanjikicho Kyoto Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8412 Japan
Access:	Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma-sen Line “Shijo-Karasuma-eki Station”
Tel:	(+81) 75-213-1717 (Kyoto City Tourism Association)
Price/Charge:	Free
Official site:	https://www.kyokanko.or.jp/

Tokamachi Snow Festival, Niigata

By finder Leave a Comment

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

A snow festival, one of the pleasures of winter trips. Various snow statues created by the people of the snow country who fight day to day with living snow using the snow during the winter. Although the size of the snow festival is large and small, it is held everywhere in Japan. However, it is not well known where the snow festival to be held in a town originated. Actually the birthplace of a snow festival is Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture. At that festival, large and small snow sculptures filled with sights are overflowing in the town, and at the main event snow fireworks are also launched into the night sky.
Tokamachi City is a city located in the Chuetsu region of Niigata Prefecture. On the northern side of Tokamachi City, the Shinano River, the longest river in Japan, flows and surrounded by the mountains, so in winter every year, it is a heavy snowy area where more than 2 meters of snow are piled up.

“Tokamachi Snow Festival” was born in Tokamachi, a heavy snowy area, from the feelings of local residents saying “I like snow and I enjoy snow.” In the festival, events and hospitality at “festival square” set up around the city and high artistic snow statues by citizen’s hands are created. And it is a big event to color a midwinter Tokamachi such as “Snow Carnival” which is all carried out on the stage made of snow.
On the east exit of the JR Iiyama Line, a snow statue has been created as a “station front event square”. There are street stalls, too and it is very busy. There are also snow festivals that take place throughout the town, and snow statues are built everywhere in Tokamachi City. There are small snow statues on the eaves of the shopping street, multiple big snow statues appear in a big space called “Hiroba” (square) like “station front event square” and “community square” using Tokamachi High School ground.
Although it takes time and effort to prepare for snow and a solid warming countermeasure, please try experiencing the Tokamachi Snow Festival which is unique in winter’s heavy snow area.

Popular as warm hospitality

In every year around the end of February, the “Tokamachi Yuki Matsuri” (snow festival) is held in Tokamachi-shi, Niigata.
In this festival, many event like “The snowy work of art” by local inhabitants, “The festival open space” which is popular as its warm hospitality, and “The snow carnival” with spectacle of the sound and the light, are performed.

Niigata is the cradle

Speaking of snow festival, it might remind you “The Sapporo Snow Festival” or “The Otaru Snow Light Path“.
But actually, the birthplace of modern snow festival is not Hokkaido which held Sapporo and Otaru, it is said that Tokamachi, Niigata is the cradle.

On February 4 1950, it is considered that local residents led the way of the beginning as a ski relay race, a snow statue exhibition and a snow carnival.

tokamachiyukimatsuri4 — neige.daizinger.jp

Consider the heavy snowfall is advantages

They consider the heavy snowfall, which is always around 3 meters deep there, is advantages, and in three days, three-hundred thousand people come to visit this snow festival which was born from the thought of local residents “to assume snow a friend, and to enjoy snow”.

The snow carnival overwhelms visitors

Above all, the main event to be said “the snow carnival” is performed on a big huge snow stage, that was certified by Guinness World Records for a time, and overwhelms visitors.

Information

Name:	Tokamachi Snow Festival
Adresse:	Special Site Gakkocho 1-760 Tokamachi, Niigata 948-0022 Japan
Access:	JR Iiyama-sen Line “Tokamachi-eki Station”
Tel:	(+81) 25-757-3100 (Tokamachi Snow Festival Executive Committee Staff Office)
Price/Charge:	3,000 yen (Pass for Snow Carnival and City Circuit Bus) Please refer the official web page.
Official site:	http://snowfes.jp/

Sky Bus Tokyo, Tokyo

By finder Leave a Comment

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Tokyo subway is convenient for sightseeing as its network of railroads covers the whole city. But, how about sightseeing by bus occasionally? Today, open roof sightseeing bus is very popular in Tokyo. A bright red two-story bus goes around sightseeing spots such as Asakusa, Skytree and Odaiba area. Roof top two-story bus has a higher line-of-sight than everyday and is refreshing. Please enjoy open air sightseeing in Tokyo on a sunny day.
There are two types of two-story sightseeing buses. SKY HOP BUS freely getting on and off the main tourist spot and SKY BUS which allows you to explore the popular spots in a short time.

There are three courses of SKY HOP BUS. “Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree course” around Akihabara, Ueno station, Asakusa, and Tokyo sky tree. “Odaiba course” which passes from Tokyo Tower via Rainbow Bridge to Odaiba, passes through Toyosu, Tsukiji and Ginza. And, in addition to the Odaiba course, it is “Roppongi, Odaiba course” which you can access to Roppongi. Transfer to other courses is also possible. If you get on the bus, you will be able to access the main sightseeing spots in Tokyo, so it is a nice tour for tourists. It is two birds with one stone so you can enjoy the scenery of the city of Tokyo from the bus window while you are on the move.
Meanwhile, SKY BUS features that you can enjoy sightseeing spots from the bus window around 1 hour, and there is no stopover. It’s perfect for when you do not have much time or when you are tired of walking. Tourism from the bus is free from congestion. Courses are attractive, such as the Imperial Palace, the Omotesando, night views of Odaiba and Ginza. Looking at the Japanese Diet Building from the middle of the road is a precious experience you can not do easily.

The two-storys sightseeing bus

The “SKY BUS TOKYO” is a two-storys sightseeing bus around the main sightseeing spot of Tokyo. It started a sightseeing tour as the first opening top bus in Japan in 2004 and attracted the many tourists who visited Tokyo.

Superb view of the sky

The second-floor part in this 2-story bus is the seat space and you can enjoy the superb view of the sky from the ceiling being opened widely with comfortable wind.

There are many attractive buses

The kind of the bus is abundant, too. There are many attractive buses and courses Including “SKY BUS TOKO” which you can enjoy car window sightseeing for a short time, “SKY HOP BUS” which you can get on and off it freely, and amphibious bus “SKY DUCK”.

Different viewpoint than usual

You can enjoy plentifully a sense of space in the tour around the famous place of Tokyo by 2-story open bus “SKY BUS”. The bus tour has gained popularity as being a long queue at the bus stop on a holiday, because you can enjoy the sightseeing with different viewpoint than usual in short time.

It is an attractive open bus tour for the person who “wants to go round the famous spot without taking much time”, “wants to turn around taking much time”, and “wants to see different scenery of Tokyo”.

Information

Name:	Sky Bus Tokyo
Adresse:	Marunouchi 2-5-2 Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005 Japan
Access:	JR Tokaido-sen Line “Tokyo-eki Station” (3 minutes walk from the exit of south Marunouchi)
Tel:	(+81) 3-3215-0008 (Sky Bus Call Center)
Price:	Adult : 1,600 - 2,300 yen Under-11 : 700 - 1,100 yen Transit fare depends on the course. Please refer the official web page.
Official site:	http://www.skybus.jp/

Kurashiki Bikan Chiku (Kurashiki beautiful sight area), Okayama

By finder Leave a Comment

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Okayama, also known as “sunny country”, is known as a castle town, a key hub of transportation, a fruit production area. This place is also famous as a tourist destination, among them “Kurashiki Bikan Chiku” (Kurashiki beautiful sight area) is especially popular. Shops dealing with the Kurashiki brand such as “Kurashiki Hanpu” (Kurashiki sailcloth) and denim, and cafe of the town house blend into the atmosphere, and if you stroll through the beautiful area, you can enjoy nice landscapes and gems.
Okayama, blessed with a mild climate is widely known as a fruit production center. It is also known as the birthplace of Kibi culture, prospered as a key hub of traffic to Shikoku area and Chugoku area.

Okayama is also popular as a tourist destination, especially in Kurashiki located in the southern part of the prefecture and the Seto Inland Sea coast, many people are from Japan and abroad. Even inside Kurashiki city, “Kurashiki beautiful sight area” where elegant buildings with white walls and roof tiles are impressive are particularly popular. It is well known nationwide as a tourist attraction for a long time. Beautiful canal and rows of willow trees, the white house’s mansions and warehouses, and the streets where the town houses lined up are quite emotional. This is the spot to visit first if you are going to sightsee in Okayama.
In recent years, the brand from Kurashiki has increased in popularity, and attention is gaining again in traditional handicrafts such as “Kurashiki Glass”. In “Kurashiki Beautiful District”, unique and attractive shops dealing with such traditional handicrafts and Kurashiki brand products are erected and showcasing with many people.
In addition, they are eating places such as a cafe and a restaurant made by refurbishing the warehouse and town houses built in the Taisho period from the Edo period. Every store cherishes “beauty” rooted in Kurashiki, while preserving old buildings well. Also, the arrangement of the interior has been devised, and it embodies the way of comfortable “living”, and it is restricting a lot of coming people.

The beautiful sight area

It’s less than 10 minutes walk from Kurashiki-eki Station south exit. It is downtown as you might say that it is the center of Kurashiki. There is another world if you step into this beautiful sight area from main street.

It is called “the Kurashiki Bikan Chiku” (Kurashiki beautiful sight area) that is area storing scenery and a building by the regulations of Kurashiki-city.

Prospered as a shipping place of rice in the Edo era

This area used to be the place that prospered as a shipping place of rice in the Edo era, which is reminiscent of the past from storehouses. There are the cultural facilities including the Ohara art museum storing a global masterpiece, the folk handicraft museum, the archaeology museum and the Japan toy museum.

The Scenery of Kurashiki

The facilities like warehouses, inns, stores and museums stand in rows on both sides of the Kurashiki River flowing through in front of the Ohara art museum, and they make so-called “the Scenery of Kurashiki”.

The beauty of the traditional Japanese building

The white walls and “Namako-kabe walls” (covered with square tiles jointed with raised plaster) shows beautiful contrast, and the rows of willow trees rustling in the wind casts a shadow over the Kurashiki River, those scenery leave beauty of the traditional Japanese building well.

Information

Name:	Kurashiki Bikan Chiku (Kurashiki beautiful sight area)
Adresse:	Kurashiki-city, Okayama 710-0000 Japan
Access:	JR Sanyo-honsen line "Kurashiki-eki Station” (10 minutes walk)
Tel:	(+81) 86-424-1220 (Kurashiki Tourist Information Office)
Price/Charge:	Free
Official site:	http://www.kurashiki-tabi.jp/

Kodai-ji (Kodai Zen Temple), Kyoto

By finder Leave a Comment

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Kodai-ji (Kodai Zen Temple) is a temple of Rinzai sect Kenninji school which Nene, who was a lawful wife of Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI (She was called ‘Kodaiin’ after becoming a nun), built in 1606 to pray for the repose of her husband’s soul. Hideyoshi wished for the unification of the whole country, and finally he became Kanpaku (chief adviser to the Emperor). Nene kept on supporting Hideyoshi for life.
At the time of construction of the Kodai-ji Temple, Ieyasu TOKUGAWA also cast a lot of money, it was a gorgeous temple with a vast site of over 300,000 square meters. After that, the scale was reduced by repeated fires and the Haibutsu-kishaku (a movement to abolish Buddhism) that was taking place in the Meiji era, but the six buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties and Kodai-ji Makie (Japanese lacquer) are still left now.

Enter the temple and walk down the route in order, there is a small building. This is a small tea room called “Iho-an”, which is said to be a tea ceremony built by Joeki Haiya, a rich trader of the Edo period, to commemorate his wife Yoshino Dayu. When crossing Iho-an, the garden spreads in front of you. The garden created by Enshu Kobori has Garyuchi Pond in the east and Engetsuchi Pond in the west, across the building called “Kaizan-do Hall” and is designated as a historical site of the country and the scenic garden. On the Engetsuchi Pond there is a “Kangetsudai” (Moon-viewing Pavilion) cherished by Hideyoshi, the moon to watch from there is very tender and heal the hearts of the viewers.
At Kodai-ji Temple, seasonal tea ceremonies are held throughout the year. This is due to Hideyoshi loving tea and tea ceremony well held. For that reason, there are several tea rooms in Kodai-ji Temple.
In the “Midnight tea ceremony at autumn night” held in the middle of autumn moon, the tea that enjoying the moon and insect sounds is exceptionally delicious.

The temple of “Nene”

The “Kodai-ji Temple”, which is known as the “Nene no Tera” (the temple of Nene) (“Nene” was the legal wife of Hideyoshi Toyotomi), was built by Nene to pray for the repose of Hideyoshi’s soul supported by Ieyasu Tokugawa.

Many important cultural properties

There are many Cha-shitsu (tea-ceremony rooms) and many important cultural properties in the vast precinct, it is one of the points the beauty of the view from the hill. Above all, in the temple of Otamaya (mausoleum) used the decoration called “Kodai-ji Maki-e” (lacquer), which is the splendid Momoyama style, you can see the figure that Nene equals Hideyoshi peacefully.

Luxurious composition

Because Kodai-ji has a strong imression of Nene, it has a woman’s touch and elegant feeling.
It is a luxurious composition because it was a place for herself to spend later years.

Famous illuminated spot

The temple is also a famous illuminated spot to view sakura (cherry) flowers in spring and colored leaves in autumn, and it pleases the eyes of the tourist.

It is in a most popular spot

The location is good, too, it is in a most popular spot where is at the foot of a hill called “Higashiyama Sanju-Roppo” (36 mountain range) with Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kennin-ji temple, Yasaka-jinja Shrine which the Gion festival is held in.

Information

Name:	Kodai-ji (Kodai Zen Temple)
Adresse:	Shimokawaracho 526 Kyoto Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0825 Japan
Access:	Keihan-honsen Line “Gion-Shijo-eki Station” (10 minutes walk)
Tel:	(+81) 75-561-9966
Price:	600 yen (Adult) 250 yen (Under 18 years old) Free (Under 12 years old) Please refer the official web page.
Official site:	http://www.kodaiji.com/

Shogawa Kanko-sai (Shogawa Festival), Toyama

By finder Leave a Comment

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Shogawa Kanko-sai” (Shogawa Festival) is a festival held in June every year in the city of Shogawa Town, Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture. A festival began in 1953, commemorating the first anniversary of the merger of neighboring villages on June 1, 1952. It is said that it is a very precious festival culturally selected as “one of the hundred cultural properties of Toyama” in 2006.
“Yotaka-Andon marching” which is done everywhere in the town is a must-see. “Yotaka-Andon” is a series of large, medium and small festival lanterns going through the streets of Shogawa River. Among them, there are 9 large festival lanterns to do “Awase”.

shogawakankosai2 — 09323116.at.webry.info

Huge lanterns called “Yotaka” are handmade over a period of about 2 to 3 months for each town. This large lanterns go around each town, gather on the main street, and a contest is held. In the contest, among the large lanterns, the excellent prize for that year will be decided. After the excellent prize is decided, “Awase” (matching) will be started. This “Awase” is a featured event, and it collides with two large lanterns which confronted a little with full power. It is so powerful that the earth sounds at the moment you hit it. It is also said to be alias “Fighting Festival Lanterns” from this intensity. Battle the large lanterns and then press each other’s lanterns with the stick. This part is said to be the best climax in Yotaka-Andon. In addition, “Yosakoi” is one of the highlights of the Shogawa Festival. Various teams will participate from the local to conduct a parade. You can watch gorgeous and elegant performances.

Small comfort town

Shogawa-machi, Tonami-shi, Toyama, it is a small town, but it is a place with very delicious river fish, which is caught in the Shogawa river which the clear water flows, and the special product called “Yuzu” (a small citrus fruit). You can seek comfort from this place on a holiday.

However, the town is filled with excitement when it is the time of this spring festival. A night lamp festival being prosperous in Southwest Toyama is held in this town.

Festival cars are smashed into each other

In the festival, “Awase,” in which the festival cars belonging to different groups are smashed into each other, has become quite a sight. When a hot battle between the towns occured at night, the side that has seen also excite it.

shogawakankosai5 — city.tonami.toyama.jp

The Shogawa Kanko-sai “Yotaka Matsuri” (Yotaka Festival) is performed in Shogawa-machi on first Saturday and Sunday of June every year..

Taste many festivals at a time

There is a lot of highlight every year, so many people in and around the city have come to see this festival. There are full of various events like a heroic “Yotaka Andon” (Yotaka lamp), fireworks flying in the night sky, grabbing the rainbow trout and Yosakoi dance. It is happy two days that you can taste many festivals at a time!

Information

Name:	Shogawa Kanko-sai (Shogawa Festival)
Adresse:	Shogawa Tonami-city, Toyama 932-0314 Japan
Access:	JR Johana-sen line "Tonami-eki Station” (15 minutes by car)
Tel:	(+81) 763-33-1111 (Shogawa Festival Execution Committee)
Price/Charge:	Free
Official site:	http://www.info-toyama.com/

Tourism

Information

Information

Information

Information

Information

Information

Information

Information

Information

Information

Footer

Newsletter