The Sky Tree Tower, 610 metres, will be standing new among
the many high rise buildings in Tokyo ... waiting for you to take a good shot :)
Sky Tree's official website: http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/english/
Friday, October 16, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Narai-jyuku Japan's Antique Village in Nagano
...simple lunch at a local soba shop
the main dish was soba (sorry, not in the photo) ...
... tried some old time tools and stuff...
... these crafts looks familiar in Asia....
... experienced a time slip ....
... found some interesting old toys ...
Enjoy a 1 km walk along one of the oldest street in Japan (Kiso Road) and feel the atmosphere of old Japan during Edo era (1603-1868). During the era Tokyo and Kyoto was connected through the Nakasen-do-highway. Off this highway, was the Kiso road, one of the famous road for sightseeing and Narai-jyuku was a village located on this route. This old village has been maintained over the years for historical and academic value.At Narai-jyuku you can stay overnight at a traditional ryokan (not many choices though) or spend half a day taking a stroll along the street. For those who wants to watch the traditional summer festivals, you should come around August 12-16 for Bon-odori festival. (For photos of festivals: http://www.naraijyuku.com/saiji/f-set.html)
Foreign visitors can take an express bus from Shinjuku to Narai-jyuku. Check out Japanese timetable below, departing 8:10 from Shinjuku station (West Side) and arriving at Narai-jyuku at 12:20. http://www.naraijyuku.com/bus/index.html
Alternatively, it is worth checking a timetable with JR station in Tokyo area for train connection to Narai-station.
Marathon and MB Race @ Otaki Village, Nagano
You probably have heard of Nagano, where the winter
Olympic XVIII took place in 1998. Nagano is indeed
a suitable place for many type of sports.
During this season more 1000 people visit Otaki, a small village in Nagano,
to join a 42 km, 100 km or 120 km (professional) mountain bike race.
Some also join a short marathon of 20 km or 42 km the following day.
The race is conducted twice a year, in late spring and autumn,
in May and September.
Rough path and some dangerous ones, overlooking the cliff.
Don't worry, there is an ambulance and even a helicopter standby
for those who got injured.... but of course, it is better not to.
A group of bikers were taking a short break.
The view of Ontake Mountain
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Ontake) is breathtaking.
For those who loves mountain, why not visit Ontake Mountain,
and walk on the second highest mountain in Japan.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
"West of Izu Beach and Mountain View"
For more photos click "title" above, to connect to Picasa Album. Photos were taken on August 10 & 11, 2009 during our stay in Matsuzaki city, West of Izu.What a lovely summer it was on August 10. But, the weather changed the next day, with typhoon approaching and a big earthquake that hit Shizuoka Prefecture quite badly. Awoken early by the earthquake and avoiding the typhoon, we left Matsuzaki and drove up north, still West of Izu, where we get to enjoy another summer day. In the meantime, on the other side of the mountain, South of Izu the sky was cloudy and in some part it was raining.
It reminds us all of how fragile we, human beings are. But we should never loose hope at anytime (with the help from the Above).
Those visiting Japan should note that earthquake occurs quite frequently here. It is important to remain calm and make sure to turn on local news or check with the local people about any warnings and what to do during such a situation. For accurate and latest information on warnings of earthquake, tsunami, and other natural disasters occuring in Japan, click: www.jma.go.jp/en/quake
Well.... beauty comes with a price .... the same it is with nature, i guess.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Lunch and Dinner @ West Izu (August 10, 2009)
In Yugashima (for lunch), we went to an "ayu" specialist restaurant where you can eat freshly caught "ayu" (あゆ). You can have a choice of plain charcoal grilled fish, deep fried or cooked in soy sauce. My favorite is the simple charcoal grilled fish - yummy! You can order one with eggs inside, they taste marvelous!
A typical dinner at ryokan usually includes at least 8 types of dish, called the "kaiseki". Most of the food are usually cooked and presented in a Japanese style in a way that reflect the season of that particular month. In August main food will include grilled fish or meat, summer vegetables like tomatoes, eggplants, eda-mame (young soy beans) are used. For more photos of a typical dinner menu at Japanese ryokan, click on the title above "Lunch and Dinner ...." that will link to my Picasa album.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Fashionable Bags - Furoshiki
You can make your own bag using a square type cloth of various color like these ones. This cloth is called furoshiki, a traditional Japanese cloth that was traditionally used to wrap gifts/presents, bring books, but nowadays it has become an alternative to the new style of fashionable bags. Many size and color of furoshiki are available in department stores.Average price for this furoshiki is from 5000 Yen each. However, if you look around, you may find a cheaper version, made in China, from as low as 1000 Yen.
These photos were taken in a department store in Kyoto station.
Mt Fuji For Climbers and Hikers
To those visiting Japan and see Mt Fuji, come to Fujinomiya station. You may also find this 
map (in English) useful to understand what facilities are available surrounding Mt. Fuji.Those climbing Mt. Fuji usually usually arrives at this station. For beginners or first time visitors, it is better to take tours. Check out various types of tours from this website.
Friday, July 31, 2009
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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
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