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Complete Guide to Sightseeing Spots and Activities in the Popular Tourist Destination Inawashiro Inawashiro Town in Fukushima Prefecture is located almost in the center of Fukushima Prefecture, and is a tourist destination with many natural attractions, including the magnificent Mt. Bandai and Lake Inawashiro, the fourth largest lake in Japan. This area has many spots where you can enjoy sports and leisure all year round, such as mountain climbing, skiing/snowboarding, lake bathing, water sports, fishing, and camping. Origin of Inawashiro The origin of Inawashiro is that when the villagers were struggling to clear the land, a wild Japanese boar trampled the land and created Nawashiro paddy fields by […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/6
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フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Cape Tappi
The strength of the wind at Cape Tappi was truly astonishing! It was windy and cold, and even in the summer it felt like a “Tsugaru Strait Winter Scenery”! Cape Tappii is a cape that protrudes into the Tsugaru Strait, the northernmost tip of the Tsugaru Peninsula, and is located in Sotogahama Town, Aomori Prefecture. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, the cape is famous for its strong winds all year round. There are several seascape points in Cape Tappi, but the most popular one is the Tappizaki Lighthouse. You can enjoy the magnificent ocean view of the Tsugaru Strait from the observatory with the lighthouse, and on a […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/6 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Inawashiro Kingfisher Aquarium
The past when there was no kingfisher even though it was a kingfisher aquarium Inawashiro Kingfisher Aquarium is located in Midori-no-Mura (Green Village), a nature park in Inawashiro Town, Fukushima Prefecture. The aquarium exhibits freshwater fish and aquatic insects that live in Fukushima Prefecture, as well as kingfishers, brown dippers, and river otters, and other water creatures that are rarely seen, reproducing their habitats. Origin of the name of the Kingfisher Aquarium In 1989, the Kingfisher Aquarium opened together with the “Midori no Mura (Green Village)” as the “Inawashiro Freshwater Fish Museum”. Since 2015, we have entrusted the operation to the Fukushima Marine Science Museum, which has operated Aquamarine Fukushima, […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/6 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：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. […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/6 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：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 […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/14 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Megijima 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 […]
> 続きを読む2023/4/19 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：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 […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/6 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：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 […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/7 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：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 […]
> 続きを読む2022/12/31 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：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, […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/7 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：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 […]
> 続きを読む2022/11/7 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：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? […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/7 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Sightseeing in Sekigahara Town
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 […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/7 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：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 […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/11 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：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 […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/13 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Tourist spots in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture
Reki-jo, female history buffs, are rapidly increasing in the historic spot of Tendo city! I didn’t know that Tendo City was related to Nobunaga Oda! Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture, is a city near the center of the Yamagata Basin. There is Mt. Maizuru (elevation 242m) in the central area of the town. At the end of the Edo period (early 19th century), it was the castle town of the Tendo domain, which was established by the Oda family. The city is famous for shogi piece manufacture, which was started as a side job for samurai of the Tendo domain. Now the city has 95% of its national shares. […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/13 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Dokko-Numa Swamp
The summer heat is unbearable in Yamagata Prefecture, but Dokko-Numa Swamp is like a summer resort. When you ride the ropeway and climb “Mt. Torikabuto-yama” (altitude:1387m) from the Zao Onsen Ski Resort (Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture), you will find plateaus at an altitude of 1300m. Because the temperature difference from the foot of the mountain is more than 10 degrees, so you can enjoy fresh air even in the middle of summer. There is “Zao Central Plateau Walking Path” starts from Mt. Torikabuto-yama and walk around many lakes. In addition to the Walking Course goes around the central plateau, there are hiking trails such as Dokko-numa Swamp Course and Fudo […]
> 続きを読む2022/8/21 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Ninja Hattori-kun Road
Himi City, Toyama is full of characters created by Fujiko Fujio Ⓐ! How exiting! Nin Nin! Himi City, Toyama Prefecture is the hometown of Fujiko Fujio Ⓐ, known for works such as “Ninja Hattori-kun,” “Kaibutsu-kun,” “Pro Golfer Saru,” and “The Laughing Salesman.” Many works of Mr. Fujiko Fujio Ⓐ are on display around “Kozenji temple” where he was born and Himimachi shopping street (also known as “Manga Road” or “Ninja Hattori-kun Road”). The area where these works are exhibited is collectively called “Fujiko Fujio Ⓐ Manga World.” There is a bridge called “Niji no Hashi” (also known as “Ninja Hattori-kun Automation Clock“) that spans the Minato River, flows at the […]
> 続きを読む2022/12/1 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Sightseeing spots in Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Speaking of sightseeing spots in Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture, it is “Chirihama Nagisa Driveway”, “UFO”, “Myojoji Temple” and “JOJO Stone”! Hakui City in Ishikawa Prefecture is located on the west side of the base of the Noto Peninsula, facing the Sea of Japan to the west, and a sandy beach called Chirihama stretching north to south. Chirihama is known as the “Chirihama Nagisa Driveway,” where you can drive your car along the beach. To the east is Himi City, Toyama Prefecture, where Fujiko Fujio Ⓐ’s “Manga Road” is located. To the north is Shika Town, which has “Noto Kongo“, a superb view spot on the Noto Peninsula, and […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/10 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Ningen Shogi (human shogi)
Professional shogi players play a game by using humans who dressed in samurai armor likened to shogi pieces. People come and go on a huge shogi board. In Tendo City, “Ningen Shogi (human shogi)” is a traditional event in spring. Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture, has the most massive production of shogi pieces in Japan. The industry of shogi manufacture in Tendo is originated in the Edo period when a samurai of the Tendo Domain started making shogi pieces as a side job. “Ningen Shogi” is held at the top of Mt. Maizuru during the “Tendo Sakura Festival” in late April every year. Shogi is a type of board […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/13 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Amahage
Amahage comes up to the house making strange noises, chasing and holding the children, and the adults are overjoyed by the crying children caught by Amahage. “Amahage” is a traditional New Year event that transmitted to the three villages located in the foot of Mt. Chokai, Takinoura, Mega, Torizaki in Yuza Town, Yamagata Prefecture. It is very similar to the “Namahage,” which transmitted to the Oga Peninsula in Akita Prefecture. Young men in a village, wearing a face mask of a demon and an old man and dress in Kendan, which is a kind of Mino, a costume made up of many layers of straws. They hit the […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/14 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：pond Maruike-sama
How to get to the beautiful pond “Maruike-sama” in Yamagata where is not on Google Maps? In Yuza Town, Yamagata Prefecture, located at the southwestern foot of Mt. Chokai, there is a pond called “Maruike-sama”. It has perfectly clear cobalt blue color water. You can see the spring water from Mt. Chokai from the bottom of the pond. Pond Maruike-sama and the surrounding area are the secret areas of Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine. There is a forest of the shrine, and great nature remains and even has a mysterious atmosphere. This pond has been called Pond “Maruike-sama” by local people with their feelings of awe. It is because they […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/14 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Tourist spots in Yuza Town, Yamagata Prefecture
Yuza Town, at the northwestern border of Yamagata Prefecture, is located at the southwestern foot of Mt. Chokai (elevation 2237m). That is the mountain located on the prefectural border with Akita Prefecture. Yuza Town is called “springs town” because the underground water of Mt. Chokai springs up many places in the town. There are many tourist attractions related to Mt. Chokai and the springs of Mt. Chokai. Pond Maruike-sama Pond “Maruike-sama” is a mysterious pond in shining cobalt blue color. Its length is 20m in diameter and depth is 5m. The pond is filled with only spring water from Mt. Chokai. Its transparency is quite high so that you […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/15 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Shiroyone Senmaida rice terrace
Shiroyone Senmaida is a terraced rice field with a beautiful landscape representing “Noto no Satoyama Satoumi” registered as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. “Shiroyone Senmaida rice terrace” is a terraced rice field in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Terraced rice field is a rice field on a sloping land. The landscape of 1,004 rice paddies of various sizes facing the Sea of Japan that stretch all the way down to the coast has been designated as a national scenic spot, and was registered as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems in 2011 as a component of “Noto’s Satoyama-Satoumi.” “Satoyama-satoumi” refers to areas and natural environments with mountains and […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/13 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Why is Tomb of Moses in Japan？
Moses of the “Old Testament” 583 years old! Died in Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture!? The “Moses Legendary Park” is a park developed from the Mitsuko-zuka Kohun tomb located at the foot of Mount Houdatsu in Houdatsushimizu Town, Ishikawa Prefecture. Moses from the “Moses Legendary Park” is the prophet in the “Old Testament” who delivered ancient Israelites from Egyptian slavery about 3,000 years ago. He is famous for having divided the Red Sea in two and created a prayer path to cross it while the Pharaoh’s army was approaching, and received the stone of the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai. What is the relationship between the prophet […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/9 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：There is a 12.5kg solid gold bar at Sado Gold Mine Museum, but I couldn’t get it out with one hand!
The Sado Gold Mine (officially named Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine) is the largest gold and silver mine in Japan, located on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture. It was mined for 388 years from its discovery in the Edo period (1601) to its closure in the Heisei period (1989). The total length of the tunnels is 400 km, of which about 300 m is open to the public as a sightseeing course at the “Historic Site: Sado Gold Mine”. At the “Historic Site: Sado Gold Mine,” visitors can see the remains of two tunnels: Sodayu-ko, which was dug by hand in the early Edo period (17th century), and Doyu-ko, […]
> 続きを読む2022/5/21 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：historic-site-sado-gold-mine-niigata-japan-travel
Sekigahara Town in Gifu Prefecture is the site of a battle that took place on September 15, 1600, between the Eastern Army, led by Ieyasu Tokugawa, and the Western Army, led by Mitsunari Ishida. The “Battle of Sekigahara” was settled in six hours from the start of the battle. The Eastern Army, led by Ieyasu Tokugawa, won a landslide victory, and as a result, the Toyotomi family fell to a feudal lord of 650,000 koku*. And Tokugawa Ieyasu’s government (Tokugawa shogunate) was established. There are many historical and sightseeing spots related to the Battle of Sekigahara in Sekigahara Town. *Koku is a unit of volume, and 1 koku = about […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/8 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Zao Onsen
Even if you do not have beautiful facial features, people say you’re beautiful if you have beautiful skin, right? Zao Onsen is very famous for “beauty-making hot spring.” Zao Onsen is located in the southeastern part of Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, at the western foot (elevation 880m) of the Mount Zao range. It has been called “Takayu” for a long time, and it is the old hot spring with major five hot spring groups and 47 hot springs. Its history is more than 1900 years. The hot spring town of Zao Onsen has many hot spring facilities for a day trip, such as public baths and footbaths. So, […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/16 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：What are the three conditions for forming Rime on trees?
Tourists come to Zao from all over the world to see Rime on trees! “Rime on trees” is the winter feature of Zao, where is located on the border between Yamagata and Miyagi Prefectures. Rime on trees is the art of nature that can be only seen in a limited area in the world such as Mount Zao, Hakkoda mountains (Aomori Prefecture), Mount Moriyoshi (Akita Prefecture) and so on in Japan. They are called “ice monsters” or “snow monsters” because the shape of trees covered with ice and snow looks like monsters. The core of the Rime on trees is a coniferous tree called “Aomori Todomatsu (Abies mariesii)”. […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/15 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Abukuma Cave & Irimizu Limestone Cave
I went to the “Irimizu Limestone Cave” where you can explore like the Hiroshi Kawaguchi Expedition in the Wednesday Special. “Abukuma Cave” and “Irimizu Limestone Cave” are limestone caves located in Tamura City, Fukushima Prefecture. Abukuma Cave was discovered in a limestone quarry in 1969 and opened to the public in 1973. Abukuma Cave is an underground space that was created over a long period of 80 million years, the total length of the cave is about 3,300m, of which 720m is open to the public. The number and variety of stalactites created by the groundwater of the limestone cave are said to be No. 1 in the […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/10 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Mizukaburi of Yonekawa
The gods dressed like the bagworm with straw wrapped around his body pours buckets of water over houses! In the Yonekawa district of Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture, Hibuse (fire-fighting) event called “Mizukaburi” is held every year on Hatsuuma* day. Hibuse is a custom to ward off fire by using the spiritual power of gods and Buddha to prevent fires, in Japan, there is a legend from ancient times that if it does not rain on Hatsuuma day, there will be many fires. In the villages of the Yonekawa district, the men wearing straw clothes called “Oshime” and straw sandals, smear charcoal on their faces and sprinkle water on […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/10 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Basic knowledge of Gassho-zukuri houses
Basic knowledge of Gassho-zukuri houses that you should know before visiting the World Heritage “Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama” In the middle basin of the Sho River, the border between Gifu and Toyama prefectures, there are areas called Shirakawa-go (Shirakawa Village, Gifu Prefecture, part of Takayama City) and Gokayama (part of Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture). <Shirakawa-go / Gokayama area map> In the Shirakawa-go / Gokayama area, there are uniquely shaped thatched houses called “Gassho-zukuri” built between 100 and 400 years ago. There are no Gassho-zukuri thatched houses outside of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. In 1995, the villages of Ogimachi in Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture, Ainokura and Suganuma in Gokayama, […]
> 続きを読む2023/4/30 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Gassho-zukuri houses in Shirakawa-go
The snow-covered Shirakawa-go Gassho-zukuri village felt like going into a world of “Tales of Old Japan.” “Shirakawa-go” is in the upper reaches of the Sho River, which includes the northwestern part of Gifu Prefecture (adjacent to Toyama and Ishikawa Prefectures), the western edge of the Hida region, Shirakawa Village, and the Shokawa District of Takayama City (former Shokawa Village). Sometimes “Shirakawa-go” simply refers to Shirakawa Village. The Sho River is a steep mountainous area from the midstream to the upper stream, so it was an isolated and unexplored region with inconvenient transportation until the middle of the 20th century (1950s) when power generation dams such as the Miboro […]
> 続きを読む2023/4/28 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Gassho-zukuri houses in Gokayama
Gokayama may give you the impression of a peaceful and original Japanese landscape, but it was actually a military base where gunpowder was produced under the floors of Gassho-zukuri houses! “Gokayama” is a deep and rugged mountainous region located in the middle reaches of the Sho River, at the southwest tip of Toyama Prefecture (the border between Gifu Prefecture and Ishikawa Prefecture). Gokayama is a general term for 40 small villages and it is called Gokayama because it has 5 valleys (“go” means five and “yama” means mountain in Japanese). In Gokayama, there is a legend (end of the 12th century) that Heike refugees who were defeated by […]
> 続きを読む2023/4/28 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Cormorant fishing
I don’t know how the cormorants feel, but I think they probably enjoy catching fish. Rather, humans are more attentive so that the cormorants can catch fish comfortably. Cormorant fishing is a traditional fishing method that uses trained cormorants to catch river fish such as sweetfish (ayu). Cormorant fishing is called “Ukai” in Japanese. Cormorant fishing has a long history, with clay figures depicting cormorant fishing excavated from ancient tombs in Gunma Prefecture dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries. Cormorant fishing is mentioned in Japan’s oldest history books, “Kojiki” and “Nihon Shoki”, and in the Chinese history book “Suishu (Book of Sui)” (7th century), cormorant fishing in Japan […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/6 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Cormorant fishing on the Nagara River.
Nobunaga Oda, Ieyasu Tokugawa, Basho Matsuo, and Chaplin praised cormorant fishing on the Nagara River. From May 11th to October 15th, cormorant fishing, a traditional fishing method that has been practiced for over 1,300 years, is held on the Nagara River in Gifu Prefecture every year. Cormorant fishing on the Nagara River takes place at two locations, Cormorant fishing in Gifu City is called “Nagaragawa Ukai (Nagaragawa Cormorant Fishing)”, and cormorant fishing in Seki City is called “Oze Ukai (Oze Cormorant Fishing)”. Cormorant fishing is called Ukai in Japanese. Nagaragawa Ukai and Oze Ukai are the only cormorant fishing in Japan that is used by the Imperial Family. The 8 […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/4 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Gifu Castle on Mt. Kinka
From Gifu Castle, I looked at the beautiful scenery that both Nobunaga Oda and Dosan Saito might have seen. Gifu Castle, located in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, is on the top of Mount Kinka (329 meters above sea level). It is a mountain castle with a history dating back to the Kamakura period (13th century) and was once called Inabayama Castle. During the Warring States Period (16th century), the castle was the residence of Dosan Saito, known as the “Mamushi of Mino.” In 1567, Nobunaga Oda conquered Inabayama Castle of the Saito family, and when he conquered this area, the name of the place was changed from “Inokuchi” to “Gifu.” […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/7 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Hanibe Gankutsuin
Any business owner having trouble attracting customers should visit Hanibe Gankutsuin! The business sense of the second-generation abbot who transformed it from an earnest temple praying for world peace into an odd tourist attraction! Hanibe Gankutsuin, located in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, is a cave temple famous for its giant Buddha head and the hell tour in the cave. This unique cave is built from 1951 by two generations of sculptors (father and son). The cave itself has been recognized as a “Japanese Heritage” by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, partly because it was a valuable stone quarry during the Edo period. The cave is approximately 150 meters long. Inside […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/9 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Masuhoura Beach with the World’s Longest Bench
After picking up cherry shells at Masuhoura Beach in Ishikawa Prefecture, sit on the World’s Longest Bench and watch the beautiful sunset. About an hour and a half from Kanazawa toward Noto, Masuhoura Beach is located in Shika Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, which is called Nishi-Noto on the Noto Peninsula. It is also known as a scenic spot called Noto Kongo, created by the rough waves of the Sea of Japan, a beach with beautiful sunsets, and a beach with the “World’s Longest Bench.” Along with Yuigahama Beach in Kanagawa Prefecture and Wakaura in Wakayama Prefecture, Masuhoura Beach is also famous for the many small shells that wash up on the […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/12 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Sightseeing spots in Hodatsushimizu Town, Ishikawa
Hodatsushimizu Town in Ishikawa Prefecture is trying to “revitalize the town” with the three pillars of “Chirihama Nagisa Driveway,” “Tomb of Moses,” and “Omelette Rice.” Hodatsushimizu Town is located at the western base of the Noto Peninsula, almost in the center of Ishikawa Prefecture. It is about 30 minutes by car from Kanazawa City, the prefectural capital. It is easily accessible to both Noto and Kanazawa. Map around Hodatsushimizu Town In the eastern part of Hodatsushimizu Town, there are a series of hills topped by Mt. Hodatsu (637 m above sea level), the highest peak on the Noto Peninsula. The view from the top of Mt. Hodatsu is one of […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/9 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Tottori Sand Dunes Sightseeing Guide
From trivia to how to enjoy Tottori Sand Dunes! Tottori Sand Dunes is one of the largest coastal dunes in Japan (16km from East to West, 2.4km to South to North), located along the Sea of Japan in Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture (From Tottori City Fukuba-cho Iwado to Tottori City Hakuto). Part of the dunes is designated as a Special Protection Area of Sanin Kaigan National Park. It is also designated as a National Natural Monument. Tottori Sand Dunes consists of four dunes: “Fukube Sand Dune” famous for its Japanese scallions (rakkyo), “Hamasaka Sand Dune” with sceneries like a desert, “Koyama Sand Dune” where Tottori Dune Conan Airport is located, […]
> 続きを読む2022/12/25 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Conan Street, the sacred place for “Detective Conan.”
Hokuei Town in Tottori Prefecture is the sacred place of ‘Detective Conan!’ You can meet Conan along Conan Street! Hokuei Town in Tottori Prefecture is the birthplace of Mr. Gosho Aoyama, the creator of ‘Detective Conan.’ From this fact, Hokuei Town is promoting itself as “The City Where You Can Meet Detective Conan,” and “Conan Village.” There are many bronze statues, colored objects, and stone monuments of ‘Detective Conan’ characters alongside “Conan Street.” Conan Street (Prefecture Road 167). “Conan Street” stretches for 1.4 km from “Conan Station” to “Gosho Aoyama Furusato-kan (Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory)” (Prefecture Road 167). Many Conan statues and monuments are built there, especially around “Conan Bridge.” […]
> 続きを読む2022/12/24 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Eshima Ohashi Bridge (Betabumizaka)
We were able to climb Betabumizaka of Eshima Ohashi Bridge without stepping on the accelerator pedal fully! Also, the brakes worked downhill! Eshima Ohashi Bridge (1.7 km in length) is a bridge between Sakaiminato City, Tottori Prefecture, and Eshima Island of Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture. The height of the bridge girder is 45 m from the lake surface at its highest, and with the help of optical illusions, it looks like a steep slope from the Shimane Prefecture (Eshima Island) side. It was also introduced by a car manufacturer TV Commercial as if the slope can only be climbed with the accelerator pedal fully open, getting famous as “Betabumizaka.” It […]
> 続きを読む2022/12/25 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Mizuki Shigeru Road, home of Gegege no Kitaro
“Mizuki Shigeru Road” is suited for night walks as well. A suspicious atmosphere surrounds us as the shadows of Yokai Monster appear on the road, the lights flicker, and strange sounds are heard. “Mizuki Shigeru Road” is a shopping street in Sakaiminato City, Tottori Prefecture. Sakaiminato City is the hometown of Manga artist Mr. Shigeru Mizuki (1992-2015), known for the manga ‘Gegege no Kitaro.’ “Mizuki Shigeru Road” is an 800m road that starts at JR Sakaiminato Station and ends at “Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Hall.” On the side of “Mizuki Shigeru Road,” many bronze statues of Yokai Monster in ‘Gegege no Kitaro’ is placed, such as Kitaro and Nezumiotoko. Not only […]
> 続きを読む2022/12/5 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Towada Shrine (Battle between Hachirotaro and Nansobo)
While strolling along the shores of Lake Towada, I passed the statue of maidens and found myself at Towada Shrine. Towada Shrine is located in Towada City, Aomori Prefecture, at the base of the Nakayama Peninsula that juts out into Lake Towada. Nearby is the famous sculptor Kotaro Takamura’s Statue of Maidens, making it the Yasumiya area that serves as a base for sightseeing at Lake Towada. At Towada Shrine, there is a folk tale about the battle between Hachirotaro and Nansobo, which is part of the legend of the three lakes that has been handed down in Aomori, Akita and Iwate prefectures. According to legend, after a monk named […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/9 -
Lake Towada is a large lake that straddles Akita Prefecture and Aomori Prefecture, but Aomori Prefecture is where the famous “Statue of Maidens” and Towada Shrine are located. Lake Towada is a lake that straddles Akita and Aomori Prefectures. In the eastern part of Lake Towada, there is the Oirase River, the only river that flows out, and the famous “Oirase Gorge” extends. The tourist base for Lake Towada is the Yasumiya area on the Aomori Prefecture side. On the shore of the lake (Gozengahama Bearch), there is a bronze statue of the “Statue of Maidens” built in 1953 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Lake Towada’s designation as a […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/9 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Lake Tazawa (Legend of Tatsuko)
The surface of Lake Tazawa seen in fine weather is sparkling and the blue color is totally different! It was a very beautiful lake! And the Tatsuko statue was even more golden than I had imagined! Lake Tazawa is the deepest lake in Japan, located in Senboku City, Akita Prefecture. It is a circular lake with a depth of 423 m, a circumference of 20 km, and a diameter of 6 km. Even in midwinter, the surface of the lake never freezes over. There is a folk tale of the birth of Lake Tazawa, the “Legend of Tatsuko”. A golden statue of “Tatsuko,” the heroine of the legend, stands by […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/9 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Noto Kongo
5 Recommended sightseeing spots in Noto Kongo! From famous places depicted in ukiyoe paintings of the Edo period to places that appear in the climactic scenes of suspense dramas, we introduce you to the best places to visit in Noto Kongo. Noto Kongo, located in Shika Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, is one of the representative landscapes of the Noto Peninsula. The 29km coastline from Fukuura Port to Cape Sekinohana is filled with caves, steep cliffs, and strangely shaped rocks created by the rough seas of the Sea of Japan. Ganmon of Noto Kongo Ganmon is a 6m wide, 15m high, and 60m deep cave created by erosion from the rough waves […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/11 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Miho no Matsubara Pine Grove (Legend of Hagoromo)
The Takigi Noh performed at Miho no Matsubara Pine Grove was actually a performing arts festival honoring French women!? Take a stroll through Miho no Matsubara Pine Grove while admiring the beautiful Mt. Fuji. Miho no Matsubara Pine Grove is a scenic spot on the east side of the Miho Peninsula in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture. The 7km stretch of the beach, which is covered with 50,000 pine forests, and the beautiful scenery of Mt. Fuji overlooking Suruga Bay, has been written in many waka poems and haiku poems since the Heian period (end8th – 12th centuries), and has also been depicted in ukiyo-e prints during the Edo period (17th […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/11 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Three demon legends passed down on Mt. Oe
I learned about demon legends at the “Japan Oni Exchange Museum” on Mt. Oe! Mt. Oe (altitude 833) is located at the base of the Tango Peninsula, but there is no single peak called Mt. Oe. The Oeyama mountain range is the general term for the mountains (Nabezuka, Hatogamine, Senjogatake, and Akaishigatake) that straddle Yosano Town, Fukuchiyama City, and Miyazu City in Kyoto Prefecture. Mt. Oe has been known as a dwelling place for demons since ancient times, and three demon legends have been handed down. On the hillside of Mt. Oe, there is a “Japan Oni Exchange Museum (Japanese Demon Exchange Museum)” (Oe-cho, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture) called “Oni […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/12 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Hinu Manai Shrine
Because Amaterasu Omikami could not dine alone in peace, she called Toyouke no Omikami of the Hinu Manai Shrine to Ise Jingu Shrine Hinu Manai Shrine is located in the Mineyama district of Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, and is an ancient shrine identified as “Hiji Manai Shrine” in the “Shiki-nai-sha” (shrines listed in the list of shrines in the Engi-shiki at the beginning of the 10th century). The main enshrined deity is Toyouke no Omikami, the supreme deity of agriculture who brings about a bountiful harvest, and is enshrined at the outer shrine of Ise Jingu Shrine (Ise Grand Shrine) in Mie Prefecture. It is said that during the period […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/20 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Three Motoise Shrines
Visit the three Moto Ise Shrines in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto, and want to feel the three legends of “Ama no Iwato,” “Moto Ise,” and “Oni extermination” The three shrines of Kotai Shrine, Toyouke Daijinja Sharine, and Amanoiwato Shrine, located in the Oe district of Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, are collectively called the “Moto Ise Sansha (three Moto Ise Shrines, three shrine of former Ise)” as shrines associated with Ise Jingu Shrine, since they are said to have been temporarily located there until the spirit of Amaterasu Omikami took up residence in the present Ise Jingu Shrine (Mie Prefecture). Apart from the legend of “Moto Ise”, there is another legend about the […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/20 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Moto Ise Kono Shrine & Manai Shrine
I wanted to drink the water of Ama no Manai, so I went to Kono Shrine’s Okumiya (rear shrine) “Manai Shrine” to draw water! In the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture, in the scenic spot of Miyazu Bay, on the north side of the special scenic spot “Amanohashidate”, “Kono Shrine” is enshrined. “Kono Shrine” has a legend that Amaterasu Omikami moved from this place to Ise Jingu Shrine in Mie Prefecture during the reign of the 11th Emperor Suinin, and Toyouke no Omikami during the reign of the 21st Emperor Yuryaku. Therefore, it is a highly prestigious old shrine called “Moto Ise (original Ise, former Ise).” By the way, the […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/20 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Urashima shrine (Legend of Urashimako)
Near Urashima Shrine in Ine Town, Kyoto Prefecture, where Japan’s oldest “legend of Urashima” has been passed down, there remains a small cave where Urashima Taro returned from Dragon Palace (Ryugu-jo). Ura Shrine is located in Ine Town, Kyoto Prefecture. The shrine is also known as Urashima Shrine, and the history of the shrine includes “the Legend of Urashimako”, the original story of the fairy tale “Urashima Taro,” which is well known to all Japanese people. The enshrined deity is Urashima Taro (Urashimako), and in the early 9th century, the 53rd Emperor Junna, who heard the story of “The Legend of Urashimako,” bestowed upon the shrine the divine title of […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/12 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Ine no Funaya (Boathouses of Ine)
30 minutes by car from Amanohashidate, one of the three most scenic spots in Japan, to Ine no Funaya! I want to go back to those days! I took a walk through a fisherman village with a somewhat nostalgic atmosphere. Ine Bay, located in the northeastern part of the Tango Peninsula, in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture, Ine Town, faces the Sea of Japan where rough waves crash, but it is a calm cove. Along the coast of Ine Bay, there are about 230 boathouses called “Funaya,” which have boat garages on the first floor and living spaces on the second floor. When viewed from the sea, It looks […]
> 続きを読む2022/11/4 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Amanohashidate Kasamatsu Park
I peeked between my legs at the spectacular view of Amanohashidate from the observatory in Kasamatsu Park! There is a mascot character “Kasabo” at Kasamatsu Park, and he will even take a picture with you! Kusamatsu Park is located in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture, halfway up Mt. Nariai, and offers a panoramic view of Amanohashidate, one of the three most scenic spots in Japan, from the north. The view from Kasamatsu Park is called “Shoryukan (Ascending Dragon View)” because Amanohashidate looks like a rising dragon. To get to Kasamatsu Park at an altitude of 130m, use the cable car or chairlift from Fuchu Station near Kono Shrine in […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/12 -
When going around in a circle of Mt. Azuma-Kofuji, an idea came up to my mind. “A crater on Mars should be similar to this mountain!” I visited Jododaira in Fukushima Prefecture, where you can feel the universe! “Jododaira” (elevation 1600m) in Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, is located at the midpoint of sightseeing mountain road, the Bandai Azuma Skyline. It is an hour’s drive from downtown Fukushima. The area surrounded by mountains such as Mt. Issaikyo (elevation 1949m) in the eastern part of the Azuma mountains and Mt. Azuma-kofuji (elevation 1707m) has a variety of beautiful landscape, including a volcanic land created by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Issaikyo, ancient […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/12 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Zashiki-warashi
If you really want to meet a Zashiki-warashi, we recommend traveling to the Tohoku region. There are inns where you can meet a Zashiki-warashi, but if you’re wearing normal clothes instead of kimono, it’s just the ghost of a child. Zashiki-warashi is a child-like deity that has been passed down in the Tohoku region of Japan, where Aomori, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, and Fukushima prefectures are located, centering on Iwate Prefecture. It is said to live in a Zashiki (the rooms with tatami mats) or a storehouse, and is said to play tricks on householders and guests, bringing good luck to those who see it and wealth to the family. In […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/12 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki Castle Tower)
Hirosaki Park is home to Hirosaki Castle, the only remaining castle tower in Tohoku, and Japan’s largest “Cherry Blossom Festival. The cherry blossoms in full bloom, the petals dancing in the air, and the flower rafts covering the surface of the moat are a spectacular sight! Hirosaki Park is a park located in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture. Hirosaki Park has a pseudonym called “Ouyo Park”, and it was named when Emperor Taisho, who was the crown prince at the time, visited the park in 1908. “Ouyo” means a leisurely manner without worrying about small things, like a falcon flying calmly in the sky. In the park, the castle […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/12 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Nebuta (Neputa) Festival
Please be careful! It seems that if you mispronounce “Nebuta” and “Neputa” in front of people in Aomori City or Hirosaki City, you will be in a very bad situation! “Nebuta (Neputa)” is a summer festival that is held every year from July to August in various parts of Aomori Prefecture as a Tanabata event on July 7 of the lunar calendar. It is a gorgeous festival in which giant lanterns called “Nebuta (Neputa)” are carried on floats and paraded. In particular, the Nebuta Festival in Aomori City attracts more than 2 million people every year, and is one of the three major festivals in the Tohoku region, […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/9 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Akita Kanto Festival
I tried to summarize the history and origin of the “Akita Kanto Festival” where paper lanterns that look like ears of rice color the summer night sky! The Kanto Festival is an annual event held in Akita City, Akita Prefecture, from August 3 to August 6. The lanterns are tied to long bamboo poles with horizontal bamboos, and up to 46 lanterns are hung from the poles. The whole Kanto poles are likened to ears of rice, and the row of lanterns are likened to a lot of rice bags, pray for a bountiful harvest by placing the Kanto pole on the forehead, waist, and shoulders. It is designated as […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/9 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Sendai Tanabata Festival
I’ve put together an introduction to the Tanabata Festival in Sendai, the most famous festival in Japan, and the origin of Tanabata. “Sendai Tanabata Festival” is the most famous Tanabata Festival in Japan held in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture for three days from August 6th to 8th every year. Along with Aomori Prefecture‘s “Nebuta Festival” and Akita Prefecture‘s “Kanto Festival“, it is counted as one of the three major festivals in Tohoku, and attracts more than 2 million tourists every year. There are various theories about the origin of the Tanabata event, such as the Chinese “star festival legend” where the Herdsman (star Altair) and the Weaver Girl (star Vega) […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/10 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Mt. Tenjo (Kachi kachi yama)
At Mt. Tenjo in Yamanashi Prefecture, there is another “Kachikachiyama” story involving a 16-year-old girl and a 37-year-old middle-aged man. The folktale “Kachi kachi yama” is an old tale that has been handed down since the end of the Muromachi period (late 16th century). (In Japanese, “kachi kachi” means the clacking sound of fire and “yama” means a mountain.) The stage is said to be “Mt. Tenjo” in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture. In the folktale “Kachikachiyama”, but a rabbit defeats a vicious raccoon dog on behalf of a old man to avenge a murdered old woman, In the “Kachikachiyama” section of Osamu Dazai’s short story collection “Otogi-zoshi” (published in 1945), […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/17 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Tomioka Silk Mill
What is the common keyword for the World Heritage Site “Tomioka Silk Mill” and DIY? The hints are “Flemish Bond” and “English Bond”. In 2014, “Tomioka Silk Mill” in Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture was registered as a World Heritage Site. At the end of Edo era when was immediately after opening the country, raw silk was Japan’s important product. In order to improve the quality of raw silk and its mass production, “Tomioka Silk Mill” was the machine filature factory established by Meiji government. At that time, it was the largest silk-reeling factory in the world. Its operation started in 1872. The management organization changed several times from the government […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/15 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：JAXA Tsukuba Space Center
Highly recommended for those who get excited when thinking about or talking about space! I went to the “JAXA Tsukuba Space Center” where the Space Brothers also visited and felt the universe! JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) is an organization that consistently conducts everything from basic research to development and operation in the field of aerospace in Japan. JAXA’s Tsukuba Space Center, located in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, is one of the largest aerospace development facilities in Japan. Opened in 1972. There is an exhibition hall called “Space Dome” on the site that is 12 times the size of Tokyo Dome. Visitors can get up close and personal with full-scale […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/21 -
What is Amanohashidate like? A summary of the highlights of Amanohashidate! Amanohashidate is a scenic spot located at the western end of Wakasa Bay, southeast of the Tango Peninsula and Miyazu Bay in northern Kyoto Prefecture and is designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the Government. Together with Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture and Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture, it is one of the three most scenic spots in Japan. The following illustrations show some of the best places to visit in Amanohashidate. Amanohashidate is a 30-minute drive from the Ine no Funaya. Amanohashidate is formed by a sandbar (spit) of approximately 2.4 km called “Daitenkyo” and a sandbar […]
> 続きを読む2022/12/1 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum
Even if you are not a fanatic, you must go there before you die! Kids will absolutely be love it! I visited “Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum!” Fukui Prefecture is called “Dinosaur Kingdom” because many dinosaur fossils are excavated. In Fukui Prefecture, there are many dinosaur spots that both children and adults can enjoy, such as monuments of dinosaur, dinosaur theme parks, a dinosaur museum and dinosaur fossil quarry. A huge moving monument of dinosaurs are set up at the West Exit Station Square (its nickname is Dinosaur Square) of JR Fukui Station. There are three full-scale reproductions of dinosaur lived in Fukui, Fukuiraptor, Fukuisaurus and Fukuititan. The largest one is […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/13 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Honeycomb Art Museum “Bee Heaven”
First ever in the world! I will introduce the art museum “Bee Heaven” of honeycomb arts which created by a man fascinated by bees! Bees are not bad guys! They are good model of companies! There is an art museum called “Bee Heaven” which honeycombs of hornet are displayed in Tomi City, Nagano Prefecture. More than 1600 of unique masterpiece of honeycomb arts are displayed. Yoshikuni Shiozawa who is a director of “Bee Heaven” respects bees a lot because he believes “Hardworking bees achieve great job with small bodies. This is good example of companies!” It opened in 1995. Mr. Shiozawa founded a liquid concrete company in the local Tomi […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/27 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Mt. Osore (Osorezan)
A hell tour, tower of stones and colorful pinwheels etc…and there’s smell of sulfur is drifting around. Mt. Osore(Oserezan) of Aomori is so amazing! At the northern end of the main island, Shimokita Peninsula, that Aomori Prefecture is located, there is a sacred place called “Mt.Osore(Osorezan)” where souls of the dead will gather. It was opened about 1,200 years ago. There is no single mountain called “Mt.Osore”, but this is a generic name for the eight mountains surrounded Lake Usoriyama and lake itself. In Buddhism, it is said that the souls of dead cross the Styx and enter the world after death called Anoyo (next world). There are places named […]
> 続きを読む2023/6/5 -
If you think that you can see firefly squid anytime you go there, you will be disappointed with the gap between your expectation and the reality. So, please do not hesitate to go “HOTARUIKA Museum (firefly squid museum)”. Every year from March to May, large numbers of firefly squid, glowing blue and white, are washed up in the surf by the waves along the coast of Toyama Bay from Toyama City to Uozu City, centering on Namerikawa City, Toyama Prefecture. This scene is known as the “Hotaruika no Gunyuukaimen – Firefly squid swarming sea surface,” and is designated as a special natural monument in Japan. Incidentally, firefly squid themselves have not […]
> 続きを読む2022/9/4 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Uesugi Shrine (Yonezawa castle ruins)
There is the Uesugi Shrine, the Uesugi Museum, the Uesugi Earl’s Residence, and a bronze statue. I took a walk around the Yonezawa castle ruins. The “Uesugi Shrine,” which located in the ruins of the former Yonezawa Castle in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, is a shrine dedicated to Kenshin Uesugi. He is a warlord during the age of civil wars (16th century). Kenshin Uesugi died in 1578, and his body deified in Kasugayama Castle in Echigo Province (current Niigata Prefecture). However, when Kagekatsu Uesugi, who was a successor of Kenshin, was transferred to Yonezawa after Aizu, Kenshin’s coffin was also moved from Echigo to Yonezawa. He built the ancestral hall […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/13 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Matsushima, one of the three most scenic spots in Japan.
I previously thought that the scenery of Matsushima was exaggerated to attract tourists, whether it was one of the Three Views of Japan, or it moved Basho Matsuo’s heart. However, I was wrong. It really was an amazing view! Matsushima in Miyagi prefecture, famous for its haiku, “Matsushima-ya, Aa-Matsushima-ya, Matsushima-ya,” is one of the Three Views of Japan, alongside Miyajima of Hiroshima prefecture and Amanohashidate of Kyoto prefecture. Around 260 islands, large and small, are inside Matsushima Bay. The contrast of the blue ocean and green islands is a beautiful view when seen from high ground. “Four Great Views” is four scenic viewpoints of Matsushima, all acquiring three stars from […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/29 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Momotaro shrine
A pilgrimage to the holy land of the folktale”Momotaro”! Momotaro Shrine in Aichi prefecture introduces the legend of “Momotaro” with a unique view of the world even though it is a shrine! The legend of “Momotaro” is most famous in Okayama prefecture, but the legend of “Momotaro” also remains in the middle basin of the Kiso River, which straddles Aichi and Gifu prefectures. According to the legend of “Momotaro“, which has been handed down around the Kiso River, “Momotaro Shrine” in Inuyama City, Aichi prefecture, is where the grandfather and grandmother in the story lived. It is said that when They died, Momotaro hid himself in a nearby mountain and […]
> 続きを読む2023/4/23 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Dotombori
Why are there so many restaurants in Dotombori, Osaka? From sightseeing spots to gourmet food, this site is full of information that will give you some idea of what Dotombori is all about! The most famous downtown area in Osaka Prefecture is Dotombori in Osaka’s Minami district. It is an area where visitors can enjoy everything from sightseeing spots to gourmet foods such as Osaka’s soul food “Takoyaki”, “Okonomiyaki”, and “Kushikatsu”, as well as shopping. The Glico sign, huge signboards in the shape of crabs and octopuses, and flamboyant neon signs that stretch across the road are well known as the symbolic scenery of Dotombori. The Ebisu Bridge over the […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/12 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：To-no-Hetsuri
“To-no-Hetsuri” is a tourist spot famous for its natural beauty created over a million years and the thrilling swaying suspension bridge. “To-no-Hetsuri” is a scenic spot along the Agagawa River located in Shimogo Town, Fukushima Prefecture. It is designated as a national natural monument. A stratum that was formed a million years ago was uplifted and weathered by river erosion and wind and rain over many years, creating a tower-like cliff. In early summer, wisteria flowers hang from the cliffs, and in autumn, you can enjoy the scenery of beautiful autumn leaves. “Hetsuri” means cliff in dialect. Famous tourist attractions such as Ouchi-juku and Yunokami Onsen are nearby. There are […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/21 -
Sado Island is an island in the Sea of Japan, the prefecture of Niigata. Its area is approximately 854 km². It is the second-largest island in Japan, after Okinawa Island, except for the four main islands such as Honshu and except for the Northern Territories. It is about 1.5 times the size of Tokyo’s 23 wards. Since there are few bus services and tourist spots are scattered over a wide area, it is impossible to do on a day trip just to visit the popular tourist spots of Sado island such as “Sado Gold Mine,” “Tarai Boat” and “Toki (crested ibis)”! Even if you use a car, it may […]
> 続きを読む2022/8/27 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Ouchi-juku
It’s like a time trip to the Edo period. The thatched roof and nostalgic atmosphere of Ouchi-juku were very relaxing. “Ouchi-juku” in Shimogo Town, Fukushima Prefecture is one of the best tourist spots in Fukushima Prefecture, located about an hour south of Aizuwakamatsu City by car. In the Edo period, on both sides of the road that connected Aizu and Nikko, there are still about 40 houses with thatched roofs lined up, and the scenery of the post town that still retains the atmosphere of the Edo period remains. It is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings because the scenery of houses with thatched roofs […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/21 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Yunokami Onsen
I stayed at Yunokami Onsen Inn because it was close to Ouchi-juku. The hot springs are very comfortable, so I entered three times. Yunokami Onsen, located in Shimogo Town, Fukushima Prefecture, is a hot spring town known for its station building with a thatched roof, which is rare even in Japan. Along the valley of the Agagawa, there are many hot spring inns with a calm appearance, and there are sightseeing spots such as “To-no-Hetsuri” and “Ouchi-juku” in the surrounding area. The history of Yunokami Onsen dates back to the Nara period (8th century), and it is said that villagers found a monkey healing its wounds in the hot spring […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/21 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Sakurajima Island
Things to know before traveling! Professor Rabbit will introduce you to the basics of sightseeing in Sakurajima Island! Sakurajima Island, floating in Kinko Bay (Kagoshima Bay) in Kagoshima Prefecture, is a volcanic island with an altitude of 1117 m, an area of about 80 km², and a circumference of about 52 km. It used to be an “island”, but in 1914 (Taisho 3) it was connected to the Osumi Peninsula by lava flowed out by a large-scale eruption. Even now, it is an active volcano that repeats small eruptions almost every day, but the four cities of Kagoshima, Kirishima, Tarumizu, and Aira at the foot of the mountain and on […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/21 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Ura Bandai (Bandai Kogen Highlands)
Ura Bandai is a highland with wonderful views of many lakes and marshes centered on Mt. Bandai. The drive along the Bandaisan Gold Line from Bandai Kogen Highlands to Lake Inawashiro was very refreshing! Mt. Bandai (altitude 1816m), located almost in the center of Fukushima Prefecture, has records of eruptions in 806 and 1888. The 1888 eruption was a large-scale phreatic explosion that blew away one of the four peaks, causing a debris avalanche that hit Hibara Village (now Kitashiobara Village) at the northern foot of the mountain, burying three villages. The eruption of Mt. Bandai caused many casualties, but on the other hand, it created a beautiful […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/10 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：The Okhotsk Sea Ice Museum (GIZA)
You can touch real drift ice at any time in the room to experience freezing temperature at -20°C of the Okhotsk Sea Ice Museum! There were also a lot of swimming “Clione,” the angel of drift ice! The Okhotsk Sea Ice Museum (GIZA) in Monbetsu City, Hokkaido, is a facility where you can experience the world of drift ice all year round. You can touch real drift ice in an extremely cold space at -20°C and see the angel of drift ice “Clione.” Since gloves and warm clothing are available for rent, you can visit the museum dressing light clothes. The origin of the nickname of the museum “GIZA” is […]
> 続きを読む2022/11/22 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：The angel of drift ice “Clione”
The demonic predation scene of “the angel of drift ice” Clione is too scary! The head cracks wide open and the buccal cones pop out! Drift ice is one of the winter features of the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, in the east of Hokkaido. Clione, which is said to “come with the drift ice and leave with the drift ice,” is called “the angel of drift ice” or “the fairy of drift ice” because of its translucent body, red head and red abdomen, and its swimming motion, which looks like an angel flying with its wings fluttering. The scientific name of Clione is “Clione limacina.” The name “Clione” […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/28 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Nature cruising tour in the sea of Rausu in Hokkaido
I’ve joined a nature cruising tour in the sea of Rausu in Hokkaido! You can enjoy drift ice & bird watching in winter and dolphin & whale watching in summer! The large panorama of the Shiretoko Peninsula and Kunashiri Island was spectacular! Rausu Town in Hokkaido is located on the east side of the Shiretoko Peninsula. In the Nemuro Strait off the coast of Rausu, you can enjoy a nature cruising tour that you can enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Shiretoko Peninsula, a World Natural Heritage Site, and Kunashiri Island in the Northern Territories. You can also observe marine mammals such as orcas, whales, and dolphins in summer, and […]
> 続きを読む2022/11/20 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：The drift ice of the Sea of Okhotsk
A scenic spot for the superb view that you’ll want to see at least once in your lifetime! Visiting Hokkaido to see the drift ice of the Sea of Okhotsk, the mysterious beauty of nature! The northeastern area of Hokkaido, along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, is famous for the drift ice scenery in winter. In addition, Hokkaido is known as the “southern limit of drift ice,” the place where you can see the drift ice in the southernmost part of the Northern Hemisphere. From the coast, you can see drift ice from the middle of January every year, and the best season to see the drift ice […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/28 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Mt. Bandai (folk song “Aizu Bandaisan”)
Why is Mt. Bandai in Fukushima Prefecture a treasure trove? If you love sleeping in the morning, drinking in the morning, and taking a hot bath in the morning like Shosuke Ohara, is it really no good? Mt. Bandai (alttude 1816m) is a symbolic mountain in the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture. The folk song “Aizu Bandaisan”, which sings Mt. Bandai as “Treasure Mountain”, is a Bon Odori festival dance song that has been sung mainly in Aizuwakamatsu City since the beginning of the Meiji era (1868-). Around the beginning of the Showa era (1934), “Aizu Bandaisan” was released by a record company and became famous nationwide. It is counted […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/21 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：The children’s story of “Momotaro”
The children’s story of “Momotaro” is known to every Japanese…, but I found the original story of “Momotaro”! In Japan, from north of Aomori Prefecture to south of Kagoshima Prefecture, many legends use children’s story “Momotaro” as a model. “Momotaro” is a story in which Momotaro, born from a peach, slay demons in Onigashima (island of demons) with a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant. However, in particular, Okayama Prefecture, Kagawa Prefecture, and Aichi Prefecture are famous for three great traditional places of “Momotaro”. The story of “Momotaro” passed down across Japan seems to be closely related to the unification war of Japan by Yamato administration (the name of the Imperial […]
> 続きを読む2023/4/20 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：“Dejima” in Nagasaki Prefecture
Nagasaki’s Dejima, which is in textbooks of history is now filled its surroundings and connected by the land. “Dejima” in Nagasaki Prefecture is an artificial island created in 1636 for the policy of seclusion during the Edo period. The shape of an artificial island is a fan and the total area is about 1500㎡. This is about one-third the size of Tokyo Dome. The construction period was about 2 years and the total construction cost was about 400 million yen in terms of the monetary value as of today. The Edo Shogunate ordered merchants in Nagasaki to create this artificial land. There is an anecdote that when people asked about […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/31 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Amakusa Ariake Octopus Road
The octopus love of people in Amakusa is unbelievable! National Route 324 is octopus’s highway! Big octopus in Amakusa is just awesome! In the Amakusa region of Kumamoto Prefecture, the route along National Route 324 is called the Amakusa Ariake Octopus Road, named after Amakusa’s specialty, octopus. The Ariake Sea, where extends along this road is a large catching area of octopus. Amakusa in summer is famous for catching many octopuses, and shops along the road offer their original specialties using those local octopus, such as dried octopus and large octopus’ dumplings. Speaking about a special feature of summer in Amakusa, it is a sun-dried octopus with a humorous figure […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/13 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：“Hell Tour” of Beppu Onsen
Here is a question for you. Ant hell, crocodile hell and capybara hell. Which hell actually exists in “Hell Tour” of Beppu Onsen? Even in Oita Prefecture, where the number of hot springs yielding is highest in Japan, Beppu City is especially known as the largest number of hot springs. Gas, hot mud, and hot water has been gushed for over 1000 years and its scene was feared as hell. There are hundreds of hot springs in Beppu city, and there are not only hot springs that you can be soaked in hot water, but also hot spring that you can enjoy with your eyes. This is “Hell Tour” that […]
> 続きを読む2023/6/1 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Yoshinogari Historical Park
I got into a doctor of archeology and enjoyed Yoshinogari Historical Park! “Yoshinogari site” is a typical ruin from the Yayoi period (from B.C. 3rdto A.D 3rdcentury) which is also in the history textbooks. Excavations have been carried out since 1986, and there are about 40ha of the largest ruins in Japan located in the eastern part of Saga Prefecture, in the southern foot of a mountain of Sefuri. Also, Yoshinogari site is academically important because this site showed that small “villages” incorporated the cultures from East Asia and eventually developed into “countries” with some “villages” through about 700 years of the Yayoi period. This is also designated as a […]
> 続きを読む2023/6/1 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Oki Islands
Oki Island is a beautiful island in Shimane Prefecture that looks like it is not an island in the Sea of Japan, even though it is an island in the Sea of Japan. Oki Island consists of 4 manned islands and 180 unmanned islands that are located in the Sea of Japan, northeast of Shimane Prefecture. It is located approximately 40 to 80 km offshore of Shimane Peninsula. Chiburijima (Chibu Village), Nakanoshima (Ama Town), Nishinoshima (Nishinoshima Town) are called as Dozen Islands and the largest island of Oki Island (Okinoshima Town) is called as Dougo Island. Access to the Oki Islands If you want to visit Oki Islands, you can […]
> 続きを読む2022/9/5 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Dogo Onsen
This is a scene from the 3000-year history of Dogo Onsen! An egret with an injured leg started to soak in a hot spring flowing though rocks. Eventually, he healed his wound and flew away! Dogo Onsen, located in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture is Japan’s oldest hot spring with a history of 3000 years. In Japanese mythology, when the age of gods, Okuninushi-no-Mikoto and Sukunahikona-no-Mikoto traveled to Iyo Province (current Ehime Prefecture). During the travel, Sukunahikona-no-Mikoto got sick. Okuninushi-no-Mikoto put Sukunahikona-no-Mikoto on his palms, soaked in a hot spring and Sukunahikona-no-Mikoto got well. In addition, it is said that many emperors and Imperial family member including Prince Shotoku, Emperor Keiko, […]
> 続きを読む2023/6/1 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Tsunoshima Ohashi Bridge
Tsunoshima Ohashi Bridge won the third place of “The breathtaking sights in the world I want to see before I die”! Tsunoshima, located northwest of Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a small island of the Sea of Japan. Tsunoshima Ohashi which was completed in 2000, is now a tourist attraction representing Yamaguchi Prefecture. Many people wish to visit there once to see “a bridge extends straight along the beautiful emerald green sea”. The total length of Tsunoshima Ohashi is 1780m and it is one of the longest bridge in Japan which you can go across for free of charge. Amagase Park is located on the mainland side of Tsunoshima Ohashi and this […]
> 続きを読む2021/2/8 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：The Akame 48 waterfalls The Ninja Forest
Great news for those who want to be a Ninja! You can get Ninja training from how to throw shuriken to how to walk on the water, in the mountain of Mie Prefecture! Iga region in western Mie Prefecture is the home of “Iga Ninja”. Together with “Koka Ninja” based in the southern part of Shiga Prefecture where is over Iga region and mountains, Iga Ninja is one of the most famous group of Ninja. “Ninja Forest” is a place where you can experience Ninja training and it is located at the mountain foot of “Akame 48 waterfalls” in Nabari City, Mie Prefecture. You can also rent Ninja costume at […]
> 続きを読む2021/2/7 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Kofukuji Matsubara Shopping Street
Why is Yokohama’s “Kofukuji Matsubara Shopping Street” busy while shopping streets across the country are sluggish? Amazing number of visitors! What is an idea that increased 400,000 people a year? “Kofukuji Matsubara Shopping Street” is a shopping street that straddles Hodogaya Ward and Nishi Ward in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. It is a 6-minute walk along the old Tokaido Road toward Yokohama from the nearest station, Sagami Railway Tennocho Station. There are about 70 shops such as greengrocers, fish shops, butchers, flower shops, shoe shops, dry goods shops, liquor stores, and clothing stores in a 200m square area. It’s an old-fashioned shopping street with a retro atmosphere, but it’s a […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/21 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Jigokudani Monkey Park
Foreign visitors are dramatically increasing! Why Japanese macaques of Nagano Prefecture is popular among foreigners? Yamanouchi Town, Nagano Prefecture where Shiga Highland and Yudanakashibu hot spring village are located is a mountainous region where Japanese macaque live. It is very cold in winter and one third of the year is covered with snow. Japanese macaques living in “Jigokudani (Hell Valley)” area of Yamanouchi Town are famous as “Monkey go into hot spring” in both domestic and oversea. Also, they are called as “Snow Monkeys”. The photograph of Japanese macaque go into hot spring was posted on the cover of American photographic magazine in 1970 and introduced by medias of each […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/27 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Aizu Tajima Gion Festival
Have you ever heard of the Gion Festival in Fukushima Prefecture? You can see a Japanese bridal walk from the morning and enjoy kodomo-kabuki after that. You can see, and enjoy the Gion Festival in Aizu all day long! Three days from 22 to 25 July, the “Aizu Tajima Gion Festival” is held every year in the Tajima area of Minami Aizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture. The Aizu Tajima Gion Festival is one of Japan’s three major Gion Festivals, along with the “Kyoto Gion Festival” and “Hakata Gion Yamagasa.” Aizu Tajima Gion Festival has designated as an important intangible folk cultural asset of Japan because the festival has more than 800 […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/29 -
Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture is the hometown of Ono no Komachi. I tried to summarize the sad legend of Ono no Komachi and Fukakusa no Shosho. The Ogachi district of Yuzawa City in Akita Prefecture is said to be the birthplace and final place of Ono no Komachi, a female poet of the early Heian period (9th century). The vermilion building that comes into view as you drive along National Route 13 is Komachido hall, which was built in memory of Ono no Komachi. It is said that this was the place where Fukakusa no Shosho planted a peony plant that was a gift to Ono no Komachi, so it […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/30 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：“Konpira Grand Theatre (Kanamaru-za)”
The playhouse from the Edo period remains in Kotohira Town, Kagawa Prefecture. A staff explained well to us about the stage set. Even if you are not a Kabuki fan, this is the place you can enjoy. I want to see a real Kabuki for next time. “Konpira Grand Theatre (Kanamaru-za)” in Kotohira Town, Kagawa Prefecture is the oldest existing playground in Japan built in the late Edo period (1835). In Kotohira Town, “Kotohira-gu” which is known as “Konpira-san” for a long time has been enshrined. In the Edo period, Konpira-san was said as the “must go place once in a lifetime” and lots of people visited there from all […]
> 続きを読む2021/1/22 -
Shigaraki is an area located in the western part of Koka City, the southernmost part of Shiga Prefecture. The west of Koka City is neighboring Kyoto and the south is neighboring the Iga City of Mie Prefecture. During the Nara period (mid 8th century), Emperor Shomu placed the capital in Shigaraki for only 3 years. Shigaraki is also famous for its teas (Asamiya tea) and potteries (Shigaraki ware). “Asamiya tea” is one of the oldest tea of Japan which has been cultivated for over 1,200 years and also have been dedicated to successive Emperors. “Shigaraki ware” is pottery that has a history from the Kamakura period and also it […]
> 続きを読む2023/8/13 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Sendai Castle
If you visit Sendai, you definitely want to see the equestrian statue of Masamune Date at the Sendai Castle ruins. It is an image of a one-eyed dragon, but it does not have an eyepatch. What does that mean? Sendai Castle, located in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, was built by Masamune Date, the 17th head of the Date family and the first lord of the Sendai domain. Honmaru (main enclosure) was completed in 1602. Although the castle tower base was built, it is said that the castle tower was not built in order to avoid Ieyasu Tokugawa’s caution. Sendai Castle is located on Mt. Aoba, so it is affectionately called […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/26 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Naruto whirlpools
The world’s largest “Naruto whirlpools” that look through the glass 45m above from the sea is so thrilling! My legs were unconsciously frozen with fear of falling the glass! Naruto Strait is a 1.3-km strait between Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture and Oge Island in Tokushima Prefecture. Naruto Strait is very famous for its whirlpools and is said to be one of the world’s three major tidal currents, along with the “Strait of Messina” in Italy and the “Seymour Narrows” in the United States. Mechanism of whirlpools in the Naruto Strait The whirlpools in the Naruto Strait are related to the tidal currents caused by the ebb and flow of […]
> 続きを読む2023/5/24 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Kurobe Dam
I’ll tell you the secret to seeing a rainbow for sure at the very famous sightseeing water discharge of the Kurobe Dam, which will make even people who are not interested in dams into dam lovers. Kurobe Dam is a dedicated hydroelectric dam built on the Kurobe River, which flows through the town of Tateyama in Toyama Prefecture. It is also called the Kuroyon Dam because it supplies water to the Kurobe River No.4(“yon” in Japanese) Power Plant of Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. The sightseeing water discharge, which has become a tourist attraction at the Kurobe Dam, is held from late June to mid-October every year, from 6:30 am […]
> 続きを読む2023/4/30 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Nushima Island (birthplace of Japan)
Nushima Island in Hyogo Prefecture is the birthplace of Japan! In the age of the gods, Izanagi and Izanami made the most of the Japanese Archipelago on this island! Nushima Island is a small island with about 10km of the circumference. It is located 4.6km south of the southern tip of Awaji Island (Minami Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture). There is a regular liner from the Habu fishing harbor in Awaji Island and you can go to Nushima Island in 10 minutes. When seeing this island from the sky, you can see the shape of the island is like a Magatama (comma-shaped beads, one of the three Sacred Treasures symbolizing the […]
> 続きを読む2021/1/21 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：The Legend of Tenaga Ashinaga in Mt. Chokai
When you visit the foot of Mt. Chokai, do not forget the story of “Tenaga Ashinaga,” a supernatural monster in Japanese folklore. Mt. Chokai (elevation 2236m) is an independent mountain located on the border of Yamagata Prefecture and Akita Prefecture. The beautiful scenery of Mt. Chokai is selected as one of 100 famous mountains in Japan and 100 landscapes of Japan. Mt. Chokai is called “Dewa Fuji.” This is because the beautiful snowy appearance resembles Mt. Fuji. The foothills of this magnificent mountain extend to the sea. Mt. Chokai influences a lot on the people who live around the foot of the mountain. People believe that a god called “Omonoimino […]
> 続きを読む2021/1/16 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Chirihama Nagisa Driveway
Get exhilarating feeling by driving on the beach! I ran “Chirihama Nagisa Driveway” in Ishikawa Prefecture! Located on the west side of the base of the Noto Peninsula, the Chirihama Coast, which is about 8km from Hodatsushimizu Town to Hakui City in Ishikawa Prefecture, is the only sandy beach in Japan where all vehicles such as cars, buses, bikes, and bicycles can run along the beach. It is famous as “Chirihama Nagisa Driveway”. Because the sand on Chirihama Coast is even and smaller than the usual so when it absorbs water it will firmly tightened and automobile can run without sinking on the beach. However, even at such Chirihama Coast, […]
> 続きを読む2021/1/16 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Kurobe Gorge
Let’s check the highlights before getting on Trokko in Kurobe Gorge! I will introduce 8 popular spots along the Kurobe Gorge Railway line. Kurobe gorge is the Hida Mountains (commonly known as North Alps) that across 4 prefectures of Toyama, Gifu, Nagano and Niigata. Among them, Kurobe gorge is the most precipitous large V-shaped valley in Japan which flow from the middle to the upper stream of Kurobe river to the east of Toyama prefecture, In Kurobe gorge, Torokko (the trolley train) is running. “Trokko” is a freight car that carries soils and stones from construction sites and English truck is its word origin. Kurobe Gorge Railway Trokko in Kurobe […]
> 続きを読む2023/4/23 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：“Oh! The castle is on fire!” Why did the Byakkotai, White Tiger Unit, misunderstand that Tsuruga Castle was burning?
“Tsuruga Castle” in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, is a unique castle with Castle tower of a red roofing tile. Its official name is “Wakamatsu Castle”, but people of Aizu call it “Tsuruga Castle”. Tsuruga Castle was first built in 1384 by the Ashina family as Kurokawa Castle. In 1589, Date Masamune ruled Aizu by defeating Ashina, but the following year, Aizu confiscated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. And Gamo Ujisato, who was Oda Nobunaga’s son-in-law ruled that land. Gamo Ujisato significantly renovated Kurokawa Castle, renamed it as “Tsuruga Castle”, and named the place “Wakamatsu”. After that, the owner of the castle often changed from Kagekatsu Uesugi, Kato family, and so on. […]
> 続きを読む2020/11/30 -
Hakuto Coast in Tottori Prefecture, where appeared in the story of Japanese mythology “Hare of Inaba” is the birthplace of the first love story of Japan! Hakuto Coast in Tottori Prefecture, where has beautiful white sands, is the shore where the Japanese myth “Hare of Inaba” was set. Hakuto Coast is part of the Tottori Sand Dunes, also selected as one of the “100 best beach of Japan”. In the offshore of Hakuto Coast, there is Oki Island where white hare has inhabited. The shore reefs continue from Oki Island to Hakuto Coast is compared to group of sharks that the hare have stepped and crossed to the coast in […]
> 続きを読む2020/11/22 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, model location for Kenji Miyazawa’s “Night on the Galactic Railroad”
Welcome to the world of Kenji Miyazawa! I will introduce the spots that were the model of “Night on the Galactic Railroad”! From Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture. Kenji Miyazawa is a writer of children’s story who represents Japan. He is from Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture and in Hanamaki City, there are many spots related to one of his representative work “Night on the Galactic Railroad”. It is said that the model of Galactic Railroad was a “Iwate Light Railway” which is a railroad company used to be in Iwate Prefecture. Iwate Light Railway traveled the line corresponds to the later Kamiishi Line of JR East. The elementary school that Giovanni […]
> 続きを読む2020/10/30 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：About the sculptures of Nikko Toshogu Shrine
Monkey, cat, sparrow, elephant, eagle, tiger, lion, kylin, dragon … The world heritage “Nikko Toshogu” is a zoo of sculptures! “Nikko Toshogu Shrine”, located in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, is a shrine dedicated to Ieyasu Tokugawa, and it was built in 1617 based on the will of Ieyasu Tokugawa, the first shogun of the Edo Shogunate. Most of today’s shrines were rebuilt from 1634 to 1636 by the third shogun, Iemitsu Tokugawa. In the ground of the shrine, there are 55 shrine pavilions including 8 national treasures and 34 important cultural heritages and there are many highlights such as building designs and sculptures with vivid colors. In 1999, it was registered […]
> 続きを読む2020/8/1 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Nezugaseki
If you do not know about it, you are about to pass by! A unique scenery where there is the prefectural boundary of “Yamagata Prefecture on the left” and “Niigata Prefecture on the right” in one village! From Nezugaseki in Yamagata Prefecture. “Nezugaseki” in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, is located on the prefectural boundary of Yamagata Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture. Since a long time ago, in Nezugaseki, the “Nezu no Seki Barrier,” the Checkpoints has been established to prevent the invasion of “Emishi” (the name of people living in the north from the view of Imperial Court) . Along with the “Shirakawa no Seki Barrier” (Shirakawa City, Fukushima Prefecture) and […]
> 続きを読む2020/8/1 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Godzilla Rock on the Oga Peninsula
I went to see “Godzilla Rock” in Oga Peninsula of Akita Prefecture that can be seen as a small animal in the daytime, and a monster in the evening! Godzilla blows fire with sunset and clouds is popular at there! There is a rock similar to the monster Godzilla at Shiosezaki in Oga City, the southern tip of Oga Peninsula, Akita Prefecture. The silhouette illuminated by the sunset in red sky is look like a Godzilla blowing fire in the sky, so it is called as “Godzilla Rock”. The best season you can see Godzilla blowing fire is the time around sunset in mid-April and mid-October. During the daytime, it […]
> 続きを読む2020/8/1 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Sea of clouds at Kunimigaoka, Takachiho
Takachiho in Miyazaki Prefecture is famous for Japanese mythology and a sea of clouds! The view of the clouds sea from “Kunimigaoka” make you feel like become a god living above the clouds! “Kunimigaoka” in Takachiho town of Miyazaki Prefecture, is a hill of 513m. It is said in the ancient time, ”Tateiwatatsu no Mikoto” who is the grandson of Emperor Jimmu stopped by and look out over the country when he want for ruling over Kyushu. The observation deck is set in Kunimigaoka and the Takachiho Basin spreads in the east and there are the outer crater of Mt. Aso and Gogaku (5 great mountains) in the west. In […]
> 続きを読む2023/4/8 -
The first-ever in history! God has fallen from the sky in Takachiho of Miyazaki Prefecture! Takachiho Town in Miyazaki Prefecture is the birthplace of Japanese mythology. Myths such as “Tenson Korin” and “Amano Iwato” which are especially famous in Japanese mythology has been handed down to this region. “Tenson Korin” is a myth that “Ninigi-no-Mikoto” who is a grandson of “Amaterasu-omikami (god of the sun)” got an oracle from Amaterasu-omikami and descended from “Takamagahara (the world where the gods live)” to the peak of Takachiho in order to rule “Ashihara no Nakatsukuni (the world where people live)”. “Amano-Iwato” is a myth that “Susanoo-no-Mikoto” who is a younger brother of Amaterasu, […]
> 続きを読む2023/4/9 -
In Takachiho town, Miyazaki Prefecture, there is a cave where Amaterasu-omikami hid herself in the old days of the mythological age. I summarized the mythology briefly. There is a famous cave written in “Kojiki” and also “Nihon-shoki” in Takachiho town, Miyazaki Prefecture. There is a myth remains that the world was covered with the dark because of too much outrageous behavior of Susanoo-no-Mikoto. This cave is called “Amano Iwato” and this place is now enshrined as “Amanoiwato Shrine”. About 10 minutes on foot along the Iwato River from Amano Iwato Shrine, there is a river beach called “Amanoyasugawara” and there is a myth when Amaterasu-omikami shut herself in “Amano Iwato”, […]
> 続きを読む2023/4/17 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Takachiho Gorge, known for Manai Falls
How to enjoy Takachiho Gorge! Manai Falls look up from a sightseeing boat is a superb spot of Takachiho Gorge! I enjoyed feeling water falls while rowing the boat! Takachiho Gorge in Takachiho Town is a superb spot representing Miyazaki Prefecture. Pyroclastic flow was streamed out to Takachiho and piled up by the large eruption of Mt. Aso located in Kumamoto Prefecture about 120,000 years ago and 90,000 years ago and then solidified lava became V-shaped valley by erosion of Gokase River. Column-shaped joint cliff which height is 80 to 100m continues for 7km. This is designated as a national site of scenic beauty and also a natural monument of […]
> 続きを読む2023/3/19 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Kakubei Jishi Lion (Echigo Jishi Lion), a traditional performing art in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture
Only a very elderly person can think of a boy named “Sugisaku” of Kakubei Jishi Lion played by Hibari Misora. “Echigo Jishi Lion” is also known as “Kakubei Jishi Lion” and is a local performing art in Niigata City (former Tsukigata Village), Niigata Prefecture. Jishi (or Shishi) means a lion in Japanese. But until the early Showa era (20th century), it was a lion dance performed by children aged 6 to 13 who put lion masks. It was also a street performance to show handstand and group gymnastic with the sound of light drums. The origin of Echigo Jishi Lion is that in the middle of the Edo period (18th […]
> 続きを読む2020/7/30 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：the roots of folk song “Sado Okesa”
Is there anyone else who wants to know the roots of Japan’s representative folk song “Sado Okesa”? In Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture, there is Japan’s famous folk song called “Sado Okesa” that has been handed down since the Edo period (17th century to mid-19th century); however, it came to be called “Sado Okesa” since the end of the Taisho era (1920s). Kitamae-bune Cargo Ships west route map “Sado Okesa” is based on “Ushibuka Haiya Bushi” in Kumamoto Prefecture. In the Edo period, “Haiya Bushi” was sung in drinking bouts of sailors of Kitamae-Bune Cargo Ships that transported goods from Osaka to Hokkaido by stopping by the ports on the Sea […]
> 続きを読む2023/4/15 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Japanese Cedar Avenue in Mt. Haguro
The approach of cedars avenue in Mt. Haguro, awarded three stars of “Michelin Green Guide” is a sightseeing spot worth for you to visit, but the 2446 stones step to the summit takes 60 minutes on foot and I used up all of my energy. Mt. Haguro is a mountain over 414m above the sea level in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. Together with Mt. Gassan(altitude of 1984m) and Mt. Yudono(altitude of 1500m), they are called “Three Mountains of Dewa” and it has been worshiped since ancient times as the spiritual place for Shugendo. Shugendo is a Buddhist school that aims to gain supernatural power through harsh training in the mountains. […]
> 続きを読む2019/12/7 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Oyashirazu･Koshirazu Cliff
The world hardest road to go through! I visited the exceedingly steep cliff of Hokuriku “Oyashirazu” and felt a mother’s cry calling a child and child’s sob calling a mother! Oyashirazu is about 15km length of precipitous terrain where the cliff of Hida mountains (known as the North Alps) located at the western end of Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture. It is officially called “Oyashirazu･Koshirazu”. Near Oyashirazu･Koshirazu, the cliff of Hida mountains fall into the Sea of Japan directly and its steep geographical feature make it difficult to cross the mountains. So, in the old days, travelers come and go from Echigo (present Niigata Prefecture) and Etchu (present Toyama Prefecture) sometime […]
> 続きを読む2019/12/7 -
Mt. Iimori is a small mountain located about 2km east of the central city of Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture. Since its shape is like a bowl of rice, it has come to be called Mt. Iimori. It is also very famous as the suicide site of “Byakko tai”. In 1868, after Tokugawa shogunate returned its political power to the Imperial Court, Boshin War between imperial and shogunate forces was broke out. Byakko tai is a shogunate army unit consisted of boys aged 16 to 17 years of Aizu Domain during Boshin War. Byakko tai fought against imperial army but they fled to Mt. Iimori. They saw samurai residences around […]
> 続きを読む2019/12/3 -
Ojiya City of Niigata Prefecture is the birthplace of Nishikigoi. In Ojiya, an exhibition of Nishikigoi is held every spring and autumn, and a lot of Nishikigoi lovers come to appreciate best Nishikigoi in Ojiya. “Nishikigoi no Sato” is only one Nishikigoi museum in Japan. You can freely enjoy the beautiful appearance of Nishikigoi called “Swim Jewelry” anytime you want. In the museum, various materials related to Nishikigoi such as the history and ecology of Nishikigoi, how to take care of them, etc. are also exhibited. When you get into “Nishikigoi no Sato”, a bronze statue of “Kinkou Sennin (Qin Gao hermit)” who ride on the carp will welcome […]
> 続きを読む2019/12/3 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Why is the tomb of Jesus Christ in Japan?
In truth, Jesus Christ lived in Aomori, Japan! I discovered a small village in Aomori with “Tomb of Jesus” and “Pyramid”! Whether you trust it or not, it’s up to you! There is “Tomb of Jesus” in Shingo village in Aomori Prefecture. Kiyomaro Takeuchi who was the founder of religion visited Herai village (current Shingo village) in 1935 and found “Tomb of Jesus”. According to “Takeuchi document” that is said to be transmitted from generation to generation in Takeuchi family, Jesus came to Japan when he was 21, trained himself for 12 years in Japan, came back to Judea at the age of 33, conveyed the teaching of God and […]
> 続きを読む2019/11/18 -
If you have Iwate Prefecture’s official “Kappa Capture License”, everyone can capture Kappa! Even fishing tackles can be borrowed for free, so you can go Kappabuchi Pool with empty hand! The story of Kappa was written in “Tono Monogatari (Story of Tono)” published in 1910 that gathered mysterious folk tales transmitted to Tono district of Iwate Prefecture. According to “Tono Monogatari”, there are many Kappa lived in the pool of river flowing in the back of Jokenji temple in Tono City, Iwate Prefecture. Those Kappa surprise people and play a prank on people and this place is called as Kappabuchi Pool from the old days. Kappa is a fictional animal […]
> 続きを読む2019/11/18 -
People on Murakami City, Niigata love salmon very much. They eat everything from head to tail of salmon, so cats in Murakami City surely feel bitter because they cannot have a tiny share of it. I just cannot help feeling sorry to them. In Murakami district of Niigata Prefecture, salmon is called as “Iyoboya” for a long time. In Murakami, both “Iyo” and “Boya” are words expressing fish, so Iyoboya means “fish of fish”. Miomote River flowing to Murakami was known as a salmon river since the Heian era, and its salmon was dedicated to the Imperial Court as a tax. In the Edo era, salmon became an important source […]
> 続きを読む2022/8/2 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Shibata Castle
Pay attention to the roof of three-story yagura (turret) of Shibata castle! There are three Shachihoko (fish shaped ornaments placed on a roof of castles), and it is absolutely wonderful for castle lovers. This is a related castle of Ako Roshi (loadless samurai of Ako domain), Yasubei Horie! Shibata Castle is one of the “Japan’s Top 100 Castles” in Shibata City, Niigata Prefecture. Since the surroundings of the castle were wetland and many irises were growing naturally, so it was called as the iris castle. Originally, it was a castle of Shibata family, a clan of Echigo (present Niigata Prefecture) since Kamakura Era, but in 1587, Shibata family was destroyed […]
> 続きを読む2019/11/18 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Yoronjima Island
Do nothing special, but I just want to relax and enjoy myself! Yoronjima Island Island in Kagoshima Prefecture is a small island of coral reef recommended for those who want to enjoy relaxing mood! Yoron Island is a small coral reef island with a circumference of approximately 23 km and the southernmost tip of Kagoshima Prefecture. It located about 563 km south of Kagoshima and about 23 km north of Okinawa main island. This island is very popular for honeymoon from long time ago because there are colorful tropical flowers such as hibiscus and bougainvillea and the emerald green color sea is very clear and beautiful, with many colorful tropical […]
> 続きを読む2019/11/5 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Kamo Aquarium, famous for its jellyfish
It’s so photogenic! I visited the world’s best jellyfish aquarium “Kamo Aquarium”! There is the world’s best “jellyfish aquarium” in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. “Tsuruoka City Kamo Aquarium” is an aquarium specializing in jellyfish and they exhibit more than 50 kinds of jellyfish. They have been awarded a Guinness world record by its number of exhibition of jellyfish. The nickname of this aquarium is “The Dream House of Jellies”. It started in 1930 as a private aquarium. Although the aquarium was closed during the wartime, but in 1956, it started again as “Tsuruoka City Kamo Aquarium”. In 1964, it was relocated, newly constructed and became the aquarium that 200,000 people […]
> 続きを読む2019/11/3 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Kouri Island
This is the island you definitely want to go with your partner! The reason why Kouri Island of Okinawa is called “island of love”! Kouri Island is a small island of a perimeter 8m, surrounded by the emerald green sea and it is located in the northeastern part of main island of Okinawa. To Kouri Island, you will go from main island of Okinawa to Kouri Island via Yagaji Island. There are bridges between main island of Okinawa to Yagaji Island and Yagaji Island to Kouri Island. Kouri Island has been a shooting location for TV dramas and advertisement, and in recent years it is gaining popularity as a tourist […]
> 続きを読む2019/8/28 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Abashiri Prison Museum (former Abashiri Prison)
If you do something bad, you will be taken to “Abashiri Prison”! I had a prison meal at “Abashiri Prison”, the coldest prison located in extreme northern Japan! The Abashiri Prison, known as the coldest and farthest prison in Japan, is in Abashiri city, Hokkaido. In the movie “Abashiri Prison” which Ken Takakura played the lead, Abashiri Prison was the setting of the movie. In the movie, Ken Takakura played a prisoner, and the scene he broke prison and escaped became popular. This movie was serialized and the prison became very popular. All Japanese in their 50s or over knows the name of this prison. After Meiji Restoration, there were […]
> 続きを読む2019/8/28 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Sasagawa Nagare Coastline
When I saw the sun set into Sea of Japan from Sasagawa Nagare, I suddenly feel sad and cried out “Mom! Oh, mother!” without thinking. Sasagawa Nagare is a coastline of about 11km at Sanpoku area of Murakami where is in the northern tip of Niigata Prefecture. This coastline is a place of scenic beauty which has fantastically shaped rocks, solitary islands, caves etc., which eroded by the waves of Sea of Japan continues. Also it is one of the most famous coastal scenic spots and selected as one of 100 Landscapes of Japan. In 1927, it was designated as a national site of scenic beauty and natural monument of […]
> 続きを読む2022/9/2 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Jade Coast and Fossa Magna Museum
I will teach you how to find jades at “Jade Coast” in Niigata! The stone you picked from the coast can be appraised by a stone professor at Fossa Magna Museum for free. The coast in Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture is familiar with the nickname of “Jade Coast”. This is because the mountain of Hime River and Oumi River flowing in Itoigawa City is the largest jade production area of Japan and on this coast, you can pick up the jade carried from upstream. (Collection of jade is forbidden at Hime River and Oumi River since it is designated as natural monuments of Japan.) The coast in Itoigawa City is […]
> 続きを読む2019/8/25 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine (Gold Panning Experience)
Everyone who wants to be a billionaire gather! Why don’t you pick up gold dust on the oldest gold mine in Sado Island, Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine? Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture is a very famous for Sado Gold Mine as it called “Gold Island”, but in fact, there are 55 gold and silver mines on Sado Island. Among them, there are 4 main mines, such as Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine, Niibo Silver Mine, Tsurushi Silver Mine, and Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine (commonly called Sado Gold Mine). The oldest gold mine on Sado Island is Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine. In the “Konjaku Monogatari” (Tales of Konjaku) in the late Heian […]
> 続きを読む2019/8/25 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Streetscape of Murakami, a castle town in the Edo period
I walked through the streets of Murakami, where Machiya traditional wooden townhouse remain. Murakami, located in the northernmost part of Niigata Prefecture was flourished as a castle town of the domain of Murakami during the Edo era, and there are samurai residence and houses of Edo and Meiji era called as “machiya (town house)”, that shop and house are added together still remained. In addition, Miomote River flowing through Murakami is known as a salmon river since Heian era, and a unique salmon culture still remains. The townscape of Murakami is also used for an advertisement of JR East. In front of the shop where the big shop curtain written […]
> 続きを読む2019/8/25 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Fukuura Hakkei (Fukuura Eight Views）
The travel of collecting stamp in Kashiwazaki! Let’s join Kashiwazaki fan club, travel capes of Kashiwazaki, complete all stamps and get a premium card! In Kashiwazaki located in the southwest part of Niigata prefecture, the coastline eroded by rough waves of the sea of Japan are continued. Among them, the most beautiful landscapes are called “Fukuura Hakkei (Fukuura eight views)” Those beautiful landscapes are “Daruma rock”, “Cape Banjin”, “Onodachi”, “Kamomegahana”, “Shojo cave”, “Matsugasaki”, “Hijirigahana” and “Ushigakubi”. At there, you can enjoy various kind of landscapes of reefs, capes, caves, cliffs and faults. In 1271, saint Nichiren enraged Kamakura shogunate government and banished to Sado Island. In 1274, he was pardoned […]
> 続きを読む2019/8/24 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Tokamachi Snow Festival
“Tokamachi snow Festival” is very popular for its warm hospitality. It was fun just looking at various snow statues from artistic one to the one made by people in general. There were famous guest singers in the folk song show and there was also a Kimono show. I was very excited when I saw fireworks set off. Tokamachi in Niigata prefecture is one of the snowiest area in Japan. In the winter, 2 to 3m of snow falls and it is a special snowy area in Japan. Even in such difficult environment of snowy region, “Tokamachi Snow Festival” is a snow festival born from the thought of local people who […]
> 続きを読む2019/8/24 -
Actually, there is no mine named Sado Gold Mine on Sado Island. In Sado island, Niigata Prefecture, there was a mine that was the largest in Japan and was worldly famous. This time, I’m introducing “Sado Gold Mine” which is known as “island of gold”.Japan used to be called “Japan, the country of gold”. The reason was there were numbers of mines of gold and silver all over Japan. Especially “Sado Gold Mine” was different in scale with 400kg of gold and 40t silver per year at its best. These gold and silver supported the finance of Tokugawa Edo government. Its history dates back a long time ago and after it […]
> 続きを読む2019/8/24 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Swan of Lake Hyoko
Swans flew to Lake Hyoko! If you want to see them, recommended time will be morning and evening! Please also enjoy the feeding show by Uncle Swan! Lake Hyoko, a famous swan landing zone is located in Suibara area of Agano City, Niigata Prefecture. Lake Hyoko was originally an agricultural pond about 0.1㎢ built in Edo era. At that time, it was “gourd-shaped”, so it started to call as “Lake Hyoko (Lake Gourd) ”. It was 1950 that the swan flew for the first time. Zhusaburo Yoshikawa (commonly known as Uncle Swan) has succeeded to feed wild swans which is very cautious for the first-time in Japan, Lake Hyoko was designated […]
> 続きを読む2019/8/24 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Noh Play on Sado Island
In fact, Sado Island has one-third of all Noh stages in Japan. Noh play is part of the lives of the islanders, so if you want to see a Noh play for the first time, Sado Island is the place to be…. Japanese unique entertainment “Noh play” which is also registered as a World Heritage is very popular in Sado Island of Niigata Prefecture. Noh play of Sado Island has been penetrated the islanders’ lives as an entertainment to be performed at village festival and celebrations, so there used to be more than 200 of Noh stages in Sado Island from Edo period to Meiji era. Even now there are […]
> 続きを読む2019/8/24 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：How to meet Japanese crested ibises on Sado Island
You can see critically endangered crested ibis on Sado island! With just 2cm of distance so you’ll be certainly excited! This time, I’m going to explain about crested ibis (Toki) who is critically endangered. Crested ibis (Toki) was present in all over east Asia from Japan, Russia, China and Korea until early 19th century. However, from the late 19th century to 20th century, many of them were hunted and most of their habitat were destroyed due to environmental degradation and they became critically endangered in the late 20th century. In Japan, in 1981, artificial breeding was attempted by capturing last 5 wild crested ibis on Sado Island, Niigata prefecture but […]
> 続きを読む2019/5/20 -
Ruzai is a punishment (exile) in which a criminal is banished from the capital to a remote place or island, especially when the exile is to an island called “Shima-Nagashi.” Ruzai is the second most serious punishment after capital punishment. Under the ancient Japanese Ritsuryo system, penalties were divided into three ranks according to distance from the capital: Konru (near), Churu (middle), and Onru (far), with the more serious the crime, the farther the exile. Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture was designated as an “Onru” place in the Nara period (in 724). (In addition to Sado Island, there were six other places of Onru: Izu, Oki, Awa, Tosa, and […]
> 続きを読む2022/8/5 -
A lot of ruins of the middle Jomon era which was about 5000 years to 4500 years ago have been found in the Shinano River basin (in and out of Nagaoka City, Tokamachi City and Tsunan Town) flowing in Niigata prefecture. Speaking about Jomon earthenware excavated in Niigata Prefecture, “Kaen-gata Doki (flame-style pottery)” that all Japanese people have seen in the textbook of elementary school is famous. However, its first excavation was in 1936 and it was found in Umataka ruin of Nagaoka City. It is made in the shape of flames of the fire, so it was named as the flame-style pottery. After that, many earthenware with common […]
> 続きを読む2019/4/30 -
There is “Senkaku Bay” on the southernmost part of Sotokaifu Coast, located northwest of Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture. Senkaku Bay is a fjord and is general term for 5 small bays, and the total length is about 3 kilometers. In ancient times, when the highest peak of Sado, Mt Kinpoku-san, erupted, lava flowed into the coastal terrace, and it was eroded by the winter winds and the rough waves of the Sea of Japan over the years. It is a representative scenic spot on Sado Island, and it is also designated as a scenic spot of the country. In 1932, when the Ministry of Education conducted a survey of […]
> 続きを読む2019/4/30 -
* ”Koku” is a traditional Japanese unit of volume. 1 koku is about 278.3 liters. A small village located the southern tip of Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, Shukunegi is called as “The village of Sengokubune”. From the Middle Ages, a lot of people work for shipping and shipbuilding industries lived at there. From Edo period to Meiji period, it became a port of call of Kitamae-bune and flourished as a base of shipping and shipbuilding industries. Kitamae-bune is a merchant ship that goes and crosses a route connecting Hokkaido from the Sea of Japan, via Shimonoseki and connected to the Seto Island Sea and Osaka. Because of […]
> 続きを読む2019/4/29 -
The drum of demon comes down to Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture is called “Ondeko” and this is the Shinto ritual performing art to pray for huge harvest, well-being of family, state of perfect health, prosperous business etc. and Ondeko go around the village houses one by one to keep off evil (to exorcise evil spirit).The origin of Ondeko is unknown, but it is said that Ondeko was influenced by Nogaku (Noh drama). It is said that the rhythm of the taiko was added to the Noh dance style, and the unique choreography was added to complete the form of Ondeko as we know it today. Noh drama is […]
> 続きを読む2022/9/4 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Bijin Bayashi (Beauty Forest)
The shower of negative ions come down! Refresh in Bijin Bayashi (Beauty Forest), a beauty beech grove! Both of your heart and body will be beautiful. In Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture, the beech grove of about 90 years old is extending in the hills of Matsunoyama. At the beginning of the Showa era, in order to make charcoal, all beeches around here have been cut down. However, since the year prior of cutting down was a great harvesting year of acorns once in several years, beeches grew together all at once and became a beech forest with same trunk size and height. Its tall and slim figure was […]
> 続きを読む2019/4/29 -
Kiyotsu Gorge is a great gorge of about 13 km in length, formed by Kiyotsu River which is a tributary of Shinano River in Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture. It is located in Joshinetsu-kogen National Park, and together with Kurobe Gorge (Toyama prefecture) and Osugi Canyon (Mie prefecture), Kiyotsu Gorge, it is one of the three great gorges in Japan. It is also designated as a scenic spot and a natural monument of Japan. Kiyotsu Gorge has the magnificent beauty of gorge, huge quay walls beside Kiyotsu River formed V-shaped gorge, and its rock surface of columnar joints are beautifully cracked. Also, it is also scientifically invaluable. At the entrance to […]
> 続きを読む2022/10/8 -
Ushi no Tsunotsuki is the bullfighting competition which is held in Nagaoka City (Old name: Yamakoshi village) and Ojiya City, Niigata prefecture. Long time ago, those areas were called as Echigo Nijiyu-mura village. Its history is long and it is said that this bullfighting is handed down for more than 1,000 years. A story of this bullfighting appeared in the best-selling novel of Edo period, “Nanso Satomi Hakkenden (The story of eight dog samurai and princess of Satomi family in Nanso region)”. And also, the Zen priest of Echigo (Old name of Niigata), Ryokan watched Ushi no Tsunotsuki and composed a poem before he renounced the world. The bullfighting […]
> 続きを読む2019/4/27 -
Izumozaki is located approximately in the center of Niigata prefecture. This beautiful city is well known the song in “Oku no Hosomichi” of Basho Matsuo, “Araumi ya/ Sado ni yokotau / Amanogawa (Turbulent the sea/ Across to Sado stretches / The Milky Way)”. This haiku talks about the scenery of Sado island commanded by raging waters of the Sea of Japan. In the Edo period, it became the region under Tokugawa Shogunate’s direct control (shogunal demesne). This place was flourished as an uploading port of gold and silver carried out from Sado gold mine and also a port of call of Kitamae-Bune. In addition, because the oil was found […]
> 続きを読む2019/4/26 -
フォロー者投稿記事タイトル：Shukuneki Village on Sado Island
The look of “Shukunegi” village in Sado Island which a famous actress, Sayuri Yoshinaga was also taken back in the time. With a taste of slipping through time, I took walks on this amazing village. At Shukunegi located in the southern tip of Sado Island, Niigata prefecture, is a small village developed as a port of Kitamae-Bune from the middle of Edo era to Meiji era. At that time, ship-owners, shipwrights and other people who engaged in shipping and shipbuilding industries were lived there. Even today, this village remarkably retains the atmosphere and the buildings of those years. Building using vertical wooden plates are created by materials of the bulk […]
> 続きを読む2019/4/24 -
We would like to introduce “Onogame,” one of the greatest view in Sotokaifu coast which is located at the north end of Sado Island, Niigata prefecture. Onogame is a massive rock where 167-meter height monolith is poking into the sea and it is mentioned in “The Michelin Green Guide Japan” as a two-star. It is a representative sightseeing spot of Sado which pictures are often used for guidebook frontpage, also famous as a place where hemerocallis (scientific name: Hemerocallis middendorffii var.exaltata) are in clumps. Although there are climb route to the top, there are times when climbing is not allowed for protecting vegetation. “Onogame” indicates “sacred rock” and is […]
> 続きを読む2019/4/24 -
Niigata Port was designated as one of the five ports (five ports including Niigata, Hakodate, Yokohama, Kobe and Nagasaki) to open by Ansei Treaties and opened in 1868. In 2019, Niigata port celebrated its 150th anniversary since opening door to abroad. Currently Niigata Port is comprised by two ports, Niigata West Port and Niigata East Port. Originally Niigata Port was opened by utilizing the estuary of Shinano River, but this port in Shinano River is called Niigata West Port and treats both passengers and cargos. Also, the area around Niigata West Port is a port town from old time, and in Edo era, it was flourished as the largest […]
> 続きを読む2019/4/24 -
Furumachi Geigi in Niigata is one of the three major Geisha in Japan along with Gion in Kyoto, Shinbashi in Tokyo. Furumachi Geigi has more than 200 years of tradition and one of the representative culture of port town Niigata. Between the middle of Edo era to Meiji era, Niigata was a port town flourished as a port of call of Kitamae-bune in the Japan Sea coast because it has the largest production of rice in Japan. People gathered from all over Japan, restaurants to entertain visitors are lined and “Hanamachi(fleshpot)” where people can enjoy the dance of “Geigi” at Japanese-style drawing room was born. There were 300 Geigi […]
> 続きを読む2019/4/23 -
In Sado Island of Niigata prefecture, puppet-shows were actively performed since the middle of Edo period (18th century). It was also the time when Sado Island was flourished for Sado Gold Mine. There are three puppet-shows called “Sekkyo Ningyo (puppets of preachers)”, “Noroma Ningyo” and “Bunya Ningyo (puppets of story tellers)” and also they are all designated as important intangible folk-cultural properties. Among them, Noroma Ningyo is a light and funny comedy play using Sado’s old dialect, which was performed between the program of Sekkyo Ningyo. The story is simple, humorous and a little bit erotic. The characters are four puppets. From left side, a good-natured man “Shimo no […]
> 続きを読む2019/4/20 -
I will introduce traditional performing art “Tsuburosashi” which has been handed down to Hamochi district where is the southern part of Sado Island, Niigata prefecture. This is also designated as an intangible cultural asset of Niigata prefecture. “Tsuburosashi” is one of Kagura, the sacred Shinto music and dance, that dedicates to the shrine praying for huge harvest and prosperity of descendants. There are two theories about this Kagura. The one is that about 400 to 500 years ago, a tea-server who served for the lord of Hamochi brought this Kagura back from Kyoto when he went there for training of tea ceremony. The other one is that he mastered […]
> 続きを読む2019/4/20 -
The sea of Sado Island is beautiful and its offshore is rich in many kinds of fishes because the warm current, Tsushima Current and the cold current, Liman Current run together at there. It is very popular as a diving spot because sometimes you can see fishes from the north and south together. The must-see fish will be the Asian sheepshead wrasse inhabits the sea of Sado island. Currently among the Asian sheepshead wrasse which can be found in the sea of Sado Island, the largest one is around 80cm. In spite of its appearance, the Asian sheepshead wrasse is very nervous and it is unique point of Sado […]
> 続きを読む2019/4/20 -
Tarai Bune is the icon of Sado island in Niigata prefecture. It’s a famous round shape boat so popular that there are people who visit Sado from nationwide just to take Tarai Bune. In this page, I’ll explain about famous & popular Tarai Bune. Tarai Bune was originally used to fish Turbo cornutus, abalone, octopus and seaweed only in Ogi beach of Sado and is still used for fishing. Ogi beach has complex reef making it difficult for a traditional fishing ship to enter. People used washing tub and improved it into “Tarai Bune” with shallow bottom that can turns easily. You can ride on Tarai Bune at Ogi […]
> 続きを読む2019/4/19
