"Japanese Latte"

"Tips for Budget Travelers"

2012-08-17T21:06:00.001+08:00

Transportation

JR's Japan Rail Pass offers excellent value and convenience for the foreign visitor traveling around Japan. Especially recommended is the "Japan Rail Pass 7 Days." At a price about equivalent to a round trip on the Shinkansen super express between Tokyo and Kyoto, it allows the bearer unlimited travel on JR lines throughout Japan for seven days.

Meanwhile, in large population centers like Tokyo and Osaka, "1-day Pass" and similar cost-saving tickets are available. They offer unlimited local transportation in the respective areas' main systems of intra-city transportation for a specified period of time. By eliminating the trouble of frequently buying tickets, using such tickets is very convenient for travelers who wish to move around within a limited area and within a limited period of time.

Welcome Card (Culture Card)

The card comes with a guidebook for you as an overseas visitor to Japan to enable you to get discounts and special services at art galleries, museums, sightseeing attractions, shopping areas, restaurants, accommodations and transportation facilities. Although called the Welcome Card, there are also places where you can receive discounts by presenting a web page printout instead of the card.

This card, in many varieties, is currently available in Tokyo (Museum Guide, Handy Guide and Map), Kagawa Prefectures and Northern Tohoku, Narita, Mt. Fuji, Kobe, Kita-Kyushu, Fukuoka cities and regions. The card is available free of charge at local information centers in each region and through the following website.

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/essential/wel

come.html

Dining

Dining out in Japan is not necessarily "expensive" though, like in most countries, it tends to be a bit more expensive while traveling. Delicious as well as reasonably-priced dining can be enjoyed if you keep the following tips in mind:

Ø Concentration of fast food establishments can often be found around train stations, which offer inexpensive meals in a casual atmosphere. Hamburger and sandwich shops not to mention, there are Japanese-style fast food shops, specializing in "gyudon" (rice topped with cooked beef and sauted onions), "tendon" (rice topped with tempura), and soba or udon noodles. These fast food establishments generally offer meals at less than 􀋇500. Even more reasonable breakfast menus are available at some shops.

Ø Shopping, entertainment and business districts are filled with restaurants which offer weekday lunch at reasonable prices ranging from 􀋇600 to 􀋇900. Set menus, either western- or Japanesestyle, are available in abundance. Lunch time is generally from around 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Ø Sushi is not at all expensive except at a limited number of high-grade restaurants. With "kaitenzushi" shops (serving small plates each with a couple of bite-sized pieces of sushi on a rotating conveyor belts), sushi costs only 􀋇100 and up per plate. At other sushi shops, a set-menu sushi meal run about 􀋇1,500 and up per person. Sushi lunches can be enjoyed at around 􀋇800 and up.

Ø The basement of department stores is usually the food floor, offering a rich variety of take out deli selections and lunch boxes - delicious as well as inexpensive. Select one or two and enjoy your own lunch at a nearby park.

Shopping

Ø "100-yen shops" are constantly growing in number. A wide range of items - from foods to articles for daily use - are all sold at a uniform price of 100. 100-yen shops can be found near train stations and in shopping districts. You may find small souvenir items there such as Japanese tableware and many other items on sale.

Ø For consumer electronics, the Akihabara district in Tokyo is the first place you should visit. An amazing variety of consumer electronics can be found here. Get off the train at Akihabara Sta. on JR's Yamanote Line, and you'll find countless shops, including volume sales outlets and electronics parts shops, standing side by side.

Ø Japanese retailers, especially department stores, hold large-scale bargain sales twice a year, selling seasonal products such as clothes and sundry goods at remarkable discount prices. If you happen to visit a department store during such a bargain sale period, you'll be impressed with the number of price tags on display at "30% off" and "50% off." Usually, the bargain sale seasons are in January and July.

"Hokkaido"

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Hokkaido — nature's paradise. Enjoy the whole of this extensive land to your heart's content — its mountains, highlands, rivers, lakes, the sea, and its azure skies.

Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island, was aggressively settled from the 18th century on, and today, as in olden times, still abounds in natural splendor.

Sapporo is the aerial gateway to Hokkaido from Tokyo and Osaka and is the island's cultural, economic, and political center. The city is marked by its neatly laid out checkerboard-like streets.

The city's main thoroughfare is the flower-adorned Odori Park, where the internationally popular Sapporo Snow Festival attracts viewers every February. Sapporo's historical monument, the Clock Tower Building, adjoins a museum exhibiting the city's history. The popular hot spring resort Jozankei Spa, is only a short trip from Sapporo. It is a popular haven for many day visitors as well.

Lake Shikotsu, 1 hr. 20 min. by bus from Sapporo, is a beautiful caldera lake tucked among soaring cliffs. The water is deep blue, and never freezes over.

The circular caldera Lake Toya is another highlight. Four thickly wooded islets, dubbed the Nakanoshima Islands, grace the lake's center.

Hakodate, accessible by train from Aomori, is another popular Hokkaido tourist spot. Hakodate is a port town noted for its splendid night view. The starshaped Goryokaku fortress is a principal attraction in the city along with scenic Mt. Hakodate. Well worth a visit is the morning market with buyers and onlookers alike thronging its 360 small shops and stalls filled with fresh fish and vegetables. Simply watching the market's lively hustle and bustle is a great attraction in itself.

Asahikawa in central Hokkaido can be reached in 1 hr. 30 min. by limited express from Sapporo.

Another 1 hr. trip by local train brings you to Furano celebrated for its lavender fields in early summer. A vast undulating expanse of fields form exquisite flowery belts of narcissi, lavender and cosmos.

Driving through the flowering fields of Furano in this grand natural setting is highly popular among visitors of all generations and a truly unforgettable experience.

Kushiro, the largest city in eastern Hokkaido, is 4 hrs. by limited express from Sapporo. In eastern Hokkaido area you find a world of pristine nature, dotted with crystalline lakes. The greatest highlight here is the Kushiro Marshland which is a wildlife sanctuary. Canoeing down the Kushiro River, which weaves its way through this spectacular marshland, will remain a lifelong memory.

Hokkaido, a land of verdant nature, provides the nature lover with an extensive array of outdoor activities. Attractions include dolphin and whale watching, white-water rafting, horseback riding, woodland trekking, hot-air ballooning, and so much, much more.

"Kyushu/Okinawa"

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Kyushu, located southwest of the main island of Honshu, offers a mild climate, lush green countryside, hot springs, and mysterious volcanic formations.

Because of its proximity to Korea and China, Kyushu, from the fourth century on, was culturally influenced by its more sophisticated neighbors. It was also the first point of contact with the West when the Portuguese landed here in the 16th century.

Fukuoka, 6 hrs. by Shinkansen super express from Tokyo and 3 hrs. from Shin-Osaka, is the rail gateway to Kyushu. In recent years, the city has emerged as a strategic point of international exchange with the rest of Asia. The intriguing Fukuoka Museum of Asian Fine Art, is well worth a visit as it showcases the "now" of Asia. At Dazaifu, 20 min. by car from Fukuoka, many archeological finds related to Japan's ancient court culture can be found.

Arita, 1 hr. 20 min. from Hakata, is well known for its pottery with a history of over 400 years. There are about 150 kilns in the area.

Nagasaki is a base from which to visit Unzen. Nagasaki was the only Japanese port open to foreign trade by the Tokugawa shogunate during the period of Japan's seclusion from 1639 to 1859. Nagasaki was also the target of the second atomic bomb dropped on Japan during World War II.

Primary attractions in the city include Sofukuji Temple, known as the Chinese Temple, the Oura Catholic Church — a National Treasure — and the century-old Glover Mansion. It is also noted for its scenery reminiscent of the setting for Puccini's opera, Madame Butterfly.

Nagasaki Peace Park was laid out to commemorate the exact spot of the atomic blast on August 9, 1945, three days after the first was dropped on Hiroshima.

Unzen, a pleasant 2-hr. drive from Nagasaki, features both highland and seashore hot-spring resorts. Mt. Unzen, an active volcano, consists of three peaks, the highest being Fugendake (alt. 1,360 m.). Shimabara is where Shimabara Castle once stood. Its donjon, a reconstruction, is now a museum, displaying records and documents relating to the Christians of the district who made their last stand here in their struggle against persecution by the Shogunate in 1638.

Kumamoto is 1 hr. 30 min. by limited express train from Hakata Sta. Major tourist spots include Kumamoto Castle and Suizenji Park. Kumamoto is also a gateway to Aso-Kuju National Park, which includes volcanoes such as Mt. Aso, the world's largest volcanic caldera, and Mt. Kuju.

Beppu Spa, 15 min. by train from Oita, is situated on the eastern coast of Kyushu. Beppu, a spa town, is famous for its bubbling mud ponds, the most active of which detonate loudly and throw mud into the air.

When it comes to public hot spring baths, there over 100 — eloquent proof that this is one of Japan's greatest hot spring resorts. Try hopping from one public bath to another and enjoy the many different hot spring waters.

Miyazaki, 3 hrs. 20 min. by limited express train from Oita, is a favorite vacation spot. Nichinan Kaigan Quasi-National Park, extending for about 100 km. along the seacoast south of Miyazaki, is the foremost tourist highlight. Its principal attraction is Aoshima Island, a tiny islet densely covered with biro or betel-nut palms.

Kagoshima is 2 hrs. 20 min. by limited express train from Miyazaki. The city abounds in scenic attractions, historic sites, and hot springs and is dominated by Sakurajima, an active volcano.

One hour by train from Nishi-Kagoshima Sta. Is Ibusuki, one of the most celebrated hot-spring resorts in Japan. Located at the southernmost tip of the Satsuma Peninsula, it owes its popularity in part to its lovely white sandy beach and lush subtropical vegetation. A unique form of hot sand-bathing is offered here and is a great way to relax.

Yakushima Island, 40 min. by air from Kagoshima Airport, is home to a primeval forest of "Yaku-sugi" cedars dating back thousands of years. Many outdoor activities can be enjoyed, including mountain climbing, valley trekking, canoeing and eco tours among others.

The main island of Okinawa, the most popular of the Okinawan islands, is located 2 hrs. 30 min. by air from Tokyo, and 2 hrs. 15 min. from Osaka (Itami). It is a favorite visitor destination owing to its historical past, its coral reefs, emerald seas, sunny skies, and subtropical vegetation. The islands reverted to Japan in 1972 after being occupied by the United States from the end of World War II. Tourist sites in Naha, the prefectural seat, include Naminoue Shrine, dedicated to the three gods believed to be the ancestral deities of the Imperial family; Sogenji Temple which was originally erected more than 450 years ago and is the mausoleum of the former kings of Okinawa during the Ryukyu Dynasty; and the Shurei-no-mon or Gate of Courtesy, the second gate of Shuri Castle built during the reign of King Shosei.

Okinawa Senseki (Old Battlefields) Quasi-National Park, consists of monuments dedicated to the spirits of the more than 200,000 World War II war dead.

Smaller islands around the main island boast some of the world's most crystalline seawaters and finest coral reefs, providing a marine playground for divers and tourists.

"Tohoku"

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The Tohoku region offers a diverse range of attractions — outwardly rustic in appearance yet with a rich and deep ambiance. It is a combination of a colorful natural world, friendly and ingenuous people, with explosive summer festivals and excitement that culminate in the region's short summer season. And so very much more ...

The northern portion of the main island of Honshu is called the Tohoku region. The weather is always refreshingly cool in the highlands with summer temperatures some 10􀋆 cooler than in the southwest.

Rustic hot springs are everywhere in Tohoku and lure large numbers of "onsen" lovers from throughout Japan. All these hot springs are known for their medicinal values and, as such, have served as hot-spring cure places since times of old.

The gateway to the Pacific Coast area is Sendai, 2 hrs. by Shinkansen super express from Tokyo. Sendai serves as a base for trips to Matsushima, which can be reached in 40 min. by rail. Matsushima is reputed to be one of the three most beautiful places in Japan. The scenic bay is dotted with hundreds of islets. A tour around the bay on a pleasure boat is recommended.

Hiraizumi, a 1 hr. 30-min. train ride from Sendai, was originally modeled on Kyoto and is the site of the noted Chusonji Temple built in 1109. The temple's Konjikido, or Golden Hall, houses 11 images of Buddha, and was originally coated with black-lacquer and gold plate.

Aomori, 2.5 hrs. by limited express or Hachinohe, 30min by Shinkansen from Morioka is a starting point for trips to Lake Towada and the Oirase Valley, the core of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park. Lake Towada, in the center of the park, is one of the most picturesque lakes in Japan. At its eastern shore, the Oirase Valley stretches for 14 km. A promenade, meandering along the gorge fringed by dense woods, provides refreshing views of the crystal-clear stream as well as waterfalls, large and small.

A must-see in the city of Aomori is the ancient ruins of Sannai-Maruyama, a 30-min. bus trip from central Aomori. Dating back about 4,000 to 5,500 years, it is one of Japan's largest-scale ruins of Jomon-period communities. Unearthed articles and reproductions of ancient dwellings are open to the public. The city's Nebuta Festival, held in August, is famous as a festival representative of the country as a whole and attracts throngs of revelers from all over.

Hirosaki is 30 min. by limited express from Aomori. In early May every year, Hirosaki Castle grounds and surrounding areas come alive with cherry blossoms in full bloom on some 5,000 cherry trees.

The Shirakami-Sanchi Mountains, extending over the prefectural borders between Aomori and Akita, is a vast woodland of primeval beech forest, thus retaining an untouched part of the world of nature. "Mini Shirakami" hiking course is found nearby.

The city of Akita, 1 hr. 40 min. from Morioka by Akita Shinkansen, is home to the Kanto Festival in August, another great summer festival in the Tohoku region.

Kakunodate, 45 minutes from Akita by Shinkansen, is

a historic town dotted with samurai residences and storehouses. The samurai residences now serve as museums and restaurants, allowing visitors to experience old-style Japan.

Yamagata Prefecture, about three hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen, offers visitors onsen and winter skiing in the Zao mountain range. The Zao "Okama" (cauldron) is a mystical caldera lake brimming with emerald water. Don't miss it.

Aizu Wakamatsu, the castle town of Tsuruga Castle, is around 2 hrs. 30 min. from Tokyo by Shinkansen and JR limited express. Nearby Mt. Bandai and Lake Inawashiro are famous winter ski resorts.

"Chugoku"

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The Chugoku region is punctuated with small but serene and exquisite villages and towns. Seaside fishing villages and hamlets nestle in the mountains. This is the place to visit in quest of nostalgic scenery and the flavor of the best of old Japan.

Chugoku, situated at the western end of the main island of Honshu, is split into the two areas of Sanyo, the Inland Sea Coast, and San-in, the Japan Sea Coast.

Okayama, 1 hr. by Shinkansen super express from Shin-Osaka, is a gateway to the Chugoku region and Shikoku Island. The main attraction here is the Korakuen Garden. Filled with flowers all year round, this garden masterpiece was created in 1700 by the ruling feudal lord of the Okayama clan who spent 14 long years to complete it.

Kurashiki, where the past is beautifully preserved and naturally blended with the new, is reached by a 15-min. train ride from Okayama. Stroll the narrow streets of the old merchant's quarter with its tileroofed houses and willow-fringed canals to get a flavor of this exquisite town. Kurashiki has several museums. Of these, Ohara museum of Art is remarkable. It contains a great collection of worldfamous paintings and sculptures. The Japanese folkcrafts and Oriental antique fine art masterpieces on exhibit are impressive.

Hiroshima, a former castle town, is reached in 1hr. 40min. by Shinkansen super express from Shin-Osaka. The present city emerged from the ashes of the World War II atomic bombing. Peace Memorial Park contains the Peace Memorial Museum displaying a large collection of photographs and objects relating to the devastation. Here the Peace Flame burns in front of the Memorial Cenotaph, never to be extinguished until all nuclear weapons are abolished.

Twenty-five min. by train from Hiroshima and a 10-min. boat ride from Miyajima-guchi, takes you to Miyajima Island and Itsukushima Shrine, a mustsee for all. The entire island, with an area of 30 sq. km., is designated by the government as a Special Historic Site and a Special Place of Scenic Beauty.

The shrine buildings are connected by corridors which stretch out over the water, so at high tide the whole structure appears to be floating on the sea. A red camphor wood torii gate rising out of the sea is the landmark of the shrine. Many colorful festivals are held here throughout the year, but the most dramatic is Kangen-sai in July or August. On this occasion, the Itsukushima deity is taken on a boat journey to visit other shrines on the mainland side and back. Sacred music is played on ancient Japanese instruments.

Hagi (Higashi-Hagi Sta.), 1 hr. 10 min. by bus from Shin-Yamaguchi Sta., is an old castle town rich in history. Hagi is the birthplace of many prominent samurai who led events resulting in the Meiji Restoration. A number of old-time samurai residences, temples and shrines can be found here and there around the town, which exudes a calm, and tasteful atmosphere. Just touring the peaceful lanes is an enjoyable experience. The town is also well known for its Hagi-yaki pottery.

Tottori, 4 hrs. 20 min. by limited express from Osaka, is the seat of Tottori Prefecture. The city is noted for the sand dunes located 5 km. to the north in a portion of the San-in Kaigan National Park. Visit the dunes early in the morning to discover the beautiful patterns on their surfaces created by winds and rain during the night.

Matsue, 2 hrs. from Tottori by limited express, is situated at the point where the Nakaumi Lagoon joins Lake Shinji. The city is a major distribution hub and tourist destination, as well as the seat of Shimane Prefecture.

Izumo Taisha Shrine, 10 min. by train from Izumoshi Sta., is famed for its architectural style and is one of the oldest shrines in Japan. Backed by history stretching a few thousand years, the grand sanctuary building stands in its own solemn splendor.

The deity enshrined here is famous nationwide in support of marital bliss, thus attracting large numbers of young woman worshippers.

"The Inland Sea/Shikoku"

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The "Shimanami-kaido" route recently opened connecting the main islands of Honshu and Shikoku with seven magnificent bridges. The highway and bridge route over the Inland Sea unfolds with fantastic views interwoven by the blue sea dotted with ships and boats of all sizes, and the picturesque small islands.

The Inland Sea, or Seto-Naikai, is bounded by the three main islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Crossing from Honshu to Shikoku islands has now become extremely easy and enjoyable thanks to the series of seven bridges, including the Seto Ohashi, Akashi-kaikyo Ohashi and Shimanami-kaido bridges.

Boats and ferries also travel to Shikoku island from the cities of Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, Onomichi, and Wakayama.

The Inland Sea, blessed with superb seascapes and a mild climate, is remarkably calm, peaceful and beautiful. Over 600 islands are scattered over an area of 8,200 sq. km. Walking or cycling along the "Shimanami-kaido" route (60 km. in total length) is highly recommended if you wish to fully enjoy the scenic splendors of the Inland Sea. The "Shimanamikaido" provides an ideal sightseeing route as the seven bridges link the six smaller islands lying between Honshu and Shikoku. The richly diversified coastal scenery is an interesting kaleidoscope of the many small ports, fishing villages, salt fields, and farms found among the gentle island slopes.

The Naoshima Cultural Village on Naoshima Island in the Inland Sea can be reached in about 1 hr. 30 min. from Okayama by train, ferry and car. The "village" features a fine contemporary art museum and its architecture is a harmonious blend with the island's serene natural environment.

Shikoku Island consists of four prefectures, and each prefectural seat was at one time a castle town. The natural beauty illustrated by the picturesque Inland Sea Coast and the dynamic Pacific Ocean Coast accentuates the tourist attractions of Shikoku Island. Access has become very easy since direct bus services began operating recently between the major cities in the Kansai region on the Honshu side and those on Shikoku.

Takamatsu, 1 hr. by train from Okayama, is the main gateway to Shikoku from Honshu, and a convenient starting point for traveling around the island. Takamatsu has many attractions worth seeing. Ritsurin Park is one of the finest traditional gardens in this area. It was laid out about 350 years ago on the site of a villa owned by the Matsudaira clan.

Matsuyama, the largest city in Shikoku, is a 2hr. 40min. limited express train ride from Takamatsu or a one-hour boat trip from Hiroshima or Kure. Matsuyama Castle is one of the nation's bestpreserved. Also Dogo Spa, 20 min. by rail from Matsuyama, is one of the oldest in Japan.

Kochi, 2hr. 20min. by limited express train from Takamatsu, is the prefectural seat of the rich farming land and fisheries along Shikoku's central southern coast. Its southwestern coast is designated a national park and offers a variety of outdoor attractions from scuba diving to whale watching.

Tokushima Prefecture can be reached from the Kansai region in approximately 2 hrs. 30 min. By express bus. Its capital, the city of Tokushima is famous for its Awa-Odori dance festival held every summer. Naruto, 40 min. by train from Tokushima City, is noted for its giant whirlpools in the narrow Naruto Straits. For an exciting, closer look at these whirlpools, book a ride on a pleasure boat.

"Kansai"

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The Kansai region has prospered as the capital of commerce in Japan since olden times. As such, Kansai is characterized by its distinct vitality and energy even today, creating a very special atmosphere that enlivens the visitor as well.

Osaka, 3 hrs. by Shinkansen super express or 1 hr. by air from Tokyo, is Japan's third-largest city and the commercial and industrial hub for western Japan.

Situated at the mouth of the Yodo River emptying into Osaka Bay, Osaka has a network of canals that crisscross under its many busy streets, which have played an important role in the city's prosperity.

As a classical city, it is very proud of its being the origin of Bunraku puppet theater. The Osaka Bay area is a must for visitors as an emerging center of the trendiest in urban attractions, include Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN and Universal Sudios JapanTM, a Hollywood based theme park, and many more.

The absolute highlight is Osaka Castle, once the largest in Japan, built in 1586 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The present five-storied fortress, a copy of the original, contains many historical art objects and documents related to the Toyotomi family and Osaka of the old.

Nakanoshima, on a small delta between divergent streams of the Yodo River, is the civic center. At its end lies Temmangu Shrine, dedicated to Michizane Sugawara, a noted scholar. Nearby is the Tenjinbashi Shopping Street which has long prospered by catering to worshippers and visitors to the local shrine. A walk along its shopping arcade provides a glimpse into the daily lifestyle of the local residents.

For entertainment and shopping, don't miss the Umeda and Namba districts. Umeda, centered around Umeda Sta., has a number of modern underground arcades which are always teaming with visitors and shoppers. Worthy of its reputation for "kuidaore" (the epicurean joy of over-indulgence in the delights of the table), Osaka truly caters to the gourmet. Try popular Osaka dishes such as "yakiniku" (grilled meat), "fugu-nabe" (globefish hotpot), "kushi-katsu" (skewed deep-fried pork and onions), "sushi" and "tako-yaki" (baked dumpling containing a piece of boiled octopus), among many, many others.

Kobe, 30 min. by rail from Osaka, is a major seaport which has developed at a rapid pace since the Meiji Restoration began in 1868. A city of hills, Kobe has many narrow paths and walkways that wind up and down the Rokko foothills that form the city's backdrop. One of Japan's main ports, along with Yokohama, Kobe harbors a fascinating foreign residential enclave that is great for strolling.

Kobe Port Tower, soaring 108 m., is beautifully lit up in the evening. Across the way is Kobe Harborland, a newly emerging waterfront development. It bustles with throngs of visitors who enjoy the famed night view of this great port city well into the evening hours.

Another major attraction in western Japan is located in Himeji City. Himeji Castle is one of the most beautiful castles to be found in the nation. With its twisting paths through the castle grounds leading past alabaster—plastered walls and the original buildings—preserved as national treasures—a visit here is not to be missed.

For a different unforgettable experience, stay at the monastery at the summit of Mt. Koya, a 2-hr. rail ride from Osaka. Founded in 816 by Kobo Daishi, the great exponent of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, the monastery is comprised of over 120 temples, of which 53 offer lodgings and vegetarian meals at reasonable prices. The monastery is visited by 1 million pilgrims annually.

"Chubu"

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The Chubu region lies almost in the geographical center of Japan. Here you have the soaring peaks of the "Japan Alps," the Japan Sea coast which retains much of the nation's older and traditional lifestyles, all the way to the Pacific coast that thrives with highly developed modern industry. These are the varied faces that constitute this region.

Nagoya & Vicinity

Nagoya is 366 km. (229 mi.), or 1 hr. 50 min. By Shinkansen super express from Tokyo and 1 hr. From Shin-Osaka. Japan's fourth largest city, Nagoya is an old castle town, with a fine network of streets and wide boulevards. The region is noted as the center of Japan's porcelain industry, lacquer ware, the "shibori-zome" tie-dyed cloth, and other arts and handicrafts. Near the center of the city stands Nagoya Castle, originally a residence and military headquarters for the Tokugawa clan. The Tokugawa Art Museum is well worth a visit as it houses over 10,000 articles handed down by the Tokugawa family.

A number of pottery producing centers can be found in the environs surrounding Nagoya. Seto, 30 min. by rail from Nagoya, is one of the largest pottery producers in Japan well known for its pottery and many local kilns. Throughout the town there are many shops as well as studios offering a potterymaking hands-on experience to visitors. Reasonably priced small souvenir plates are highly popular. Also Tokoname, 40 min. by train from Nagoya, has long been known for its Tokoname-yaki pottery.

Inuyama, 30 min. by rail from Nagoya, is famous for its white-walled castle, Japan's oldest existing fortress.

Museum Meiji-mura, about 1 hour ride from Nagoya, is an impressive outdoor museum of buildings collected from the Meiji period (1868 -1912).

Side Trips from Nagoya

Ise-Shima National Park harbors the Ise Grand Shrine as well as numerous pearl fisheries along its magnificent seacoast. The Ise Grand Shrine, about 1 hr. 30 min. by rail from Nagoya, is the most venerated of all Shinto shrines in Japan. The main shrine is completely rebuilt every 20 years.

Toba, 20 min. by rail or 40 min. by bus from Ise, is a port town famous for its "Wedded Rocks," a pair of islets linked by a giant rope, and is a sacred Shinto spot of worship. Don't pass up a visit to Mikimoto Pearl Island, where pearls were first artificially cultured.

Takayama, 2 hrs. 10 min. by limited express from Nagoya, is an old castle town situated in a valley surrounded by the Japan Alps. Takayama retains much of the atmosphere of old Japan. The whole town is museum-like, dotted with attraction after attraction, including a variety of small museums devoted to traditional crafts embodying the town's long-standing tradition of the finest in craftsmanship.

1 hr. 40 min. bus ride takes you to mountainous Shirakawa-go Village. Nestled in a rural setting reminiscent of the old Japan, Shirakawa-go is worldfamous for its steeply thatch-roofed or "gasshozukuri"- style traditional farmhouses, some offering an overnight stay as family-run inns.

Other Areas

The mountains of the Japan Alps are a series of volcanic peaks running from north to south through the central and widest part of Honshu. They are often compared to the Alps of Europe in ruggedness and beauty. The Northern Alps form the core of Chubu-Sangaku (Japan Alps) National Park.

Nagano became world-famous as the host for the 1998 Winter Olympics. Its highland areas offer superb skiing in winter and their refreshingly cool summer is ideal for walking and trekking.

Zenkoji Temple in central Nagano City has been highly revered for 1,400 years as a primary center of Buddhistic faith. Its imposing main building is a national treasure.

The main donjon of Matsumoto Castle in the city of Matsumoto is nicknamed the "Crow Castle" because of its black walls. The castle was built during the Age of Civil Wars, and therefore it has little decorative features, yet shines with a simple and masculine beauty.

Kanazawa, 3 hrs. by limited express from Nagoya or Osaka, originated as a castle town that retains much of the flavor of those early feudal times.

The prevailing practices of Noh drama, tea ceremony, and flower arranging among the citizens came about as a result of the long period of unbroken peace which their ancestors enjoyed from

the 17th to 19th centuries. Kenrokuen Garden, created in 1822, lies in the center of the city, and is known as one of the three most beautiful landscape gardens in Japan, along with Kairakuen Garden in Mito and Korakuen Garden in Okayama.

A 1 hr. 30-min. train ride from Kanazawa via Fukui takes you to Eiheiji Temple, celebrated as one of the headquarters of the Soto sect of Zen Buddhism. It was founded by Priest Dogen (1200 - 1253), who brought Zen Buddhism to Japan from China.

Northeast of Kanazawa, the Noto Peninsula projects into the Japan Sea. Its long coastline features a diversified geography. The outer coast is characterized by its ruggedness while the inner coast is rich with bays and inlets with numerous photogenic fishing villages.

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a magnificent, mountain-sightseeing route winding its way from Tateyama Sta. in Toyama Prefecture of the local Toyama-Chiho Railway and passing through the center of the Northern Japan Alps to its terminus in Omachi in Nagano Prefecture. One can enjoy a superb view of 3,000-m-high class mountains from the convenience of a cable car, bus, ropeway and trolley bus.

Niigata Prefecture, 1 hr. to 2 hrs. from Tokyo, is one of the world's snowiest areas and, as such, attracts large numbers of skiers throughout the winter.

Sado Island, 1 hr. by hydrofoil from Niigata, is the fifth largest of Japan's islands, and is home to many small rice farms nestled between its twin parallel mountain chains.

"Kyoto and Nara"

2012-08-07T05:10:00.000+08:00

The two ancient capitals — home to treasures invaluable and traditions unsurpassed — have remained unchanged over many centuries. Timehonored temples and traditionally serene streets evoke nothing less than the image of "Japan" you've long dreamed of.

Kyoto was Japan's capital for over 1,000 years, and during that time became the repository of much

of the best of Japanese art, culture, religion, and thought. Kyoto can be reached in 2 hrs. 40 min by Shinkansen super express from Tokyo and 1 hr. 15 min. from the Kansai International Airport near

Osaka.

In the center of Kyoto you find the Kyoto Imperial Palace, renowned as a pinnacle for its simplicity of Japanese architecture. (Note: You must apply for a permit with your passport, 20 min. before the tour :10 a.m. and / or 2 p.m.) Nearby is the more lavishly appointed Nijo Castle, home of the Tokugawa shogun on his rare visits to the city.

The Gion Corner near Shijo-Kawaramachi is an excellent place to view traditional arts and traditional theater. Rows of tastefully designed old-style restaurants add to the distinctly refined atmosphere.

In the Higashiyama area, Sanjusangendo Temple is noted for its 1,001 gilded wooden statues of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. Kiyomizu Temple is famous for its wide wooden veranda jutting out over an exquisite valley that extends to a panoramic view of the city. Ginkakuji Temple, or the Silver Pavilion, is renowned both for its exquisite architecture and the beauty of its understated landscape gardens.

The Katsura Imperial Villa, located in western Kyoto, is considered to be one of the finest examples of traditional Japanese architecture and garden landscaping. The Shugakuin Imperial Villa was built in the 17th century by the Tokugawa shogunate as a retreat for Emperor Go-Mizunoo. Permission must be obtained from the Imperial Household Agency to visit these sites. Apply for a permit as many days in advance as possible.

The Arashiyama district, only 20 min. by train from central Kyoto, is dotted with many celebrated temples and shops. The area can be easily enjoyed on foot or bicycle, offering a superb walking experience especially on those fine weather days. Western Kyoto contains musts for the tourist - Kinkakuji and Ryoanji temples. The brilliant Kinkakuji, or Golden Pavilion, is in excellent contrast to Ryoanji famed for its stone garden which is simplicity itself designed with only rocks and white sand.

Nara, 42 km. (28 mi.) south of Kyoto, is an older capital of Japan, and was also a major cradle of Japan's arts, crafts, literature, and culture not to mention industry.

The major tourist attractions are clustered around Nara Sta. Nara Park is popularly known as Deer Park for its resident tame deer.

To the west lies Kofukuji Temple, founded in 710. Many valuable Buddhist statues are exhibited in the National Treasure House, and nearby is a fivestoried pagoda which is mirrored in the Sarusawa Pond.

The Nara National Museum contains a collection of Buddhist art with pieces from every period. But perhaps the most famous of Nara's many ancient attractions is Todaiji Temple, where the Great Buddha of Nara sits. The Daibutsuden, where the Great Buddha is housed, is claimed to be the world's largest wooden structure.

Another attraction is the colorful Kasuga Grand Shrine erected in 768 — one of the most famous Shinto shrines in Japan. The vermilion-lacquered buildings create a beautiful contrast to the surrounding greenery. Some 1,800 stone lanterns stand in the shrine precincts and 1,000 metal lanterns are suspended from the eaves of its

corridors.

Horyuji Temple, 45 min. by rail from Nara Sta., is not only superbly beautiful but one of the most important temples in Japan. The temple, the oldest intact temple complex in Japan, was founded in 607. Around 40 buildings make up the complex, and are said to be the world's oldest wooden structures.

"Tokyo & Vicinity"

2012-08-06T03:22:00.001+08:00

Tokyo — the most exciting metropolis in Asia. This is where traditions from centuries past exist side by side with the ever-moving elements of the latest in urban culture that radiate their own special heat and energy.

The Imperial Palace, formerly Edo Castle, is still surrounded by its original innermost moat. Handsome gates and old guard towers are set at intervals around the grounds. The main entrance is approached by the elegant Nijubashi or Double Bridge and is open to the public on special occasions. The East Garden (Higashi Gyoen) is where the original donjon once stood. The garden is graced with flowers and blossoms of each season, open to all as an ideal place for relaxation.

The west side of Tokyo Station is Marunouchi, Japan’s largest business district. Here old buildings are being replaced by new attractive buildings with offices, shops and restaurants, which attract many visitors.

A 10-min. walk takes you to the Ginza district, famous the world over for elegant shopping and its bright, kaleidoscopic neon lights.

From the neon bustle of the Ginza and Yurakucho districts, turn to the spacious Ueno district where you will find Ueno Park, the largest in the city. In early April, the park turns into a paradise of delicate pale pink cherry blossoms and attracts numerous viewers and merrymakers. The park forms a great center of art and culture with its many and varied museums.

Akihabara, the world's largest and most famous electronics district has recently gained a new reputation as a mecca for Otaku, or fanatics of anime, computer games or so-called "costume play." There are many anime related stores where you can find animation figures, costumes and manga.

For a glimpse into Tokyo's past, the Asakusa district is the place. The many narrow back streets, lined with old buildings and shops, sell traditional items from kimono to hand-made combs. Asakusa Kannon Temple, with its colorful shopping lanes, is a marvelous place to buy souvenirs. TOKYO SKYTREE is easy to access from this area.

Shinjuku, on the city's trendy west side, is home to popular and raucous nightspots, to fine and sophisticated shopping, as well as to the sedate Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

The Shibuya district, near the tranquil Meiji Shrine and the modish Harajuku and Aoyama districts, is a popular shopping and entertainment paradise, particularly among the young set. Shibuya is a trendsetting hub from which the culture of youth is in continuous transmission. The forefront of international art and fashion is fully in evidence. People-watching from a sidewalk cafe is engaging and enjoyable.

Roppongi, filled with night spots popular with international visitors, is rapidly developing as an artistic and cultural center. Among its attractions are Tokyo Midtown; the National Art Center, Tokyo; and Roppongi Hills.

Odaiba, built on reclaimed land in the Port of Tokyo, featuring an expansive shopping mall and the Ooedo-Onsen Monogatari, exciting hot spring theme park.

Side Trips from Tokyo

Tokyo Disney Resort®, the most popular theme park in Japan, is in the Maihama district only 17 min. by train from Tokyo Sta.

Mt. Takao is 599 m high and located in western Tokyo. It is rich in nature and is designated as a national park. About an hour from the center of Tokyo, it is a popular spot for mountain hiking.

The autumn leaves in November and the plum blossom in February are particularly beautiful, attracting many people to the mountain. There is also a famous temple near the peak.

Yokohama, Japan's second largest city, 30 min. By rail from Tokyo, is one of the first Japanese cities that opened up to foreign residents during the Meiji Restoration(1868 -1911) and is a bustling port city with numerous historic buildings and the spacious Sankei-en Garden. The "Minato Mirai 21" district on the waterfront is highly popular among younger generation, offering a most enjoyable shopping and fantastic gourmet experience. Yokohama's China Town offers any number of excellent restaurants.

Kamakura, 1 hr. by rail from Tokyo, is a small quiet coastal town with tranquil temples. Once the seat of the feudal government set up in 1192, the town today still retains much of its ancient and historical heritage. Kamakura's most famous attraction is the giant bronze Great Buddha. This impressive "Daibutsu" is 11.4 m. high, weighs 122 tons and sits in the open-air.

Near Kamakura Sta. is Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. A number of Buddhist temples, large and small, also dot the area. A leisurely stroll here slips you back to the 12th-century Kamakura period. Whichever temple you visit, you'll be greeted by the beautiful flowers and blossoms of the season.

Hakone, 1 hr. 30 min. by rail from Tokyo's Shinjuku Sta., is a famous hot spring resort area set in the beautiful mountains which comprise the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. A major attraction here is the Open-Air Museum, with hundreds of sculptures. Relaxing in one of the many hot springs is simply a worthwhile experience. Take a pleasure cruise around Lake Ashi, offering marvelous views of Mt. Fuji. In Owakudani, steam and sulfurous fumes rise from crevices in the rocks.

Mt. Fuji, at 3,776 m., is not only Japan's tallest mountain but it's the best known symbol as well. In addition to being a favored climbing site during the months of July and August, Mt. Fuji is the center of a wide-ranging natural recreation zone. This includes the Fuji Five Lakes district to the north, which offers extensive opportunities for hiking, boating, fishing, camping, and picnicking.

The Izu Peninsula, south of Hakone, is an important recreational area known for its hot spring resorts. The peninsula's scenic backbone is formed by the hot spring and waterfall-rich Amagi Mountain Range.

The Seven Islands of Izu collectively form a superb resort area combining beautiful seascape attractions and hot springs as well as impressive volcanic topography. Oshima Island, for example, is a popular resort within an easy 1 hrs. 45 min. high-speed boat ride from Tokyo, allowing for even a day trip.

Kusatsu Onsen is one of Japan's top spa resorts, situated less than four hours from Tokyo by direct bus link. The highly acidic spa water, which is potent enough to dissolve a 􀀽1 coin in a week, is extraordinarily effective.

Nikko, 2 hrs. by rail from Tokyo, is both a gem of natural beauty and home to one of the must-sees of Japanese architecture. Toshogu Shrine which houses the mausoleum of the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, is Nikko's most famous attraction. The complex is unusual among Japanese architectural gems for its display of opulence and decorative complexity.

"Hanegasaki Gakuen Summer Uniform Cosplay"

2012-08-05T02:37:00.000+08:00

First of all,
Please vote for me here!
Himecchi for CosplayIdol 2012 @Otaku House

After I waited for two weeks, I finally get my hands on my cosplay costume!

This is a summer uniform cosplay of the student of Hanegasaki Gakuen in Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side 2nd Kiss!

What do you think?

The cosplayer is myself.

Do you know Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side 2nd Kiss?

It is the second series of Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side game (TMGS). It’s developed in PS2, Nintendo DS, and PSP platform.

It is Otome-game genre. Otome game is a game for otome (young girls).

TMGS is a game about dating simulation in virtual school. And it is a reverse-Harem!

Yep it is!

You’ll created your character and define her name, birth date, blood type, and type of room.
It doesn’t affect anything in-game though.
You only would go “kyaaa” over that seiyuu’s voice calling your name :D

In that game, you’ll do/redo your high school life in a Japanese High School.

You’ll attend Habataki Gakuen for the first and the third series and Hanegasaki Gakuen for its second series.

You’ll be presented by beautiful prologue for each series.

You can attend clubs, focus on studying, do a part-time job or go crazy and spend time to go for your loved one.
It all depends on your choice. Your choice will affect the game and its characters. So if you go for a Gariben (bookworm type boy) then you wouldn’t want to neglect on studying.

It just as a real life!

You can buy clothes and make your chara use it. Every boy has their own taste.

And in your graduation day, you’ll get a confession by that guy you’ve been chasing assuming you fulfill his ending requirements.

You can choose to follow the prologue and fall for that main chara who have been destined for you or instead, you can choose the other guys and battle the rival-girls for his affection.
You even can court your homeroom teacher! :D
Isn’t that great?!!

I love every and each series and always have them in my DS Lite’s pouch.

But if I have to choose, I’ll choose the second series’s Gakuen.
I just love its uniform!

Well of course, I’ll make every uniform of TMGS series, but this one goes first.

What do you think, everyone?

Please leave a comment below! :D

Please vote for me here!
Himecchi for CosplayIdol 2012 @Otaku House

"Nightlife"

2012-08-04T04:41:00.000+08:00

Night Tours

The range of entertainment available in Japan's cities is so vast that visitors may best sample them by joining a night tour. In Tokyo, Sunrise Tour Series by Japan Travel Bureau offers reasonably priced nightlife tours. In Tokyo, Night Life Tour offers you Japanese style dinner "Sukiyaki", "Tempura", "Sashimi" or vegetarian meal of your choice at a Japanese restaurant, and chance to see marvelous night view from 250m above sea level at Roppongi Hills. In Kyoto, by joining Special Night, you can be a guest at a tea ceremony, followed by Zen-Style Tempura dinner and finishing up by enjoying various kinds of traditional Japanese performing arts in the Gion Corner.

Where to Drink

No visitor needs to go thirsty in Japan. In addition to western-style bars in the cities, traditional drinking spots include: "Izakaya" are Japanese-style pubs serving beer, Japanese sake, cocktails and other alcoholic beverages as well as casual meals. Drinking establishments of this type are all going strong till midnight. Step into one and experience the "liveliness." Prices are naturally very reasonable.

"Karaoke" (singing along with recorded music) is one of the most popular forms of nightlife in Japan. Generally, a Karaoke establishment consists of a number of compartments, each replete with Karaoke equipment. A group of guests can occupy a compartment at a reasonable price to enjoy singing while drinking and eating. Many Karaoke houses even offer a selection of popular songs you can sing in English.

In Tokyo, the best locations for a lively evening of good food, drink and entertainment include the internationally-flavored district of Roppongi, the upscale and elegant Ginza with its dazzling neon-lit signs, the more sophisticated Akasaka, the youthful, crowded Shibuya, and the more raucous Kabukicho in Shinjuku.

Dancing

Discotheques and clubs are common and wellfrequented in all major cities, particularly by the young and young at heart. In Tokyo, Roppongi offers many high-class venues for adults, while Shibuya is a dancing Mecca of the young.

"Museums & Art Galleries"

2012-08-03T06:38:00.001+08:00

Japan's long recorded history as well as its profound artistic accomplishments are copiously detailed and on display in its many museums. Indeed, the archeological artifacts, crafts and artistic masterpieces contained in its museums represent exquisite microcosms of the Japanese experience that illuminate the nation and its people as a whole. Perhaps at the pinnacle of Japan's museums stand the national museums, of which the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park was the first to be established, in 1872. Its extensive collection gives a

comprehensive overview of the entire history of traditional Japanese art, plus historic, scientific and natural history exhibits.

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo exhibits a chronology of Japan's modern fine art masterpieces.

The newly opened National Art Center, Tokyo has Japan’s largest exhibition space with an extensive collection.

The Kyoto National Museum was originally created around the paintings, sculpture and other treasures from temples in the vicinity, and now contains examples of Japanese art from all periods.

The Nara National Museum is noted especially for its collection of Buddhist sculpture.

In Tokyo, there are numerous art museums, both public and private, which preserve invaluable works of Japan's traditional fine art. To name just a few, the Gotoh Museum boasts, among its collection, the "Tale of Genji Picture Scroll" (a national treasure); and the Hatakeyama Memorial Museum of Fine Art features tea ceremony artifacts. These two museums also have a Japanese garden, allowing the visitor to appreciate works of fine art in a tastefully relaxing atmosphere. Also worth visiting are: the Idemitsu Museum of Arts with its collection of calligraphy, paintings and pottery from both Japan and China; the Suntory Museum of Art featuring antique fine art items based on traditional living; the Yamatane Museum of Art specializing in modern and contemporary Japanese paintings; the Japan Folk Crafts Museum with a focus on beautiful crafts for daily use such as pottery and textiles; and Ukiyoe Ota Memorial Museum of Art specializing Ukiyoe painting.

Putting aside traditional fine art, there are also other types of distinctive museums. The Edo-Tokyo Museum features the history and lifestyles of Tokyo, using large-scale models. The Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum is a genuine art deco structure built in 1933 and holds various loan exhibitions.

In the realm of contemporary fine art, Japan is recently emerging as a transmitter of distinct creativity to the rest of the world. As such, contemporary art museums in Japan await those who are interested in the country's up-to-the-minute lifestyles, thoughts, media and so on. One of Japan's largest of its kind in scale, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo presents an extensive range of contemporary art masterpieces from both Japan and abroad. The Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery often spearheads in holding "new-concept" exhibitions for contemporary art. The Hara Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo's Shinagawa district is an elegant Bauhaus-style building which houses a variety of contemporary art works. In Ibaraki Prefecture to the north of Tokyo, the Contemporary Art Center at Art Tower Mito is known for its unique exhibitions featuring contemporary art.

The Tokugawa Art Museum of Nagoya specializes in Noh costumes, swords, armor and other samurai relics. Tokaido Hiroshige Art Museum of Shizuoka Pref. This collection, which highlights the works of Hiroshige Utagawa, Japan's foremost Ukiyoe painter, houses over 1,300 woodblock prints.

As for traditional fine arts in the Kansai region, the Fujita Art Museum in Osaka is important due to its rich collection of antique fine arts. Note, however, that it opens only in spring and autumn. Also celebrated are the Osaka Municipal Museum of Oriental Ceramics, which specializes in priceless antique ceramics from China and Korea, and the Osaka Municipal Museum of Art with its rich collection of Chinese, and Japanese antique fine art works. The Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art in Kyoto is an impressive villa structure placing pottery masterpieces on exhibit in a relaxing and serene atmosphere. The Miho Museum in Shiga prefecture features masterpieces of Japanese fine art and ancient art from around the world. Note, however, it closes during winter. Meanwhile, Osaka's Suntory Museum TEMPOZAN holds theme exhibitions focusing on posters.

"History Of Noh & Kyogen"

2012-08-01T04:36:00.000+08:00

Noh and kyogen are two of Japan’s four forms of classical theater, the other two being kabuki and bunraku. Noh, which in its broadest sense includes the comic theater kyogen, developed as a distinctive theatrical form in the 14th century, making it the oldest extant professional theater in the world.

Although noh and kyogen developed together and are inseparable, they are in many ways exact opposites. Noh is fundamentally a symbolic theater with primary importance attached to ritual and suggestion in a rarefied aesthetic atmosphere. In kyogen, on the other hand, primary importance is attached to making people laugh.

History of the Noh Theater

In the early 14th century, acting troupes in a variety of centuries-old theatrical traditions were touring and performing at temples, shrines, and festivals, often with the patronage of the nobility. The performing genre called sarugaku was one of these traditions. The brilliant playwrights and actors Kan’ami (1333– 1384) and his son Zeami (1363–1443) transformed sarugaku into noh in basically the same form as it is still performed today. Kan’ami introduced the music and dance elements of the popular entertainment kuse-mai into sarugaku, and he attracted the attention and patronage of Muromachi shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1358–1408).

After Kan’ami’s death, Zeami became head of the Kanze troupe. The continued patronage of Yoshimitsu gave him the chance to further refine the noh aesthetic principles of monomane (the imitation of things) and yugen, a Zen-influenced aesthetic ideal emphasizing the suggestion of mystery and depth. In addition to writing some of the best-known plays in the noh repertoire, Zeami wrote a series of essays which defined the standards for noh performance in the centuries that followed.

After the fall of the Muromachi shogunate, noh received extensive patronage from military leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and in the 17th century noh became an “official property” of the Tokugawa shogunate. During these years, performances became even slower and more solemn than in Zeami’s time.

With the fall of the shogunate, noh in the Meiji period (1868–1912) was kept alive by the dedication of performers like Umewaka. Minoru I (1828–1909) and by the patronage of the nobility. Since the end of World War II, noh has had to depend entirely on the public for its survival. Noh today continues to be supported by a small but dedicated group of theatergoers, and by a considerable number of amateurs who pay for instruction in noh singing and dancing techniques. In recent years noh performed outdoors at night by firelight (called takiginoh) has become increasingly popular, and there are many such performances held in the summer at Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and parks.

History of Kyogen

Kyogen is thought to have its roots in entertainment brought to Japan from China in the 8th century or earlier. This entertainment evolved into sarugaku in the following centuries, and by the early 14th century there was a clear distinction among sarugaku troupes between the performers of serious noh plays and those of the humorous kyogen. As a component of noh, kyogen received the patronage of the military aristocracy up until the time of the Meiji Restoration (1868). Since then, kyogen has been kept alive by family groups, primarily from the Izumi and Okura schools. Today professional kyogen players perform both independently and as part of noh programs.

"The Origin Of Otaku"

2012-07-31T07:27:00.001+08:00

What is an otaku?

In modern Japanese slang, the term otaku refers to a fan of any particular theme, topic, or hobby. Common uses are anime otaku (a fan of anime), cos-play otaku and manga otaku (a fan of Japanese comic books), pasokon otaku (personal computer geeks), gemu otaku (fans playing video games), and wota e (pronounced ‘ota’, previously referred to as “idol otaku’) that are extreme fans of idols, i.e. heavily promoted singing girls. There are also tetsudo otaku or denshamania (railfans) or gunji otaku (military geeks).

Japanese people use this word in a non favorable, negative connotation, which is to describe someone in an offensive way as weird, antisocial and obsessed, so most Japanese would consider it undesirable to be described as “otaku” in a serious fashion; many even consider it to be a genuine insult. The closest translation for otaku in English would be ‘nerd’ or ‘geek’.

Otaku Phenomenon

What makes otaku a new phenomenon? What makes otaku obsessiveness different from other obsessive forms of collecting hobbies? The few common denominators are that otaku are teens or twens, mostly boys who usually wear jeans, T–shirt and sneakers, which might not sound very differentiating as a characteristic but in the fashion–crazy Japan that is a distinction in itself. They despise physical contact and love media, technical communication, and the realm of reproduction and simulation in general.

They are enthusiastic collectors and manipulators of useless artifacts and in formation. They are an underground, but they are not opposed to the system. They change, manipulate, and subvert ready–made products but at the same time they are the apotheosis of consumerism and an ideal workforce for contemporary Japanese capitalism. They are the children of the media. (Grassmuck 1990)

The otaku new history begins in 1970 as an underground subculture, and the begging of the change in usage ﬁrst came about among collectors of anime pictures. The expansion of the otaku population and its varieties can only be related to the expansion of the mediated world, the varieties of communication channels, as well as the new ways of information distribution.

Certainly, the background of the otaku phenomenon involves a number of factors, but the decisive element are new media and media usages permitting a different access to the world.

Otakudoms

If we look at the Internet as a society, fandoms will be one of the most peculiar social groups existing within this society. People virtually gathering around certain, at the same extent, virtual (in most of the cases) subject, exploiting it in various aspects.

Otakudoms, or more speciﬁcally anime and manga fandoms are one of the most enthusiastic and fruitful on–line fangroups. In this context we can see an entirely different picture of an otaku. Usually shy and unsociable otaku are showing great creative potential when they communicate with their group.

Having in mind that, to a large extent, they are created by the media, their real dwelling and acting is always related to one. When we add to this the information fetishism and addictiveness, otaku in the new media environment are acting as superconductors transmitting the data (naturally it is always connected with their interests) all around the net to their fellow otaku with unthinkable speed and diverse output.

"Geisha"

2012-07-30T04:14:00.000+08:00

The geisha is the aristocrat of the mizu-shobai (water business)… but she is not a prostitute… Her business is tosell a dream-of luxury, romance, and exclusivity-to the wealthiest and most powerful men in Japan…

For many years the world of the geisha, often referred to as the flower and willow world, has perplexed and intrigued people around the world. The most common image of a geisha is a white faced, red lipped, kimono clad, glorified prostitute, but in truth they are so much more. A true geisha is a person of art and can be male or female. To become a geisha requires more skill and dedication than the Western World is able to comprehend and because of that, the misconception is, more often than not, upheld. Arthur Golden’s critically acclaimed book and feature film Memoirs of a Geisha was able to open the eyes of the Western World to the beauty, grace, and plight of these women; however, there is much more than meets the eye.

The geisha culture is the only business in Japan that is run exclusively by women for the pleasure of men and has been successful for many centuries. In this society, where a woman's place was either in the home or in the brothel, the geisha carved out a separate niche, creating a community of women that became known as the karyuaki (flower and willow world). Despite the often harsh realities of this world, a geisha could gain an education of sorts, acquire an art, make her own money, establish an independent identity, run a business, pursue romance, and sometimes find true love.

The heart of the geisha life lay in two Japanese cities, Kyoto and Tokyo. One, Kyoto, is a snapshot in time of the geisha of the past; living in the hanamachi with their geisha family, learning the arts, and preserving the way of the geisha. The other, Tokyo, is struggling to retain the dwindling geisha arts where technology advancement threatens to take over. In Kyoto an apprentice geisha is referred to as a maiko, person of dance, and a fully fledged geisha is a geiko, person of art. In Tokyo the names are hangyoku, because sharing in the company of an apprentice would only result in half of a charge, and ippon, meaning literally “one full point”, respectively. For ease, rather than use their Japanese names the words “apprentice geisha” and “geisha” will be used. This is because this paper will focus on both Kyoto and Tokyo geisha and to use one or both sets of names would become quite confusing. For convenience, there is a glossary at the end of this paper where the definitions of italicized words are provided.

Origin of the Geisha

The history of the geisha began during the Japanese Renaissance when the class system that previously governed Japan was being turned on its head. During this time, the first of the pleasure quarters, called Yanagimichi, was built by a man with an entrepreneurial spirit named Hideyoshi Toytomi. Before the Renaissance, the samurai had been directly under the shogun, and they still were, but they were forbidden from retaining other employment and as a result, they were struggling survive on their stipend. To survive they had to borrow money and the direct result was an increase in the income for the money lenders. To prevent the merchants from overtaking the samurai, edicts were frequently passed forbidding them from using their wealth to do things such as wear silk or live in three story houses. There was no tax system, but in order to keep the merchants in line every so often the shogunate would come up with reasons to confiscate everything.

Since no one wanted to relinquish all of their hard earned wealth to the government, squandering their wealth became a common habit, but since there were edicts preventing the merchants from acquiring silver and gold, the only option left was to go into the pleasure quarters to squander their wealth rather than lose it. This caused the pleasure quarters to prosper which was not what the shogun wanted in any way, shape, or form. He believed that if he walled in all of the people and things that were directly related to pleasure, the upstanding citizens would eventually get tired of having to travel to indulge themselves. However, the lure of sex and other sensual pleasures combined with the "elegance, culture, and brilliant conversation with beautiful women in an atmosphere of refinement" proved to be even too much for the shogun to control.

With the popularity of the pleasure quarters growing exponentially, it became vital to retain many new girls to ensure the unwavering attention of the merchants with their new wealth.

This necessity in conjunction with kuchi berashi ensured a steady stream of girls being acquired by zegen “who scoured the countryside and poorer sections of the city” where they could find parents willing to give up their children to lower their debt or reduce the number of mouths they had to feed. This was not looked at with the same disdain nor did it have a similar stigma that it would have today because it was viewed as improving the life of their child. They were able to send them off to a place where they would have a steady supply of fine food, clothing to wear, and be educated, if not completely, at least more than they could hope to provide.

Once a child was in the pleasure quarter, yes, they did indeed have the opportunity for a better class of life, but they were now the property of the brothel owner and saddled with an outrageous level of ever increasing debt. They began to repay their debt by becoming maids; and as they grew older, if they showed promise, they would become kamurof. This was the predecessor to the current day maiko in Kyoto. During this period the child would follow an older courtesan and learn the secrets that made her successful. At this point, the child would learn many things, but the most important idea that would be passed from courtesan to apprentice was the key rule: “Play at love but never, never to allow oneself to feel it. That way lay disaster.”

It was assumed that a person reached sexual maturity around the age of thirteen and at this point an apprentice was expected to accept a rite of passage called mizuage. This rite of passage was still performed until it was deemed illegal. The mizuage ceremony consists of a bidding war between patrons and the winner receives the right to take the virginity of the apprentice. This was required for a girl to be considered a fully fledged courtesan or geisha. After the mizuage ritual, a girl would be ranked and that would determine what kind of work she would receive. Often girls would be ranked as lower class prostitutes and condemned to a life of sitting and waiting for customers to come and choose them; but if the girl had exceptional beauty, she could be ranked as koshi and have the opportunity to work her way up to being tayu.

Tayu, at the time, were in high demand and very difficult to obtain. If a man wanted to partake in the company of a tayu, the first step was to go to an ageya…to apply for a meeting…The owner of the ageya would write a letter to the bordello where the courtesan lived, roll it up, and give it to the messenger. While the customer was waiting, he would enjoy to services of jesters and dancing girls and ply them with food and drink, all of which, of course, would be added to his bill. The customer would then be able to spend time with the courtesan and they spend the “evening playing music, dancing, exchange poems, and enjoy the tea…and incense ceremony.” Even at this point in time, the tayu had the ability and responsibility to be selective because if they were not, their reputation could be tarnished if it was perceived that they were too easy.

The success that was enjoyed by Hideyoshi Toytomi in Yanagimichi led to Saburoemon Hara to petition to begin another pleasure quarter in Kyoto, specifically Edo; however, it was ultimately a wealthy brothel owner, Jinemon Shoji, who was successful in creating a licensed pleasure quarter. The success of this pleasure quarter was because of unmarried merchants and tradesmen from Kyoto and Osaka, and unmarried samurai who, on the stipend provided to them by their employers, could not begin or support a family. Yoshiwara set itself apart from Yanagimichi by not only offering sex, but also entertainment such as kabuki, shrine dancing, wrestling, and singing. As a result of these diverse offerings, Yoshiwara was “far larger than the country’s other famous pleasure quarters.”

“Gradually the number of women worthy to be designated tayu began to decline...It was then that a new breed of woman first began to step out…a woman who was not a caged bird, who dressed with understated sophistication, not showy glitter, and who sold not her body, but her arts.”

This was the foundation of the geisha.

"Onsen"

2012-07-29T03:43:00.000+08:00

The Japanese Love Onsens

For Japanese, bathing is not only for cleaning, but to refresh the body and spirit. Baths come in several types, including house baths, Sento (simple public baths), and onsen . The popularity of the Onsen means they play a central role in Japanese domestic tourism. On weekends or vacation, Japanese people often go on an onsen - trip not only to relieve their fatigue but to enhance their mutual relationship with family, friends and co-workers.

What is Onsen ?

There are laws in place that regulate the definition, protection, etc. of an Onsen. According to these laws, an Onsen is defined as hot water and water vapor that springs from the Earth either naturally or from artificially-bored holes. The water temperature needs to be higher than 25℃.

However, meeting other conditions, the water can be cooler and still be authorized as an Onsen .

History of the Onsen

Japan is a volcanically active country, and as such, Onsen have been used since olden times and are mentioned in Japanese legends and mythologies. Descriptions are found in reknowned Japanese texts such as; Kojiki, Nihonshoki , and Manyo.

During the Kamakura and Sengoku era (12th-17th century), records indicate that the samurai healed their wounds there. In the Edo era (17th-19th century), the culture of onsens spread to common people. In the Meiji era (early 20th century), scientific studies began and by the Showa era (mid 20th century) the medical benefits of Onsen were proven.

Through the years, more and more people come to use onsens for different reasons. Today people enjoy them not only for medical treatment but also for sightseeing, socializing, and leisure. Onsens are a multipurpose place to have a great time. One of the reasons that Onsens are popular is because of the various health benefits people enjoy when using them .

Soothing your skin , easing stiff shoulders , and relaxing your muscles are just some of these effects .

Why are Onsens Effective?

The minerals contained in Onsen water have various effects. People call this effect To (hot spring healing, or balneotheraphy). A person can feel the effects of mineral water by bathing or by drinking. Only some Onsen are equipped to handle drinking water however, so please check the general guidelines or drinking permission statement before drinking the Onsen Mineral Water. Please do not drink from the bath water itself.

Generally, there are three different types of “rests” that can be appreciated at the onsen . They are as follows:

Rest for recreation: recovering from fatigue and becoming refreshed.

Rest for health: keeping a healthy condition and preventing against ailments

Rest for medical treatment: recuperation from ailments

Additional benefits include:

①Physical Effects:

The thermal energy stimulates your nervous system and your circulatory system. The water pressure activates your cardiopulmonary functions. The buoyancy makes it easy for the physically handicapped to bathe as well.

②Chemical Effects:

The minerals are absorbed through your skin into your body and provide various benefits.

③Change-of-Air Effects

A feeling of freedom from daily life as well as a comfortable atmosphere and natural view can refresh the spirit.

④Change-of-Condition Effects

By visiting the Onsen routinely, you can appreciate better health and improve your condition.

"Heki Ryu Insai Ha"

2012-07-28T14:01:00.001+08:00

The way in which Kyudo is performed has remained almost unchanged since the 15th century. There have been many schools, among them OGASAWARA and HEKI Ryu. The main concern of the Ogasawara Ryu was how to dress and how to move. During the Tokugawa Period in the first part of the 17th century the 3rd Shogun ordered the Ogasawara Ryu to define their own ceremony. The style of this school was developed from Yabusame (shooting from horseback) and it has remained unchanged up to the present. The All Nippon Kyudo Federation (A.N.K.F.) combined elements of Ogasawara and Honda.

The origins of the Heki Ryu are shrouded in myth and it is said that it began with HEKI DANJO MASATSUGU, a legendary hero whose existence even today has not been confirmed. Nonetheless Heki Danjo Masatsugu is considered to be a genius of martial arts who completely changed the way of shooting with the bow. At that time many techniques were used, almost every noble family having it's own. Heki Danjo checked all these different techniques, collected the best points of each school, adapted them for the best results and so developed a new technique. Historically the Heki Ryu Insai Ha was founded by the great warrior YOSHIDA INSAI who was named Master by the first Shogun IEASU TOKUGAWA on becoming his teacher in the 17th century. Insai learned the art of shooting from some families who had been taught directly by Heki Danjo. Insai lived at the time of the great battles; later in peaceful times (same period as Miyamoto Musashi) he was able to adapt the Heki technique of the battlefield and to make some changes for peaceful times without armour. For these reasons it is possible to say without any doubt that the Heki Ryu is still teaching a technique that was created and used for maximum efficiency on the battlefield and thus, as Inagaki Sensei used to say, is a TRUE technique.

The direct line of the most important masters of the Heki Ryu from the 16th century onwards is shown below:

Yoshida Insai :

Master to the 1st shogun, about 1600

Yoshida Sadakatsu :

Insai's son, Master to the 2nd and 3rd Shogun

Yoshida Yoshikata :

Sadakatsu’s younger brother, about 1700, very famous for his skill

Yoshida Gennoju Inkei :

Yoshikata's son, Master of the Ikeda family

Tokuyama Katsutoshi :

Master of the Bizen Daimyo (now Okoyama)

Urakami Naoki :

appointed Principal Master by Yoshida Gennoju

(Naooki)Urakami Sakae :

appointed by Naoki

Inagaki Genshiro :

appointed by Urakami Sakae

The Heki Ryu Insai Ha (as it is called by other schools, the true name is "School of the Shogun Family" - Heki To Ryu) has an unbroken tradition into the present century which started with Yoshida Insai. During all these years many changes were made to the bow due to the studies of many masters; on the other hand Inagaki Sensei has checked the ancient manuscripts from the16th century which confirm that the Heki technique we learn today is almost the same as that taught in the past. Nowadays, the Heki Ryu teaches technique according to its tradition and according to the studies made with modern equipment at the Waseda and Tsukuba Universities.

"Samurai's Life in Medieval Japan"

2012-07-27T03:37:00.000+08:00

The Heian period (794-1185) was followed by 700 years of warrior governments—the Kamakura, Muromachi, and Tokugawa. The civil government at the imperial court continued, but the real rulers of the country were the military daimyo class.

Kamakura Period (1185-1333)

The Kamakura period was the beginning of warrior class rule. The imperial court still handled civil affairs, but with the defeat of the Taira family, the Minamoto under Yoritomo established its capital in the small eastern city of Kamakura. Yoritomo received the title shogun or “barbarian-quelling generalissimo.” Different clans competed with one another as in the Hogen Disturbance of 1156 and the Heiji Disturbance of 1159.

During the Genpei Civil War of 1180-1185, Yoritomo fought against and defeated the Taira, beginning the Kamakura Period. Yoritomo chose officials called shugo (military governors) in each province to be responsible for military control of the provinces, to supervise the land, and to collect taxes.

Obligation and dependency between shogun and military governors became the basis for the governing system until the end of the nineteenth century. As the shugo gained power and no longer acted only on behalf of the shogun, they evolved into the daimyo of the late fifteenth century. It also should be clarified that only about 10 percent of the population were of this warrior culture. Most Japanese at the time were farmers.

Muromachi Period (1336-1573)

The Muromachi district of Kyoto became the capital for the second period in medieval Japanese history. This time period, called the Muromachi or Ashikaga Period (1336-1573), was marked by unrest, disturbances, and violent changes. Warfare destroyed cities and countryside. The shogun’s power was still based on the coalition of shugo who helped control land and the power in the provinces. The increased power made many of these warriors wealthy, and this period saw the development of feudal lords who were called daimyo. Their success depended on their military prowess and social connections.

Within their provinces, daimyo developed their own local rule. Samurai served a lord or shogun as long as they were rewarded well. The Ashikaga were not able to control the various provinces, so it was the daimyo who ruled the local population, often fighting over territory and allies. There were approximately 250 daimyo domains at the end of the Ashikaga Period.

Momoyama Period (1573-1603)

The end of the Muromachi came when increasing rivalries between daimyo played out in the Onin War (1467-1477). Kyoto was destroyed, and the country spent the next hundred years in chaos known as the Sengoku or Warring States Period.

The Momoyama Period or Momoyama-Azuchi Period reunited Japan after these years of civil war. Over time, three generals worked to limit the powers of the daimyo and end the constant warfare between families and provinces.

Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) expelled the last Ashikaga shogun and began the restoration of order after centuries of war. His castle was built at Azuchi and became the model for huge structures to protect and defend the daimyo. Firearms, which had arrived with the Portuguese in 1543, influenced Nobunaga’s policies. He was known for brutally eliminating his rivals by any means necessary including burning temples, killing innocent civilians, and assassination.

Nobunaga’s leading general, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, finalized the reunification of the country. He defeated some daimyo, and made alliances with others so that he became the most powerful man in the land. All recognized his preeminence. Hideyoshi made some major changes, including forcing all non-samurai to give up their weapons, He introduced a class system and limited Chinese and Dutch to trading in Nagasaki in southern Japan. The Portuguese and Spanish were banned from Japan for proselytizing.

"Summer Festival"

2012-07-25T15:55:00.000+08:00

It's SUMMER!!!

Well, actually Summer isn't my most favorite season but I adore how Summer is being called "Season of Love"

Even the festivals in Summer are romantics and it's usual to find these festivals in romantic stories J

I LOVE ROMANTIC STORIES

Here are some festivals that occurs in Japan in Summer:

Tanabata

The first annual observance of summer is known as Tanabata, falling on July 7. It is a day that commemorates a romantic story, first handed down to Japan’s imperial court via China and Korea and then becoming popular among the common people, about the once-a-year meeting on a bridge across the Milky Way of the “cowherd star” and the “weaving princess star.” It was believed that wishes made on this day would be fulfilled; in gardens and other places people set up leafbearing bamboo stalks to whose branches they attached strips of paper on which their wishes were written.

Nowadays, Tanabata festivals are celebrated at numerous places around Japan. Some of the best-known take place at the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto, the Konpira Shrine in Kagawa Prefecture, and in the cities of Hiratsuka in Kanagawa Prefecture and Takaoka in Toyama Prefecture. Also well known is the Sendai Tanabata festival in Miyagi Prefecture, which takes place a month later on August 7, closer to the time of year when Tanabata was earlier observed by the lunar calendar.

Fireworks Displays

Throughout Japan, night skies in summer are lit by colorful fireworks as various localities put on fireworks displays (hanabi taikai). Japan’s fireworks technology is said to be the world’s best and has been handed down from generation to generation since the Edo period.

Today’s fireworks displays are often controlled by computers to enhance their precision and spectacular visual effects. In Tokyo, fireworks displays along the Sumida River have been famous annual events since the Edo period.

Bon

Bon or Obon is an annual observance to welcome and console the souls of one’s ancestors, who are thought to visit one’s home at this time of the year. It was traditionally observed around the middle of the seventh month according to the lunar calendar. At present it is observed in most places between July 13 and 15, though in some regions between August 13 and 15.

On July 13, welcoming fires (mukaebi) are lit to greet the ancestors’ spirits. Then, on the sixteenth, seeing-off fires (okuribi) are lit as the ancestral souls return to the spirit world. During Bon, many companies and stores close for vacation and since people who work away from their native places often return there with their wives or husbands and children, transportation facilities, as during Golden Week, become very congested.

"Keigo"

2012-07-24T17:37:00.000+08:00

Today let’s talk about Keigo. Yep! THAT Keigo!

It is difficult and many Japanese people get confused as well.

Keigo or sonkeigo is “honorific expression/language“. In order to speak Japanese properly, we have to learn keigo and kenjyougo , humble or modest version of Japanese.

We use keigo towards people who are socially higher, customers, or people you are not familiar with. Students have to use keigo towards sensei (teachers). We hear keigo in daily conversation all the time in the stores, the restaurants, on the street, on the phone, etc.

When you refer to someone’s family, you have to keep it in mind to use the polite form. For example, haha usually refers to your own mother. Okaasan could be your mother or another person’s mother. Okaasama or Okaasama gata (=pluralmothers) are very polite form to address other people’s mothers.

The reason why uses honorific forms (keigo) is to maintain a certain distance in relationship. By using keigo, we subtly expressed our inner feelings, although you didn't realize it. Using keigo in such away is completely different from the old-fashioned, conservative usage.

Basically keigo is polite but the usage of keigo must be adapted according to a hierarchical relationship based on the status and rank of the speaker and listener. Therefore, many Japanese are unwilling to use keigo as they feel it is extremely troublesome to use in conversation. But modern keigo has become a mere facade. The reality is that it does not always function in a time-honored conservative way.

Other people might conclude that a speaker is poorly educated or has been raised in an improper way if he/she is not able to use keigo according to the time, the place and occasion, not just the hierarchical relationship.

Whaatt?? Keigo is so hard!

But I have to go through it if I want to be “d’ best bride ever”. You with me, gals?!!

Please leave comment below! J

"Cosplaying"

2012-07-24T07:34:00.001+08:00

Cosplaying is really fundamental for an Otaku (wait, me?)

I’ve been expecting for my hanegasaki-gakuen cosplay costumes. It’s tailor-made, of course. I’ve been wanting to learn how to sew better so I can make my own cosplay costumes. I can do the basic of sewing. And I created some clothes for my barbies. But I never make anything for human’s clothes. Well, I do make some pencil cases and small stuffs like that.

Anyway! Back to the topic!
Today, I want to talk about cosplaying.

Cosplay is an abbreviation of "costume-play". The term refers to dressing up as an anime/manga/game character.
Cosplay is a popular hobby of teen-aged girls in Japan, and is also prominent amongst anime fans worldwide. Sometimes, cosplays can be very good; with a well-crafted, well-fitting costume that looks like its original reference. Such cosplays often require hours of hard work, and considerable seing talent.
Other times, cosplays can be horrendous; especially when fat, balding, middle-aged men decide to cosplay as Sailor Moon, or when a costume really doesn't fit the wearer.

Cosplays are made for the following reasons:

1. To recreate a 2 dimensional art form into 3-D.

2. To challenge one's self to create a cosplay. Many of which dont seem possible to physically create, but somehow are.

3. To show appreciation and/or interest in a certain anime/manga/videogame.

4. To take pride in a cosplay that looks well done.

5. Because normal cloth that is shitted out for everyone via mass factories and little kids are dull. Cosplays are much more interesting to wear. And each cosplay is one of a kind unique considering the wearer most likely made it him/herself.

6. It's a Hobby

Reasons why cosplays are worn:

1. To take pride in ones own creation

2. To wear something out of the ordinary (societies restrictions on what is allowable to be worn everyday is bland)

3. To show support and/or interest in an anime/manga/videogame

4. Self expression. Often the character that is choosen to be cosplayed mirrors the actual person wearing the cosplay.

Now, wasn’t that interesting?
Please leave comment!