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Friday, July 31, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Fireworks and Yakata-bune
If you come to visit Japan during summer, get ready for the heat and steamy air, sometimes a sudden thunderstorm, lightening and rain. Tokyo summer is said to be hotter (average 33 to 36 degrees Celsius) than other cities in tropical countries, such as Singapore or Jakarta. Maybe it is due to crowded street and many high rise building that use air conditioning 24 hours non-stop, creating hot air from their exhaust system. It is, however, the most perfect time to enjoy one of the biggest fireworks you will ever see. Top firework makers display their latest development, usually includes an elaborated new shape, color, size and movement.
Last weekend we went to stay at a hotel in Asakusa just to enjoy the Sumida River Firework Festival. The festival started from 7 to 8:30 pm. This time other relatives from my husband's side also joined us in the trip, making a group of 12 people altogether.
This year, Sumida River Firework being the biggest firework held in Tokyo, attracted about 950,000 visitors. People watched from the street nearby, some from the river banks, others from the top of the buildings. Those worried about the noise or unable to leave their house, can watch a 90 minutes full coverage of the firework festival live on TV.
The day after firework festival, we rented a yakata-bune from 11 am to 2 pm, crusing Sumida River up to Tokyo Bay, floating at the Bay just near Odaiba, having lunch and drinking, enjoying a little party inside the yakata-fune.
Yakata-bune can be rented at reasonable price, from 120,000 Yen, which includes a 3 hour trips and lunch (sashimi and tempura - Japanese style or a Western style of buffet) for a minimum of 12 people. You can ride a yakata-bune which is open for public and pay by the number of people. The ride is fun and relaxing, when the sky is clear blue with a little wind. It can be pretty scarry when the weather is unpredictable, but then this is all part of the adventure.
Held every year on the third Saturday of July - don't miss it!
For other great photos of Fireworks at Sumida River, click below:
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Auto Camp At Chichibu Yugure Campsite
In Japan summer holiday for schools starts from the third week of July, of which the third Monday happens to be a National Holiday, the Marine Day. National law establishes Marine Day as a day of gratitude for the blessings of the oceans and to hope for the economic prosperity of maritime Japan (ref. Wikipedia). The third Monday was chosen so that the people can enjoy a long weekend with their children who will start summer vacation during this period.
This year we chose camping for a start. Some people like caravan style, bungalows, backpacking or others, but our favorite is car camping or here it is called "auto camp". All you need is a car with a big enough trunk to put your tent, cooler box, a set of table with chairs and some fresh food for the length of stay.
Children can learn a lot from camping through nature walk, fishing, cooking, learning about team work when making a tent, sharing chores or from just being a part of every activities. Just about two hours from central Tokyo, there is a nice campsite just at the gorge of Oku-Chichibu, called the Yuugure Campsite, one of our favorite spot to visit during summer.
There, you can do hiking (from beginners to advanced - up to 6 hours to reach the top of the mountain), fishing for wild fish or home grown fish released in the river, swimming, baking your own bread/pizza in a real Italian type of oven, and just 20 minutes drive from the campsite, you can enjoy a hot bath in a natural hot spring water (onsen).
My daughter caught 7 fish in 3 hours - two of which are wild fish, called "iwana". It was such a thrill for her to be able to catch a very rare fish, that even the adults rarely get to catch one. The fish that we caught are 15 altogether and we have them cleaned and then charcoal grilled... yum!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Extremely Cheap - Japanese Bento
From what used to be over 700 Yen to as low as 298 Yen!!
A slowdown in economy has taken effect on department store. "People spend less", "there are very few shoppers", "fewer people go to department store" ... these slumber conditions force department stores to take a new strategy to draw customers attention by introducing extremely cheap bento. In the case of department stores, these bento are like lost leader, made not to make profit but mainly to attract customers to come.
A staff in charge at the department store said on an interview that "the more we make these bento, the less profit we make ... we can actually lose mony... but we have to do it as a strategy to bring customers back".
Following the same strategy are convenient stores and chain stores, like Seiyu (which is now owned and run by Walmart), where they introduce good quality bento at a very cheap price.
In the past I used to tell friends that food in Japan is expensive, well.... that may not be the case now, if you buy these bento. They are indeed extremely cheap for such a quantity and quality - consider they are made and sold in Japan!
Watch a video below (in Japanese) about how department stores in Japan fight the battle of surviving through bargaining bento boxes :
Monday, July 13, 2009
Come To Tokyo July 22, 2009, For Partial Eclipse
Photos are copied from NAOJ.Other related website, for those interested in astronomy and its technological development:
Click above Title for info about Total Eclipse or click
Sunday, July 12, 2009
My Favorite Cycling Track
I usually begin cycling from Nishi Tokyo, just near where i live, and follow a (two way return) of 35 Km cycling track. Along the way you can see a hill, some colorful vegetable farms, nice cafeterias (for lunch/tea time, i recommend "Cafe Kaze No Symphony"), many parks and a large artificial lake with various natural habitats. By the lake is Seibu Dome, where you can watch
baseball match of Lions, a major Japanese baseball team owned by Seibu Group. This cycling track is great for those beginners, especially women, because there are many shades along the way and you can find parks, trees and bench where you can rest for water or snacks.
To visit Cafe online:
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