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Tenkyokaku Residence
I spent a luxurious time with a cup of milk tea and a piece of cake at the old villa of the Imperial family in Lake Inawashiro, Fukushima Prefecture. Prince Arisugawanomiya Takehito, who toured the shores of Lake Inawashiro in Inawashiro Town, Fukushima Prefecture, was impressed by the scenic beauty of the scenery, and in 1907 built a villa called “TenKyokaku (former Arisugawanomiya Okinajima villa).” There is also the old villa for the Takamatsu family (now called Fukushima Geihinkan) nearby. In 1952, the ownership of “Tenkyokaku” was transferred to Fukushima Prefecture and opened to the public since the 1980s. This building is designated as an important cultural property of Japan. […]
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Naoshima Island, an island of contemporary art
What kind of contemporary art can I enjoy in Naoshima Island? A summary of contemporary art works that you must see even if you don’t have much time Naoshima Island is a small island in the Seto Inland Sea that belongs to Naoshima Town, Kagawa Prefecture. It is known as the “Holy Land of Contemporary Art” and many young people and foreigners visit to appreciate contemporary art. Naoshima Island can only be approached by boat, with ferries and passenger boats operating from Kagawa and Okayama prefectures. It takes about 1 hour from Takamatsu Port (Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture) and about 20 minutes from Uno Port (Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture). The […]
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Megijima Island (Demon Island)
Did you know that there is a cave on Megijima Island in Kagawa Prefecture where the demon from the legend of Momotaro lived? Megijima Island, which belongs to Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, is an island floating in the Seto Inland Sea. It is handed down as “Onigashima (island of Demon)”, which appears in the fairy tale “Momotaro”, and a great cave that is said to have been inhabited by a demon has been discovered in Mt.Washigamine in the central part of the island. The demon in the legend of Momotaro was exterminated by Momotaro, so a monument to the demon is displayed in the great cave. Megijima island is about […]
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Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Hall
Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’s Robot gestures are too real! The Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum is located on the shores of Lake Inawashiro in Fukushima Prefecture. Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, well known for his portrait on the 1,000-yen bill, was a world-renowned bacteriologist, born in 1876 in Mitsuwa Village (now Inawashiro Town), Fukushima Prefecture. At the age of one, he fell into a sunken hearth and suffered a serious burn on his left hand. When he underwent surgery on his left hand as a junior high school student, he discovered the wonders of medicine and devoted himself to his studies. at the age of 19, he moved to Tokyo to obtain a medical […]
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Ginzan Onsen & Shirogane Park
A summary of the streets of Ginzan Onsen with the atmosphere of Taisho Roman and Shirogane Park in the back Ginzan Onsen is a hot spring village located in Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. Along both banks of the Ginzan River, there are ryokan inns built between the late Taisho era and the early Showa era (1920s) that blend Japanese and Western styles. When the sun goes down, gas lamps light up the hot spring town, creating an even more romantic atmosphere. *Taisho Roman is a term used to describe the culture and art of the Taisho period (1912-1926). It is characterized by a mix of Japanese and Western elements that […]
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A park that recreates Doraemon’s open lot
A park that recreates Doraemon’s open lot in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture Takaoka City in Toyama Prefecture is the hometown where Fujiko F Fujio was born and raised. Since there are many Fujiko F Fujio’s works exhibited at the Takaoka Art Museum and other locations in Takaoka City, it is called “Doraemon’s hometown” by fans and tourists. Mr. Fujiko F. Fujio and Mr. Fujiko Fujio Ⓐ were classmates in elementary school Fujiko FujioⒶ was born in the adjacent city Himi, but moved to Takaoka City after his father passed away when he was in the fifth grade (1944), and was a classmate of Fujiko F Fujio at Takaoka Jozuka Elementary […]
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Akita Dog Visitor Center
I went to “Akita Dog Visitor Center” in Odate City, Akita Prefecture, the hometown of the faithful dog Hachiko! “Akita Dog Visitor Center” in Odate City, Akita Prefecture is an “Akita Dog Museum” where you can enjoy learning about Akita dogs. It is a tourist facility where you can meet cute Akita dogs in the “Akita Dog Exhibition Room” and purchase Akita dog goods. Synopsis of “Faithful Dog Hachiko” Speaking of Akita dogs, Hachi is so famous that the bronze statue of “Hachiko, the faithful dog” in front of Shibuya station comes to mind. In 1924, when Hachi was a puppy, he was given to Dr. Eisaburo Ueno, a professor […]
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Nunobiki Highlands
The combination of windmills and sunflowers of Nunobiki Highlands creates a superb view. Nunobiki Highlands (approx. 1,000 meters above sea level), located in Koriyama City, south of Lake Inawashiro in Fukushima Prefecture, is also known as the “Kaze no Kogen (Highlands of the Wind).” Nunobiki Highlands is lined with 33 huge windmills for wind power generation. The scenery of windmills spinning round and round in the wind is spectacular. These windmills form one of the largest wind farms in Japan. ＜Highlights of Nunobiki Highlands＞ The fields of rape blossoms in spring, sunflowers in summer, and cosmos in autumn. Around the giant windmills, you can enjoy a breathtaking scenery of flowers at […]
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Namahage
In Akita Prefecture, Namahage is a standard way of disciplining children. Namahage is a traditional New Year folk event held in Oga City, Akita Prefecture (around the Oga Peninsula). (Currently, it is held on New Year’s Eve.) It is a unique custom in which the gods called Namahage, wearing a demon mask and a straw costume, visits homes to ward off evil spirits and warn lazy people. It is designated as an important intangible folk cultural asset of the country. In 2018, it was registered as a UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage as a constituent asset of “Raiho-shin: ritual visits of deities in masks and costumes”. What is Namahage? Raiho-shin (visiting […]
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Sightseeing Spots in Sekigahara Town, Gifu Prefecture
Sekigahara is the place where fateful decisive two battles were fought in 672 and 1600. Sekigahara Town in Gifu Prefecture is the place where fateful decisive two battles were fought. One of the battles was a fierce battle between the younger brother of Emperor Tenchi, Prince Oama, who carried out a political reform known as the Taika Reform, and the son of Emperor Tenchi, Prince Otomo, over the succession to the throne. In 672, the Jinshin War broke out. The other is the “Battle of Sekigahara” in 1600, which is said to be the largest during the Warring States period, fought by the Western Army led by Mitsunari Ishida and […]
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Sightseeing Spots in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture is the strongest tourist destination. There are too many sightseeing spots to visit in one day. Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture is in the northwestern part of the Noto Peninsula. It is a popular tourist destination famous for Wajima-nuri Japanese lacquerware, Wajima Morning Market, and Shiroyone Senmaida rice terrace. The sightseeing district is roughly divided into the urban area where Wajima Port and Marine Town are located, and Monzen-machi area around Sojiji Temple. In the urban area, there are many sights to see such as the Wajima Museum of Urushi Art, the Wajima Morning Market, the Wajima Kiriko Art Museum, and the Go Nagai Wonderland […]
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Tendo Park (Mt. Maizuru)
You cannot miss cherry blossom in spring, night view in summer, and autumn leaves in fall when going to Mt. Maizuru! In the foot of the mountain, there is the walking path around the lake. It’s nice to enjoy a morning walk after staying Tendo Onsen. Mt. Maizuru (elevation 242m, height difference 133m) located in the center of Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. The whole mountain is part of a “Tendo Park,” and many citizens visit here to get relaxed. This mountain is a famous sightseeing spot because you can enjoy 2000 cherry blossoms, and 10000 of azaleas will be full in bloom in spring, and autumn leaves in fall. From […]