o-cha!

3D paintings by Shintaro Ohata

2013-01-15T09:40:00.003+09:00

Japanese artist Shintaro Ohata has a fresh way of making paintings come alive by having painted sculptures in front of paintings, creating a pop-up collage-like visual effect. Born in Hiroshima, Ohata's works tend to focus alot of the everyday life, and the everyday sight of urbanization.

For more of Shintaro Ohata's works: Yukari Art - Shintaro Ohata

All pictures are taken directly off Yukari Art Official Site & Toxel.com.

Happy 2013

2013-01-07T11:54:00.002+09:00

Happy New Year folks!

I would like to thank everyone around me for all the love and support!

I might not have been blogging frequently but this little virtual space is definitely not abandoned!

May 2013 be filled with love, joy, peace and pink health!

2013 Japanese New Year Greetings

2012-12-27T15:39:00.000+09:00

Autumn went by in a blink of an eye, now that we're frantically trying to get all our New Year Greetings, also known as "Nen-ga-jou" （年賀状） out to all business partners, friends and loved ones.

The Japanese New Year Greetings mostly come in the postcard format, without all that hassle to glue each envelope and making sure the ink doesn't seep through the thin paper envelopes while writing the addresses of the recipients.

Here are a few very lovely greetings for Year 2013 (the year of the snake according to the chinese zodiac) that I came across.

By midori.

By Tsuyuko

By Takaaki Suzuki

By Sugoroku

By Show.

By Nishimura Shin.

By Individual locker

**The rights of the works above belong solely to the respective artists. **

Autumn Walks in Japan - Sagamiko, Kanagawa Prefecture

2012-11-25T00:28:00.004+09:00

In coming weeks, I would be writing about my little wallet-friendly weekend trips in and out of Tokyo, all for catching the autumn foliage.

While many Tokyo-ites chose to visit Mt. Takao（高尾山）, an hour west away from Tokyo, I decided that maybe Sagamiko (相模湖)would be more humane, in terms of the crowd.

Just 10 minutes away from Takao by the JR Chuo Local train, I think I made a pretty good decision. :) I would recommend this place for a little cosy family picnic because there's plenty of space and picnic-friendly greens at the Sagamiko park（相模公園）.

How to get there from downtown Tokyo:

At JR Shinjuku　(新宿）, catch the JR Chuo Special Express/Express Train（中央特快／快速） bound for Takao（高尾）.

Alight at Takao, and change to the JR Chuo Local Train (bound for Kofu-甲府) and alight at the next stop, Sagamiko Station（相模湖駅）.

Photos are taken with a Sony NEX-5 and Instagram on Android.
Photos not to be used without permission.

Bento, by Hlynur Atlason for Umbra

2012-11-21T10:43:00.000+09:00

Why didn't anyone think of that earlier?

or rather, why didn't I think of such a simple yet almost-life-saving innovation?

A simple frustration that ends up being ignored everyday for people who cooks: chopped food ending up everywhere, and the struggle to find and get those bowls to put those chopped carrots and onions into. Especially when your hands are busy and not exactly clean enough to open cabinets for bowls. Quite a battle for a person that is unorganized in the kitchen, like me.

Icelandic designer Hlynur Atlason, based in New York City made a brilliant partnership with Umbra, a houseware company to introduce Bento, an innovative cutting board that is supposed to solve all that cutting board mess!

Bento is not just-yet-another cutting board made from bamboo, but one that sits on top of measuring cups-cum-storage compartments for your chopped ingredients. Perfect for a clean prep of ingredients for easy cooking after that!

Now there's probably no excuse for that kitchen prep mess!
Get the Bento cut & prep set from Umbra online.

Source: Design Milk

World's Thinnest House: Keret House

2012-11-06T16:24:00.000+09:00

To those who thought that o-cha! has been put to sleep, o-cha! is back to life!

A one-minute update of myself (if anyone's interested actually...)

I have been busy with moving myself and my life to Tokyo, the ever-super-pulsating heart of Japan. I spent the last few weeks settling down in one of the most vibrant yet stringent countries in Asia.

I was going to start another blog for just penning down interesting happenings with my time in Tokyo but that would probably be pushed back a little.

Part of the mess for 2 weeks

So while spending time looking for budget yet not-cheap-looking interiors, I stumbled upon the world's thinnest house, the Keret House by a Polish architect Jakub Szczesny.

The Keret House that Mr Szczesny built sits snugly in between 2 buildings in Warsaw Poland, is just 4-feet wide. It stretches vertically to 2 storeys and amazingly got a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom fitted in that "gap".

Entrance stairway

How it looks down from the top

A mini kitchen fitting well into the gap. Prolly even bigger than my mini kitchenette!

And to the bathroom

Where small yet power dreams are built

And here's how it looks like if you do a cross-section cut, or maybe knock down the neighbour's house...

How it looks like, actually.

Would you mind living in such a space if it is open for lease?

Source & picture credits: Design Milk

Press "START".

2012-10-03T01:09:00.000+09:00

Another new chapter, another new adventure. I'm setting sail once again, after more than 3 years of homecoming to yet another exciting yet scary adventure. I've set up a journal for my adventure and will be informing you pretty people when I start writing.

But don't worry, o-cha will still bring you those so-now-you-know-it randoms! :)

Say hello to sushi-land!

Something's on the way!

2012-09-27T00:10:00.002+09:00

Here's a little peek-a-boo!

Still working hard like a crazy juggler with numerous stuff to do, just to bring warmth and happiness to everyone's feet! Stay tuned!

Jingles and Tongue Twisters!

2012-09-26T00:13:00.000+09:00

Pardon for not updating for quite some time!

Japanese commercials are one of the fastest changing stuff that goes on TV. Every one of them is trying their best to capture your attention because they do actually determine the consumers' behavior in Japan. Hence, jingles are nonetheless one of the most popular way to do so.

Here are some that I can recall...

A few months back, this commercial caught my eye while the jingle kept being repeated in my head. Australian Supermodel Miranda Kerr is in this commercial by Suntory Lipton, for their their new bottled lemon tea "Limone".

For Non-Japanese speakers, here's what she was mumbling about.

"Yabai ne limone, kamo ne damon ne, sou ne limone, nomone limone....oichi! limone damon ne umai ne."

"Awesome Limone, Maybe because of, yea Limone, let's drink Limone.... Yummy! (in baby language) Because it's Limone it's Yummy!

It was so talked about that the guys at Suntory Lipton made a sequel to it for the upcoming winter season. ↓↓↓

Moving on from Miranda Kerr, Japanese Mixed-Heritage Model Triendl Reina has also recently released a commercial for major Japanese chocolate maker, Meiji, for their chocolate snack [Galbo] with a very catchy but somewhat annoying (if on loop) jingle.

Late last year/Earlier this year, Japanese actress Naka Riisa also starred in a Toyota Passo Car commercial with a jingle in Nagasaki dialect.

This NTT Docomo commercial with Kaela Kimura and her christmas jingle will always come to my mind when it's christmas!

Lastly! Just before you get very annoyed by the jingles I've put up in this entry, this last entry of mine by Ashida Mana, one of Japan's super famous child talent, is too cute to be ignored.

Sushi Cat Nyadai's World

2012-09-18T21:57:00.001+09:00

Came across Sushi Cat and they're just too adorable to ignore!

Sushi Cat was also launched in the U.S just this summer during the Internet Cat Video Film Festival and has since garnered some good cat fame!

Sushi Cat will also be having their own exhibition titled "The Strange Arithmetic, Sushi Cat Nyadai's World" from 21st September 2012 to 12 October 2012. Admission is also meow-ing free! :)

Venue

Tokyo's Tokyo
5F Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku
4-30-3 Jingumae
Shibuya-ku Tokyo
http://omohara.tokyu-plaza.com/

Opening Hours

1100 - 2100 hrs

Want to know more about Sushi Cat? Visit their official page for more fun stuff! (In Japanese Only)

Marimekko S/S 2013

2012-09-18T21:15:00.002+09:00

Absolutely lovely pieces for Spring/Summer 2013 released at the New York Fashion Week! Perfect balance of the classic black and white pieces, and the subtle yet lively coloured pieces.

Makunouchi Installation, Tokyo

2012-09-10T13:01:00.002+09:00

MAKUNOUCHI ?

Makunouchi is a casual exhibition that gathers like-minded creators of various genres, with a common theme on food.

It's like a huge dining table where everyone, together with the creators and their works gather to make merry, have lots of good food and conversations, just having a good time! That was how "Makunouchi" came about.

And since the exhibition installation would be influenced by the layout of apartments in Japan. Taking into consideration the way houses and apartments in Japan are classified in a way that 1LDK stands for, One-room apartment with a Living Dining and Kitchen area, this exhibition is thus named, Makunouchi Oishii 1LDK + garden. 『MAKUNOUCHI 　おいしい１LDK＋garden』

CREATORS

More about them here.

DATE

September 10, 2012 (Monday) - October 8, 2012 (Monday)

HOURS

12:00 - 19:00

Friday, Saturday till 20:00

Closed on Tuesdays

LOCATION

Google Maps

アキバタマビ21
〒101-0021 東京都千代田区外神田6-11-14
3331 Arts Chiyoda 201・202

3331 Arts Chiyoda 201 - 202

Akibatamabi 21

Sotokanda 6-11-14, Chiyoda-ku,

Tokyo 101-0021

via Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Suehiro Station Exit 4. (1 minute walk)

OFFICIAL SITE

http://makuno-uchi.com/index.html

(Japanese Only)

FACEBOOK & TWITTER

Breakfast with A/W 2012 Marimekko

2012-09-10T11:41:00.002+09:00

A random breakfast surf led me to Marimekko, and to these absolutely adorable pieces this season!

朝ご飯を食べながら、マリメッコでめっちゃかわいいA/Wアイテムを見つけました。なんか欲張って全部欲しい！Σ(￣ロ￣lll)

Mamma Blouse
Mamma ブラウス

Viti Tunic
Viti チュニック

Poletti Tunic
Poletti チュニック

Kallas Dress
Kallas ワンピース

Ymparipyorea Coat
Ymparipyorea コート

And if you're visiting Tokyo soon, check out Marimekko's Map of Tokyo 2012 with where-to-go recommendations from the happy people at Marimekko Japan! They have got cute icons too! :)

Keds x Happy Socks!

2012-09-09T19:05:00.001+09:00

Keds are known for their comfortable and lightweight sneakers that I personally own 2 pairs of them and they're really good city shoes that I have to bring along when I'm on travels.

Keds is collaborating with Happy Socks from Sweden with the release of a pair of Champion CVO Sneakers for Urban Outfitters! These cute polka sneakers all come together with a pair of Happy Socks! Happy Happy!! ♥♥

Now I'm starting to wish for a third pair of Keds! ;P

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery カトンの有名なカヤトースト

2012-09-05T15:06:00.000+09:00

I managed to give my lazy bones some exercise to a morning walk to Katong for breakfast as I woke up craving for Kaya Toast and a cup of fragrant milk tea. After 30 mins of easy-walking under the scorching tropical heat, I arrived at the doorstep of Chin Mee Chin Confectionery - my pick for the day.

It's my first time here at Chin Mei Chin Confectionery and I must say, I most probably looked like one lost sheep as I stood at the store front.

朝に起きる瞬間伝統なカヤートーストを食べたかったので、カトンまで散歩しました。カトンはプラナカン民族の建築が残されている、シンガポールの南東に位置している地区です。カトンに「チンミーチンコーヒーアンドケーキショップ」という古いベーカリーのカヤトーストは有名と聞きました。

I didn't know if I should wait to be shown to my seat by the busy aunties, or just go scramble for one myself because appearing uncouth is the last thing I want to do first thing in the morning.

初訪問なので、服務員で席へ案内するのか、自由席制度なのか、全然分からなかった。服務員達も忙しそうから、「誰か私が発見するか」の気持ちで待ちました。

Anyways, I realised it was a self-help-seating system here at Chin Mee Chin, and ordered Kaya Toast and Milk Tea. There's no such thing called a menu here. What you see displayed in the 70s silver cupboards are what they have, plus the famous Kaya Toast Bun and the normal kopitiam drink service.

ついに自由席制度で座って、カヤトーストとミルクティーを注文しました。カヤトーストと一般のシンガポールホーカーセンターのドリンクメニュー以外に、７０年代のディスプレー棚に置いている単品はご自由に取って、後で一緒に会計するシステムがあります。

And oh, for people who are picky about sharing their table with others, Chin Mee Chin is probably not for you. And it's best to come with a friend and not a group of them because seatings are limited, and it's kinda rude to keep others waiting for their fix of the oldies while you're doing it like a wine-and-dine session. They key to a happy dining experience here (and probably anywhere else!) is patience. Just let the busy staff do their thing and manage their confusion, and dig-in when your order is presented to you.

週末にどんどん混んでいるので、他のお客様とテーブルシェアになりますことをご注意してください。席は少ないので、人数が多いの方はちょっと難しいと思います。

The famous Kaya Toast Bun, generous luscious serving of Kaya on a lightly toasted bun with a casual slap of butter. The Kaya was good, chunky eggy (what-you-might-call-it) and rich. The bun was nice, but I think that you could also do this by putting round soft buns into your oven for a minute.

一番人気は、焼かれたロールパンの半分にたっぷりカヤを塗ってるのカヤトーストです。当店自制のカヤは濃厚な卵の香りと味がすると美味しかった！ふんわり焼きロールパンも美味しかったですけど、家のオーブントースターでも作れる味だと思います。

Bought a jar of Kaya home to savour!
当店自制のカヤジャムを買ってきました！♪

It's more about atmosphere here in Chin Mee Chin. The perfectly preserved hustle and bustle of a traditional bakery atmosphere in the 70s. No fancy cash registers, no fancy paper bags, just how breakfast will be served, 30 years ago.

他のカフェと比べて、近代的なレジとかわいい袋デザインが持ってないけど、急激な都市化と再開発のシンガポールに７０年代の雰囲気にシンガポール伝統的な朝食をゆっくりで楽しめると思いかけなく珍しかったです！

Starbucks X All Nippon Airways Coffee Kit

2012-08-30T19:32:00.002+09:00

Starbucks has come together with All Nippon Airways (ANA) Japan, releasing their new limited edition Starbucks coffee-on-the-go kit this coming September, available to passengers onboard the dosmetic services within Japan.

So before September arrives, lets take a peek!

Starbucks x ANA Limited Edition Coffee Kit

Clean colours

The designers gave the tumbler a clean look, with a colourful rainbow cutting across the tumbler. The Starbucks logo on top of the rainbow, and a navy silhouette below, of a sperm whale with different places and landmarks sitting on its surface.

Onboard ANA to your favourite destinations!

Set of 3 VIA® sticks: Lightnote blend, Columbia and Italian Roast

The set comes with a nice pocket case for keeping your Starbucks VIA® sticks, bringing the taste and aroma of Starbucks with you at all times, to every corner of the world especially places where you can't find your favourite cuppa! Starbucks on-the-go!

Pockets to keep your VIA® sachets!

Unfortunately, this set is only available for purchase in limited quantities for ANA's domestic passengers. Starbucks fans who will be getting on a domestic flight with ANA on September 1, the limited Starbucks Survival kit is something you might want to get to keep you warm in the upcoming autumn and winter season!

The Starbucks Tumbler and Starbucks VIA® kit

ANA original design stainless coffee tumbler (340ml)
Starbucks VIA® sticks (Set of 3 - Lightnote Blend, Columbia, Italian Roast)
Starbucks VIA® case

4,000 yen (Tax Included)

3,600 yen (Tax Included) for ANA Card Holders

*********
ANA Official Site (Japanese Only)
https://tabidachi.ana.co.jp/topic/19827

日本語の方、詳しくは、スターバックス日本の公式ブログへ：
Starbucks Japan Official Blog (Japanese Only)
http://starbuckscoffeejapan.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2012-08-30

*Images and details courtesy of Starbucks Japan Official Blog.

Osmanthus Cake　中華キンモクセイケーキ

2012-08-30T01:55:00.002+09:00

Triggered by the many Osmanthus Cakes that I've had in many chinese restaurants, I thought I could try doing it myself at home.

高級広東料理レストランにキンモクセイケーキというデザートスイーツをよく注文します。キンモクセイケーキnさっぱりの甘さが好きなので、家でも食べれる為に、自分で作ってみました。

It's something simple that everyone can make for a refreshing treat in the afternoon or as desserts after a heavy dinner. I figured this recipe out by taste and with the little food knowledge that I have.

キンモクセイケーキの味と食材の知識で、自制レシピを作って、初めて挑戦しました。作り方は以外に簡単ので、暑い夏に作りやすい清涼なキンモクセイケーキを楽しめます！皆さん是非作ってみてください！

Ingredients　材料

3 Cups of Water　水３カップ

2 handfuls of dried Osmanthus flower petals　キンモクセイの花びら、2握り

1 handful of dried chinese wolfberries　ドライクコの実、ひとつかみ

Yellow Rock Sugar / Rock Candy (According to taste) 黄色の氷砂糖、好み

Agar Stripes　糸寒天

＊＊日本に在住している方、キンモクセイの花びらとドライクコの実と氷砂糖など中華材料が中華街のスーパーに購入できます。

Left: Dried Wolfberries, Right: Dried Osmanthus Petals
左：クコの実　右：キンモクセイの花びら

So here's how to do it!　

Add the Osmanthus petals, yellow rock sugar and the dried chinese wolfberries to water and gently bring to boil. To prevent loss of volume through evaporation, minimize it by covering the pot with a lid, and bring it to simmer upon boiling.　
After about 10minutes of gentle simmering, the Osmanthus petals will begin to lose its buoyancy and you'll see them dancing and riding the waves of the boil. Wolfberries will expand in size and turn fluffy, the yellow rock sugar will no longer be in it's solid state. That's when we add in the agar stripes, and turn off the heat when the stripes have melted.
Allow mixture to cool slightly by giving it a gentle stir.
Pour mixture into a square pan and allow to cool in room temperature for about 5 minutes before placing it in the refrigerator for 1 hour.　
After 1 hour, it is ready to be served.

じゃ、始めましょう！

水にキンモクセイの花びら、氷砂糖、クコの実を入れて、中火で煮ます。＊鍋を蓋してください。
10分ぐらい後、キンモクセイの花びらとクコの実を柔らかく時に、糸寒天を入ります。糸寒天が溶けた後火を消します。
ミックスの温度を下がる為、優しくかき混ぜます。
ミックスを四角容器に入れて、室温で５分間冷やします。それから、冷蔵庫に一時間冷凍する後に、召し上がれます！

If the Osmanthus Cakes are not sweet enough to your liking, you might want to create a wolfberry-honey dip to complement them!

キンモクセイケーキの甘さが利かない方、クコの実入りハチミツディップを付けるとおすすめです！

Wolfberry-honey dip:

Soak some dried wolfberries in warm water till fluffy and drain them. Crush the fluffy wolfberries into the dish of honey and it's ready!

クコの実入りハチミツディップの作り方：

ドライクコの実を温水に柔らかまで浸します。それから、柔らかクコの実をつぶしてハチミツに入って混ぜると完成です！

48 Hours of Jakarta

2012-08-23T00:53:00.000+09:00

Spent my weekend by hopping on a Garuda flight to Jakarta City, Indonesia.

It has been more than a decade since the last time I set foot in the main islands of Indonesia and though this entry is nothing to do with food, one big memory that I've brought home with me this time is the food. Glorious food! I promise I will be good next time to take a picture, before my mouth gets to them!

Enough talk as I took a walk around Kota Tua, also known as Old Jakarta.

Jakarta Train Station, Kota Tua

Sub-urban trains

Refurbished Tokyo Metro Trains

Yes! The metro and sub-urban trains that found in Jakarta are refurbished Tokyo Metro Subway trains! I think that this is a very good idea of utilizing the old trains because I'm pretty sure that they're still in fantastic shape, phasing them out and bringing them to the metal guys are too much of a waste!

Money, anyone? - Kota Tua

It's a common sight around Jakarta during the Hari Raya Puasa festive season that you'll find money peddlers. These peddlers sell money! They actually are selling small notes to people who needs small change to put into festive packets of well-wishes.

Abandoned old heritage building with a wedding studio inside - Kota Tua

Colourful, detailed hand-painted Wayang Puppets of Indonesia

Flying the Indonesia Flag

Colourful bicycles infront of Cafe Batavia - Kota Tua

Pretty batik printed Starbucks cup for Independence day!

Filled with abandoned colonial buildings that could easily be of more than a century of age, Kota Tua is a very lovely place for people who likes heritage walks. There are aplenty of museums in Kota Tua, though I only managed to visit the Wayang Museum as the rest are closed for the festive weekend.

Although I only had 48 hours in Jakarta, it was great fun!
All thanks to the girls, and the friendliest people I've met! :)

I ♥ Australia, feat. Australian TV Commercials

2012-08-16T21:12:00.000+09:00

Though a year down-under wasn't a long time, I still miss Australia very much after watching this commercial by Qantas Airways.

For this year's London Olympics, Australian broadcaster Channel 9 did a heartwarming ad "C'mon Aussies!" that totally moved me.

And here is one more commercial by Telstra, Australia's major telecommunications provider. Aired in year 2008 for the Beijing Olympics, I was wondering if they did one for this year's London Olympics and yes! they did!

Telstra executed this year's ad for London Olympics perfectly with the famous Australian song "Land Down Under" sung by Australians themselves!

All the good memories, fun and adventures that took place during my stay, is something I will never forget for a long long time. :)

Maybe I should give some thought on settling down back there someday?

Tsumori Chisato X Petit Bateau

2012-08-09T16:59:00.000+09:00

An absolutely lovely collaboration of Petit Bateau, and Tsumori Chisato.

Too lovely to not get one for myself! ♥

Check out the short video and those 2 chubbies!

MARNI Spring 2013: Proiezioni Short Film

2012-08-09T13:11:00.003+09:00

Lines, dots, and lights. ♥

It's M A R N I.

Out of the box! 展示スペースデザイン

2012-08-09T00:00:00.000+09:00

"Out of the box" ideas on creativity with exhibition spaces!

クリエイティブな展示スペース概念をみなさんと伝えたいと思います！

Huge ribbon giftbox house!

+728 iPhone Case Collection

A Roman touch!

Chukyo Signs Co. Ltd - Bishu Textile Exhibition 2009 Booth

Boxed? Think again.

Design Cafe Co. Ltd. for Expo DECO 2011 - TOSO Booth

"Building blocks" enclosed yet opened space.

UENO JYUKEN co.,LTD. x INTERIOR LIFESTYLE

Nylon is Coffee!

2012-08-04T14:27:00.002+09:00

Tucked away in a quiet neighbourhood of Everton Park, away from the perpetual blaze of tropical heat and the crazy traffic rush, the good people at Nylon Coffee Roasters are passionate about the little brown beans that makes cups of great coffee that's one of the best I've had in Sunny Singapore!

Nylon Coffee Roasters

Coffee and passion to the brim!

Nostalgic decor and furniture

Nylon Coffee Roasters
4 Everton Park
#01-40
Singapore 080004

POU DOU DOU Autumn 2012

2012-08-03T00:23:00.000+09:00

♥♥♥!

Autumn Collection 2012 POU DOU DOU VINGT-TROIS vol.007

Tohoku in Spring: Lake Tazawa, Akita

2012-07-28T03:02:00.000+09:00

A lake that is calm, mysterious and somewhat magical, I felt. A lake that made me take a deep breath as though time will come to a halt. This was Lake Tazawa.

Upon leaving Iwate Prefecture (see previous entry), we got ourselves into Akita Prefecture by using the Tazawako Line local service because the Akita Shinkansen (which shares exactly the same track as the local train - meaning perfect coordination!) doesn't stop at the station we were embarking from.

Akita Komachi Shinkansen

We took a bus bound for Nyuto Onsen from JR Tazawako Station to our Onsen hotel in Tazawako-Kogen Hotspring Village.

Arupa komakusa

top of the world!

Lake Tazawa sits cradled in the mountains near the prefectural border of Iwate Prefecture. It is the deepest lake in Japan and therefore it never freezes despite the harsh winters that Akita Prefecture goes through. The lake also has a famous golden statue of Lady Tatsuko, a legendary beauty who is said to have turned into a lake-goddess. As a figure of purity and beauty, a walk around the lake seemed to have cleared my mind of urban worries, leaving me refreshed and reluctant to leave this peaceful quiet place.

What I like very much about Lake Tazawa is that, although there were a few souvenir shops sparsely located around the entire area, it is a place where it is not too commercialized. Not a place to bump into tourists during off-peak season unlike the other more famous nature locations in Japan. I really hope they keep it this way.

Lake Tazawa, Tatsuko Statue

Shrine near Tatsuko Statue

Hotel Grand Tencoo, Tazawako-Kogen

〒014-1201　秋田県仙北市田沢湖生保内字駒ヶ岳2-16

2-16 Komagatake, Tazawako Obonai, Senboku-shi, Akita

http://www.grand-tencoo.jp/

After a 5 minute walk from Arupa-komakusa bus-stop

Dinner time! Too much food, too hungry to pause for photos!

Hotel Grand Tencoo was just perfect! I managed to get a deal off the internet for two persons for the price of one. But for the million-dollar private view of the entire Lake Tazawa and the surroundings both from our spacious traditional Japanese room and the hotspring bathhouse, the fantastic Japanese kaiseki dinner and breakfast, I wouldn't mind even if it was full-priced! :) I'm really missing this place as I'm writing this...

The entire view for us! That's the bathhouse in front. Sunset was lovely!

Spacious room, thick and comfortable futons, fly-screen windows for insect-free fresh air!

Good Morning Breakfast!

Delicious Lychee Ice-cream!

Because we were all reliant on public transport, we kind of spent a large fraction of our time on the buses. (No one needs buses in the countryside except for holiday-makers!) There are many more scenic places around Tazawako area, especially the all-famous Nyuto Hotsprings, and Hachimantai National Park area with the ice walls etc.! So if you've got a driver's license, it's recommended that you rent a car at JR Tazawako Station and take time to explore what nature has got to offer! :)

Famous Tsurunoyu Hotspring - Nyuto Onsen

Towada-Hachimantai National Park