Classic and Heritage
Nijō Castle, Kyoto extravagance
Nijō Castle was the residence for the ancient Tokugawa Shoguns regime. It consists of Ninomaru Palace, ruins of the Honmaru Palace and with various supporting buildings and gardens. Decoration of gold leaves, wooden crafts, wall-paintings over various buildings. “Nightingale floor” (uguisubari) in the palace corridors is a special feature. It was an ancient guardian method in case of someone touched that floor would trigger the alarming sound. The sound is bird-like voice to alert the security guides if someone intruded into the palace for assassination or stealing attempts.
Rock Garden, the puzzling design
Artistic puzzling rock garden in Ryoanji Temple is 340 square meters of area. What makes it interesting is that fifteen scattered rocks of different sizes were artistically placed in the rectangle. Looking from any given angle of view, no one could see the total numbers of 15 rocks. At least one of the rocks is hidden or out of sight.
Shirakawa, beautiful village
Shirakawa village is one of the most beautiful villages in the world. This triangular shape of Gassho-style houses with thatched roofs occupied the mountainous region was spectacular. These steep thatched roofs look like the hands folding for prayer. The slope of the house’s roof inclined at 60° so that falling snow will slide off the roofs.
Japan Onsen, not just a normal bath
Japan Osen is amazing to release stress. Imagine how comfortable and romantic to enjoy the Japanese type of spa in different seasons:
Summer — you’re relaxing when wearing the bathrobe to walk around freely.
Autumn — surround by a sea of reddish maples with charming scenery
Winter — enjoy the hot spa in the outdoor wooden pool and see the hot smoky spring water mixing with the cold snowflakes.
Japan Onsen can be indoor or outdoor, private or public. The color of spring water depends upon mineral specialty. When it appears in deep yellow, it tells the water is rich in iron; the water will look milky if it is rich in sulfur minerals. Most people would prefer clear spring water instead. Yufuin osen is ranking high as one of the most wanted-to-go onsens. What makes it special? Yufuin located in Ōita District in Japan. Mount Yufu stands at 1583 meter high and together with Kinrinko Lake are regarded as the landmark in Yufuin. Yufu mountain landscape is famous for the morning fog in the fall to winter. The fog embroils in the old style street to evoke special feeling from nature. There is a small local-type outdoor onsen located near the Kinrinko Lake, it’s public and gender mix. Are you worrying about the hygienic issue? C’mon! It is hot spring! Can’t it clean by itself! By the way, you should wash and clean yourself in a separate washing area before get into the spa water.
Summer — you’re relaxing when wearing the bathrobe to walk around freely.
Autumn — surround by a sea of reddish maples with charming scenery
Winter — enjoy the hot spa in the outdoor wooden pool and see the hot smoky spring water mixing with the cold snowflakes.
Japan Onsen can be indoor or outdoor, private or public. The color of spring water depends upon mineral specialty. When it appears in deep yellow, it tells the water is rich in iron; the water will look milky if it is rich in sulfur minerals. Most people would prefer clear spring water instead. Yufuin osen is ranking high as one of the most wanted-to-go onsens. What makes it special? Yufuin located in Ōita District in Japan. Mount Yufu stands at 1583 meter high and together with Kinrinko Lake are regarded as the landmark in Yufuin. Yufu mountain landscape is famous for the morning fog in the fall to winter. The fog embroils in the old style street to evoke special feeling from nature. There is a small local-type outdoor onsen located near the Kinrinko Lake, it’s public and gender mix. Are you worrying about the hygienic issue? C’mon! It is hot spring! Can’t it clean by itself! By the way, you should wash and clean yourself in a separate washing area before get into the spa water.
Seasonal Occasions
Cherry Blossom
Cherry blossom viewing is fantastic. Cherry blooming period is different among regions which are just last for 7 to 10 days. The blooming begins in Okinawa by January; reach Kyoto and Tokyo by end of March or early April; and then proceeds into the northern area in Hokkaido. There are several types of cherry trees produce light pink, dark pink, yellow, green and white blossoms. Some blossom opens as a white flower and change color to pink over a few days. When the trees overwhelmed with cherry blossom, the romantic scenery of petal falling down like snowflakes will amaze you. People want to have a picnic with friends and family to enjoy cherry blossom viewing. It’s an occasion for gathering, cheering and chatting.
Coming of the age day
You’ll feel amazing when walking along the old-style district of Gion. Gion is Japan’s most famous geisha district, featuring the unique classic style of design for Japanese townhouses and tea houses. Geisha are traditional Japanese female entertainers and they are dressing kimono. If you’re in Japan on the second Monday of January, you’ll find many young girls are dressing kimono. Second Monday of January is the national holiday for “Coming-of-Age day”. On that day, Japanese girls who are turning 20 years old in that year will wear kimono and join the ceremony to celebrate their adulthood. Some of them will go to the shrines to thank Gods and ancestors for their blessing. It is a celebrated event in their life. Their smiley faces will brighten your day. Smiling faces evoke smiles and happiness, isn’t it?
Children Day, flying carp streamers
One day, a 5-year-old Japanese boy saw the neighbor raising a large paper carp streamer. He asked his mom to make one for him! Japanese families have the traditional practice to fly carp streamers in honor of children day (5th May). The flying of carp streamer is a symbol to signify parents hope for their children will be healthy and strong like the swimming carp.
If you get to Gifu (Chūbu region of central Japan) in spring, you would catch up the traditional “washing carp streamers festival”. People wash up the carp streamers to remove the glue and fix the color in the river. They regarded this ritual as the blessing for the children.
If you get to Gifu (Chūbu region of central Japan) in spring, you would catch up the traditional “washing carp streamers festival”. People wash up the carp streamers to remove the glue and fix the color in the river. They regarded this ritual as the blessing for the children.
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Food
Kaiseki, traditional multi-course dinner
You can find the best kaiseki in Kyoto. Kaiseki is the traditional multi-course dinner with a combination of delicious taste, elegant tableware and artistic food culture. It is great for selecting the best of seasonal ingredients apply with versatile special skills for making both raw and cooked food; fried and deep fried; barbecued and boiled. Each course is delicate, high quality and small volume. The chef arranges the food to display like an aesthetic picture.
Mochi, soft texture dessert
Do you like to eat the dessert with extremely soft texture? Why not try the traditional Japanese mochi (rice cake). How about the taste? I’m not sure but the performance to make the soft texture is impressive.
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Miffy Café, it's so Cute
If you're traveling with kids, they must love to eat in Miffy Cafe. Both the café and the food are so cute!
If you want to meet thousands Miffy's relatives
I like bunnies! Bunnies are cutest in the Rabbit Island, Okunoshima. How’s the feeling of a stampede of rabbits chasing you? Let’s go to this rabbit island to meet Miffy’s relatives. You have fun and they have fun. Why are there so many rabbits in this small island? In this island, the Japanese used the rabbits doing the research for testing the chemical weapons in the poison factory during World War II. Are the current rabbits originated from those rabbits involved in the chemical test and were set loose after the war?
More and more...
Ghibli Museum, children have fun
You can ride a Catbus to get to Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo. Totora is welcoming you at the entrance. What do you expect from there?
- Ghibli characters, plants, flowers and animals are handcrafted on the windows and lamps.
- watch a short animated film directed by Miyazaki Hayao.
- A five meter tall Robot Solder (from "Laputa Castle in the Sky") is standing in the grassy rooftop
garden for his guardian job.
Watching children playing around and they are having so much fun. According to research statistic, a child laughs 300 times a day, whereas an adult laughs 5 times per day. What a big gap! The adult is too serious, leave yourself some time for pure silliness and happiness, like a child.
- Ghibli characters, plants, flowers and animals are handcrafted on the windows and lamps.
- watch a short animated film directed by Miyazaki Hayao.
- A five meter tall Robot Solder (from "Laputa Castle in the Sky") is standing in the grassy rooftop
garden for his guardian job.
Watching children playing around and they are having so much fun. According to research statistic, a child laughs 300 times a day, whereas an adult laughs 5 times per day. What a big gap! The adult is too serious, leave yourself some time for pure silliness and happiness, like a child.
Beautiful Trench Covers
When you are visiting Japan to take the photo in the busy urban street, don’t neglect the scenes from the ground, the trench covers. From the year 1985, the Japanese government encouraged the cities to design their trench covers with creative theme and amusement. Up till now, at least 6000 units of these beautiful trench covers can be found!