On sunny beautiful day of early summer, one of the biggest festival in
The AOI-matsuri-festival. Those Heian costume is so gorgeous and impressed many people on the street. I was moved by horse riding ceremony in Kamigamo-shrine .
Green Green May! The Iris Laevigata”Kakitsubata” is fully blooming silently at Ota shrine near the Kamigamo-shrine. Reina
It's been very cold recently, and I feel like saying
"I'd love to go to Onsen(Japanese Hot springs).." almost every day.
When I took a bath yesterday, I was very surprised
because I found a chilblain on middle finger of my foot!
I used to have it heaps when I was a child, but I haven't had in ages.
"..Now I should go to Onsen..."
Anyway, I always feel happy as a Japanese when I take a nice Japanese hot spring.
I went to Kinosaki Onsen last year, one of famouse Hot springs spot in Hyogo(next to Osaka).
It's a small,but very histrical and artistic town,and there are a lot of hot springs there.
So we can enjoy many places with Yukata style.
It's also reknowen for fresh seafood, especially crab in winter.
Of course I had. We ordered one of course memu of crab,
and they served about 8 types crab dishes, sashimi,Kani miso,boil,steam,Tempura, and so on.
They were all very tasty, but every dishes were more bigger than we expected.
We're completely full and hadn't even though looking at crabs for months since then..
However,I'd love to visit there again.
I recommend you to stay a night and relax if you're interested in there.
(It's 2.5hours by train from Osaka.)
http://www.kinosaki-hotsprings.com/index.php
When I stayed at J-Hoppers Hiroshima during the New Year's holidays. I went to Onomichi with Hiroshima staff Tomoko. Onomichi is a small port city in Hiroshima prefecture between the cities of Hiroshima and Okayama and famous as the city of slopes or the city of the cinema.
We went to Senkoji Park located on the top of the small hill by the ropeway. The scenery from the observation platform is outstandingly beautiful. The mountains that spread across the sea are small islands lead to Shikoku.
On the way back to the city going downhill, you will see old houses along the alleys that attract a number of Japan's more famous authors and movie directors. There is also a movie museum in the city. Although there is no English guidances in the museum as well as all over the city. It might be a unexpected fun to travel a very local place in Japan.
I was about to forget an important thing of Onomichi. Onomichi ramen (noodle) is well-known among us Japanese. The taste is between Kyusyu's one and Tokyo's one, plus fish paste. Why don't you try it for lunch ?
Please allow me to introduce our long term stay accommodation "Kyoto Apartment". We have been welcoming many tenants since Kyoto Apartment 1 started in May 2005.
And in this November, we made a success of new apartment, Kyoto Apartment 4. To tell the truth, the next one Kyoto Apartment 5 is coming to open soon though.
Dear guests who visit Japan, why don't you stay at Kyoto Apartment as your sightseeing bases ? It's very easy to go both Western Japan, Fukuoka and Hiroshima, and Eastern Japan, Takayama or Ise. The minimum stay is 2 weeks. All rooms and apartments are fully furnished. Rental procedure is simple. Feel free to e-mail us if you have an interest. Have a look the website first, please.
Have you ever tried hitchhiking?
Well, actually I haven't...
The other day, my friend from Kyoto came to here by hitchhiking.
He gave me some tips of hitchhiking in Japan (hum...I guess it's the same thing in the world...).
If you have certain destination, first you should get a road map to figure out which road will take you to there. And get a cardboard and pen to write the direction you want to ahead.
If you want to take shorter way, go to service area/rest area on express highway.
My friend told me that it was easy to get a ride on a truck. Just talk to drivers in the service area to ask where they go.
Why it's easy? Becaseu usually they've got some spare room in the passenger seat and alos there is a sort of bed behind of it.
He said the bed was a little nasty,though...lol
Sometimes you have to help them to unload thighs from the trunk, but it's an experience don't yo think?
Of course, if you speak Japanese it makes your trip much easier!
Have a good ride:)