Japan travel info blog

japanese culture

2010-10-23T05:05:00.000+09:00

japanese culture

tokyo sightseeing

Tokyo tour

tokyo attractions

Prime Resort Kashikojima

2010-07-31T11:22:00.000+09:00

Prime Resort Kashikojima

Designed to Costa del Sol as a motir, stands in graceful atmosphere with brilliant orange colored Spanish roof files and shite walls.

Kashikojima is in Shima. Mie, Japan.

Hotel entarance.
What is the white creature?

The front of the Hotel.
It was Spanish style.

View from main lobby.
You can see the Ago bay.

You can see Ago bay from each room.

Let's find Tokyo sightseeing tour

Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine

2010-07-09T23:22:00.000+09:00

Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Jinja, popularly known simply as Zeniarai Benten, is a Shinto shrine in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. In spite of its small size, it is the second most popular spot in Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture after Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū. Zeniarai Benzaiten is popular among tourists because the waters of a spring in its cave are said to be able to multiply the money washed in it. The object of worship is a syncretic kami which fuses a traditional spirit called Ugafukujin with the Buddhist goddess of Indian origin Sarasvati, known in Japanese as Benzaiten. The shrine is one of the minority in Japan which still shows the fusion of native religious beliefs and foreign Buddhism (the so-called shinbutsu shūgō) which was normal before the Meiji restoration (end of the 19th century). Zeniarai Benzaiten used to be a external massha of Ōgigayatsu's Yazaka Daijin , but became independent in 1970 under its present name.

[from wikipedia]

This shrine is in Kamakura. Kamakura is famous sightseeing spot near Tokyo.

Entrance of Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine.

You wash your money with the water.

Therefore you will be rich in the future ???

Everybody wash wash wash... for increase their money.

After wash the money, you pray.

You can ride Rickshaw in Kamakura !!

You can walk to this shrine form Kamakura satation in 30 minutes walking.

Ise Grand Shrine

2010-06-30T23:11:00.000+09:00

Ise Grand Shrine

Ise Grand Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to goddess Amaterasu-ōmikami, located in the city of Ise in Mie prefecture, Japan. Officially known simply as Jingū, Ise Jingū is in fact a shrine complex composed of a large number of Shinto shrines centered on two main shrines, Naikū and Gekū.

The Inner Shrine, Naikū (also officially known as "Kotai Jingu"), is located in the town of Uji-tachi, south of central Ise City, and is dedicated to the worship of Amaterasu-ōmikami. The Outer Shrine, Gekū (also officially known as "Toyouke Daijingu"), is located about six kilometers from Naikū and dedicated to Toyouke no ōmikami, the deity of agriculture and industry. Besides Naikū and Gekū, there are an additional 123 Shinto shrines in Ise City and the surrounding areas, 91 of them connected to Naikū and 32 to Gekū.

Purportedly the home of the Sacred Mirror, the shrine is arguably one of Shinto's holiest and most important sites. Access to both sites is strictly limited, with the common public allowed to see little more than the thatched roofs of the central structures, hidden behind four tall wooden fences. The high priest or priestess of Ise Shrine must come from the Japanese imperial family, and is responsible for watching over the Shrine.

The two main shrines of Ise are joined by a pilgrimage road that passes through the old entertainment district of Furuichi. The region around the shrines consists of the Ise-Shima National Park and numerous other holy and historic sites including the 'wedded rocks' Meoto Iwa, and the Saiku (the site of the Heian period imperial residence).

[info from wikipedia]

guide (Japanese)

River view form brige inside shrine.

Best season is colored leaves season.

A pond inside shrine.

It was like a mirror.

Japanese Culture.JP - Tokyo attractions

Okage yokocho

Okage yokocho is shopping street of Japanese traditional style near Ise Shrine.

You can buy many kind of gifts here.

Hakone Ryokan 'Oku no kigi'

2010-06-21T11:22:00.000+09:00

I went Hakone.

Hakone is the most close resort from Tokyo and there are many Japanese style ryokan.

Many foreigns come to here to enjoy hotspring.

Today's ryokan is Oku no kigi.

There is personal hotspring out bass each room.

Hotspring of here is white hot water.

Japanese Culture.JP - Tokyo attractions

Nureen [balcony]

Spring and Automn is very comfortable spend this space.

Japanese Culture.JP - Tokyo Asakusa Rickshaw attractions

Inside room is Japanese style.

There is 2rooms, enough space for 2 persons.

House of Mori Ogai

2010-06-03T15:42:00.004+09:00

Ogai Mori

Early life
Mori was born as Mori Rintarō in Tsuwano, Iwami province (present-day Shimane prefecture). His family were hereditary physicians to the daimyō of the Tsuwano Domain. As the eldest son, it was assumed that he would carry on the family tradition; therefore he was sent to attend classes in the Confucian classics at the domain academy, and took private lessons in rangaku, and in the Dutch language.

Mori Ōgai's statue at his birthhouse in Tsuwano
In 1872, after the Meiji Restoration and the abolition of the domains, the Mori family relocated to Tokyo. Mori stayed at the residence of Nishi Amane, in order to receive tutoring in the German language, which was the primary language for medical education at the time. In 1874, he was admitted to the government medical school (the predecessor for Tokyo Imperial University's Medical School), and graduated in 1881 at the age of 19, the youngest person ever to be awarded a medical license in Japan. It was also during this time that he developed an interest in literature, reading extensively from the late-Edo period popular novels, and taking lessons in Chinese poetry and literature.
[edit] Early career
After graduation, Mori enlisted in the Imperial Japanese Army as a medical officer, hoping to specialize in military medicine and hygiene.

Mori Ōgai in uniform
Mori was sent by the Army to study in Germany (Leipzig, Dresden, Munich, and Berlin) from 1884–1888. During this time, he also developed an interest in European literature. As a matter of trivia, Mori Ōgai is the first Japanese known to have ridden on the Orient Express.
Upon his return to Japan, he assumed a high rank as a medical doctor in the Japanese army and pushed for a more scientific approach to medical research, even publishing a medical journal out of his own funds.
Meanwhile, he also attempted to revitalize modern Japanese literature and published his own literary journal (Shigarami sōshi, 1889–1894) and his own book of poetry (Omokage, 1889). In his writings, he was an “anti-realist”, asserting that literature should reflect the emotional and spiritual domain. Maihime (舞姫, The Dancing Girl (1890)?), described an affair between a Japanese man and a German woman.
In 1899, Mori married Akamatsu Toshiko, daughter of Admiral Akamatsu Noriyoshi, a close friend of Nishi Amane. He divorced her the following year under acrimonious circumstances that irreparably ended his friendship with Nishi.
[edit] Later career
At the start of the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894–1895, Mori was sent to Manchuria and, the following year, to Taiwan. In 1899, he was appointed head of the Army Medical Corps and was based in Kokura, Kyūshū. In 1902, he was reassigned to Tokyo.
During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, he was again sent to Manchuria. He later came under criticism for his stubborn refusal to believe that beriberi was not an infectious disease but an ailment caused by thiamine deficiency, despite evidence presented by Takaki Kanehiro of the Imperial Japanese Navy. His questionable decisions led to the death of 27,000 Japanese soldiers to beriberi, compared to 47,000 deaths from combat.
In 1907, Mori was promoted to Army Surgeon-General, the highest post within the Japanese medical corps. On his retirement in 1916 he was appointed director of the Imperial Museum.
[edit] Literary career
Although Mori did little writing from 1892–1902, he continued to edit a literary journal (Mezamashi gusa, 1892–1909). He also produced translations of the works of Goethe, Schiller, Ibsen, Hans Christian Andersen, and Hauptmann.
It was during the Russo-Japanese War (1904–05) that Mori started keeping a poetic diary. After the war, he began holding tanka writing parties that included several noted poets such as Yosano Akiko.
His later works can be divided into three separate periods. From 1909–1912, he wrote mostly fiction based on his own experiences. This period includes Vita Sexualis, and his most popular novel, Gan (雁, The Wild Geese(1911–13)?), which is set in 1881 Tokyo and was filmed by Shiro Toyoda in 1953 as The Mistress.
From 1912–1916, he wrote mostly historical stories. Deeply affected by the seppuku of General Nogi Maresuke in 1912, he explored the impulses of self-destruction, self–sacrifice and patriotic sentiment. This period includes Sanshō Dayū (山椒大夫?), and Takasebune (高瀬舟?).
From 1916, he turned his attention to biographies of late Edo period doctors.

[from wikipedia]
Japanese Culture.JP - Tokyo sightseeing tour

Inside of his house.

Entrance of the house

Roppongi International House of Japan

2010-05-30T11:22:00.000+09:00

Roppongi is a district of Minato, Tokyo, Japan, famous as home to the rich Roppongi Hills area and an active night club scene.

Many foreign embassies are located in Roppongi, and the night life is known[citation needed] to be popular with locals and foreigners alike.

It is in the southern portion of the circle described by the Yamanote Line, south of Akasaka and north of Azabu.

[Roppongi from wikipedia]

Kokusai kaikan [International House of Japan] is major Hanami spot in Tokyo.

Located the central Tokyo - Roppongi.

Roppongi is popular city among foreigers.

You can see very beautiful Japanese garden at here.

There is a cafe shop in this building, so I recommend that you take a break and look around the garden.

Japanese Culture.jp - Tokyo attractions

Asakusa studio photographing Tour in Kimono

Sankei-en

2010-05-26T07:00:00.000+09:00

Sankei-en is a traditional Japanese-style garden in Naka Ward, Yokohama, Japan, which opened in 1906.

Sankei-en was designed and built by Tomitaro Hara, known by the pseudonym Sankei Hara, who was a silk trader.

Almost all of its buildings are historically significant structures bought by Hara himself in locations all over the country, among them Tokyo, Kyoto, Kamakura, Gifu prefecture, and Wakayama prefecture.

Ten have been declared Important Cultural Property, and three more are Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan designated by the City of Yokohama.

Badly damaged during World War II's Great Yokohama Bombing, the garden was donated in 1953 to the City of Yokohama, which entrusted it to the Sankeien Hoshōkai Foundation.

Sankei-en was then restored almost to its pre-war condition.

[from wikipedia]

This is Japanese garden!

On the day, there is a bride in Japanese traditional bridal dress.

It was very beautiful.

You can observe some Japanese traditional buildings in the garden.

I recommend sakura season.

This park is the best Hanami spot in Yokohama! [my personal opinion]

Japanese Culture.JP - Tokyo sightseeing

Experience Japanese Tea Ceremony - Chado Tour

Izu design ryokan ''Oyado Tsuki''

2010-05-25T12:41:00.001+09:00

Today's ryokan is 'Tsuki''

Tsuki means moon.

This ryokan is one kind of design ryokan, it is not Japanese traditional style.

Location is Izu peninsula, major resort prace near Tokyo.

The location is beside the sea.

Every room has hotspring outdoor bass tub and sea view.

Ninja experince Tokyo

Early morning, you can see beautiful sunrise!

If you want to experience Japanese Culture attractions while you are in Japan, do not miss our programs while you are in Japan.

Awashima Hotel

2010-05-25T12:36:00.003+09:00

Awashima is a small Island lacated west Izu peninsula. (A few hours from Tokyo By train)

There is a luxury hotel and an aquarium in this Island.

Awashima is very small island, so it is able to see the sea everywhere.

You can see only a blue sea and green mountains.

There are resort views everywhere.

Every room is sea view.

You can have a fine sea view from your room.

I can see Mt.Fuji from my room balcony.

It is able to see the sea from bathtub.

Here is not so far from Tokyo, but it is able to spend resort stay.

Japanese Culture.JP - Tokyo tour

Japanese Culture.JP - Ninja Experience Tour

Kamogawa

2010-05-25T11:59:00.003+09:00

I went to Kamagawa Sea World.

Kamogawa is east side of Chiba peninsula.

I use bus from hamamatsu-cho station.

A killer whale.

You can see it very close.

Smile sea lion.

It is certain that he is smiling!

Today's hotel is la-syoro http://www.la-shoro.jp/

There is private pool each room garden.

I eat breakfast at the garden. If the weather was fine, you spend nice meal time.

This is night picture.

This hotel is high class.

When you visit Japan, let's try Japanese culture experience !

You can experience Tokyo Ninja Dojo Visit Tour .

Asaba Ryokan - Shuzenji Onsen

2010-05-25T10:08:00.012+09:00

I went to Shuzenji onsen resort, and stay Asaba ryokan.

Asaba ... This ryokan is famous in Japan.

There is a Noh stage in the garden.

Located in Shuzenji - middle of Izu Peninsula.

You can see Japanese traditional hot spring resort at Shuzenji.

It is located a few hours from Tokyo by train.

A view from outdoor hot sprong.

It is able to see the beautiful garden.

The garden view at evening time.

It was mysterious !!

I stayed above picture room named "Hagi"

A feature of this room is garden view like painting.

The charge is little bit expensive, but it is able to spend luxury time!

Tokyo tour Tokyo attractions Tokyo sightseeing

Taiko Drum Work Shop Attraction