While I came back to my home town, Saidaiji (西大寺) in Nara.
I ate dinner near the Saidaiji station.
It was pretty good.
The sake I drank thre was 'Hana Tomoe' （花巴) from Yoshino area, and 'Mimuro sugi' (みむろ杉) from Sakurai area. Mimuro sugi was fruity, and Hana-tomoe was tasteful, I felt.
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The next day of previous blog, Aug 5th. I visited Niyodo-river which I felt it seemd very good to go when I looked into the travel place options at the tourist information office.
At first, I felt the title of 'Miraccle clear river (奇跡の清流）' was overblown, but I felt it was true after visiting the actual place.
This time, I visited middle part and lower part of the river. Even there, it was very clear and clean. I am ipressed about that very much.
Probably this picture shows how clear the river was.
And if you watch this movie, you will understand the transparancy of the river.
The town I visited this day is 'Ino-town' (いの町) . This town was flourished as the town of paper.
I went to the Niyodo-river from Ino-town by bus. To be honest, I wanted to go to the Nakatsu valley (中津渓谷) which was located at the upper part of the river. However, it takes long time, so I came here, around Nagoya-chinka-bashi. (名越屋沈下橋) Chinka-bashi means the bridge which is designed to be underwater during the flood.
Sinc the water is really clean, I could see the fish from far away.
After playing as if I were a child, I went to ride on the houseboat, called Yakata-bune (屋形船）.
I walked to the place I could take on the houseboat, but it was so far that I felt tired under the hot weather. However, it was worth to go.
This is another boat I passed each other.
The scenary around Niyodo river was really beautiful
I was suprised because there were almost no trash during the sightseeing. Probably people here have a common view to cherish the river, as the town of the paper. I was really impressed about that.
Net time, I would like to go to Nakatsu valley and enjoy the beautifullness of the place.
After this, I went back to the Ino-town by taxi.
Then, I walked around the town and looked at the historical building.
After seeing the town, I went back to the center of Kochi city, then went to the Hirome market (ひろめ市場）、then ate the dinner there.
I ate the seared bonito again because it is my favorite.
In addition to that, I ate 'Udon' noodle.
Finally, I went back to Haneda by airplane.
I strongly felt Kochi was very good place. I like it more after going there. Personally, it is the most favorite place in Japan, and want to go again.
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Kochi prefecture is famous for its beautiful nature and delicious foods, so I’ve wanted to visit since before. To be honest, I visited Kochi prefecture when I was very young, but I don’t remember anything about that. So, this is almost first time for me to visit.
First picture is the figures in front of Kochi station.
These are the figures of Hanpeita Takechi （武市半平太), Ryuoma Sakamoto(坂本龍馬), Shintaro Nakaoka(中岡慎太郎) who were active in the end of Edo era.
This travel was only two-days trip, using Saturday and Sunday as always.
I left my house in the early morning on Saturday, and flew to Kochi prefecture from Haneda airport. Since my house is pretty close from Haneda airport, I can travel a lot of places in Japan only by using weekend. That’s very good for me.
This is a trum. It is not common in Tokyo, but it is still common in Kochi. I think the trum is pretty nostalgic and good to see.
After arriving The hotel, I went toward the famous seashore, ‘Katsura-Hama’. This is the famous big figure of ‘Ryoma Sakamoto’ (坂本龍馬).
This is Katsura-Hama(桂浜).
There was also aquarium, although I didn’t enter it.
The water in the sea was very clear, and the scenary was beautiful.
The lunch we ate is the Seard Bonito on the rice in the bowl at the traveler's accomodation.
Since the accomodation is operated by local goverment, the price is pretty reasonalbe, but delicious.
After that, I visited Kochi castle.
In the castle, there were a costumes which was used in the very long-run drama of NHK and
Model of the Kochi-castle and castle town.
It was very hot season, but the top of the Kochi castle (天守閣）was pretty confortable because of the good wind. And the scenary of the Kochi town from the top of the castle was pretty beautiful
This is the trap to prevent entering the castle.
This is the figure of Kazutoyo Yamanouchi (山内一豊). It's in front of the library of the prefecture. Kazutoyo Yamanouchi was served under the Hideyoshi Toyotomi (豊臣秀吉）and Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康). And He was given 98,000 Goku (石）( note: Goku(石）means a territory of the rice quantity) when He was very successfully acted at the war of Sekigahara.
Then, I walked around the Kochi town. Since I didin't have a detailed plan as always, I had just waked along the historical road, and visited the memorial museum of 'Ryoma Sakamoto' (坂本 龍馬).
And at that night! This was kind of main event of this travel. I enjoyed the delicious foods of the famous restauran where whale meat was served.
First, I eat seard bonito.
Then special assorted whale meat.
I can't explain in detail in English of the parts of the whale, but eacch one was pretty rare and delicious for me
Since then, we orderd a lot of good foods. To be honest, I ate too much. I love Kochi!
Then, I walked around Kochi city, then went back to the hotel.
On my way to the hotel, I had a chance to watch the practice of the local dance festival of Kochi, Yosakoi dance (よさこい踊り） It was a practice, but very synclonized alerady, so I felt very impressed.
This is a famous anime character for the child in Japan, Anpan-man (アンパンマン).
The creator of the Anpan-man, Takashi Yanase (やなせたかし) was born in Kochi. So there is a Anpan-man museum in Kochi. If you have a child and know about Anpan-man, you may be able to enjoy that museum.
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Last Sunday, 18, Feb. 2019
I visited Meiji-Jingu Shrine next to Yoyogi-park in Tokyo.
It was a fine day so I visited Meiji-Jingu Shrine for sightseeing, although my knee aches a little.
I'm thinking about joining JICA volunteer. So, I joined special briefing at near Yoyogi-station.
Actually, I have been thinking to join JICA volunteer for a long time. I think it might be a good chance, because my father passed away last year and now I don't have much worries now.
Anyway, I may add JICA-related things if I decide to apply JICA volunteer.
After JICA special brief, I went to Meiji-Jingu shurine.
First, I went to Meiji-Jinguu station and went to Jinguu-bridge( 神宮橋 )
Soon after that I could see Big Sacred Gateway (大鳥居 )。
Probably because it was very fine, there were a lot of people.
Although it's a winter, I could take a good picture because of fine weather.
These arei Vine barrels and Japanese Sake Barrels on the way.
And I could see another Big Sacred Gateway (大鳥居).
I turned left and went to Meiji-Jingu Imperial Garden (明治神宮御苑).
This is Kaku-un-tei (隔雲亭), built for Japanese empress in the Meiji-period.
This is well of Kiyomasa (Kiyomasa-no-Ido : 清正井)。It is said that Famous Japanese Samurai-Lord, Kiyomasa Kato digged this well.
Then I left Imperial garden and went forward to Meiji-Jingu Shrine.
And donation for repairing the main shrine was requested here. I donated 1,000-yen, too.
Probably this is for foreign people. There is a few beautiful Kimono, and if requested, these Kimonos can be worn by anybody.
After that, I visited Takeshita-door I, Ramos Japanese fashion place for young people. As always, there were so many people, so I didn’t want to walk through the pathway. :)
Finally, I am on my way home from Harajuku station.
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This is the 2nd day of our Hokkaido trip. 1st picture is this day's highlight, Hitsujigaoka Observatory and William Smith Clark's statue.
William Smith Clark is very famous in Japan. Most of Japanese knows his word, 'Boys be ambitious'.
This day, we were a little tired because of the 1st day's long walk, so we didn't get up so early. Anyway, we went toward Hitsujigaoka Observatory first.
Sheep was acting slowly and eating grasses.
The scenery and buildings were good to see.
This morning we didn't eat breakfast, so we entered the restaurant soon after opened at 10:30. We ate Japanese mutton and vegetable dish (In Japanese, called 'Genghis Khan'. )
They were very delicious. After eating, we talked where to go and went toward Maruyama Park then.
There is a good atmosphere because of beautiful autumn leaves and good weather.
After arriving at Maruyama Park, we went toward Hokkaido shrine.
Around this season, Japan has a festival to celebrate children's growth. We called it as '7-5-3 (Shiti go san)' The festival is for boys aged three and five, and girls aged three and seven.
Then we went to 'Shiroi-Koibito Park'. When translating directly, 'white-lovers park'. You may know Japanese snack ’白い恋人(Shiroi-Koibito)' in Japan, I think.
Factory tour was under renovation, only video and panel were there. (Instead, it was free at that time.)
And this period was near Halloween. So, costume competition was held there.
We don't have a child, but if we have a child, the child were very pleased to visit the park, we talked. Then we went toward the Sapporo beer museum.
There were historical items about Japanese Sapporo beer. Interesting.
After seeing around the museum, we enjoyed the beer. The beer was reproduction version of pioneering beer made a long time ago.
Since it became pretty late, we returned to Sapporo station.
We ate Sappro ramen again, but to be honest, it was not very good. We should have go to Ramen Republic, we thought. Then we got our baggage at the hotel and went toward the airport.
Although It was a usual bullet trip and pretty busy, we enjoyed it enough.
Hokkaido has plenty of places to go, so next time we'd like to go around Asahikawa and Furano.
Then we went to Otaru art villege. In the villege there are a lot of stained glasses. Originally they had been in the church in England.
And there remains lots of historical bank and store buildings. I like those historical buildings.
This is one of the historical buildings. old Mitsui bank Otaru subsidiary. （旧三井銀行小樽支店）
Old Tsukamoto store. (旧塚本商店）
And after that, we walked around the shops which is introduced in the Otaru portal site.
This is one of them, called Tanaka sake brewing (田中酒造).
There were old signboards in the shop since the Meiji era.
And I found a bike shop on the way. In the shop, I noticed unfamiliar vehicles. It was a snow removing machine.
Then we went to central market. There are various kinds of sea foods.
This is called triangle market.
We came here because the guide book said that delicious sea foods could be eaten in this market.。
These are squillas. They might be pretty grotesque, but I liked them.
Big crabs are also sold in the market.
We ate this bowl of rice topped with sashimi
Then we went to bay again and enjoyed the scenery of the bay in the night.
Then from Otaru stadion, we went back to Sapporo station. Then went back to oburzeni hotel.
We enjoyed 1st day of Hokkaido tour as mentioned above.
I went to sightseeing in Hokkaido prefecture on October 20th and 21th. with my wife. This is the record of the day. (Hokkaido is the largest and northernmost prefecture in Japan.)
1st Picture is the Houhei-Kan (豊平館). I've just selected it as the 1st picture because it looks beautiful :)
Houhei-kan is the western-style hotel, built by the Meiji Government. (Meiji government continues from 1868 to 1912.)
I live in Yokohama-city, and Haneda Airport is not so far from my house. I left my house pretty early this day.
Since I have one world emerald status, I can use a lounge at the airport. And I can have rice ball, miso soup, some snacks and beer free.
Ebisu beer is a little expensive comparing with other beer in Japan, but this lounge is a first class lounge, beer is a little better than other lounge :)
There are two kinds of rice ball.
And this picture is from the inside of the plane. I usually use aisle seat when utilizing international airline, but I can enjoy good scenery from the windows seat in the domestic airline. It takes only one or two hours from Tokyo.
And This is New Chitose Airport.
And Sapporo station by train.
This is Former Hokkaido Government Building. We call it Red brick government building (赤レンガ庁舎）normally.
The garden is also pretty beautiful.
And a famous Clock Tower. It is a symbol of Sapporo city, and many tourists visit here. A city developed this tower in the 1870s with assistance from the American government. Unfortunately It was closed while October 31, I could not enter in the building.
And this is Odori park. Odori Park is an oasis in the city center. In winter, snow festival is held here.
I go through this shopping arcade, called Tanuki-koji-syoutengai (means raccoon dog small street shopping arcade) and moved the the hotel.
After asking the hotel to keep our bags, we went toward the Nakajima-park. On our way to the park, we took on the tram.
And this is the Nakajima-park. Toyohira-kan(豊平館）and Hassou-an (八窓庵) are important cultural properties.
There is a observatory in the park. We could see the picture of the sun through a telescope.
This is 'Houhei-kan' (豊平館).
This is 'Hassou-an' (八窓庵)
Autumn leaves were also beautiful.
In sapporo, ramen is very famous as 'Sapporo ramen'. So we went to the places where ramen restaurants are gathered (It is called 'Ramen republic' in Sapporo.)
The restaurant we visited was 'Ramen Misono'. Fortunately we could enter soon, however when we left, around 10 people was in the line.
The ramen was very delicious and we enjoyed the taste.
We enjoyed in Sapporo in the morning. After this, we went to the Otaru city faces the Ishikari Bay.
