Sunset from Seto Inland Sea

Hello
I went to see the sunset from KURE PORT PIA PARK.
It's about 30mins. by JR train from Hiroshima station
and it's right in front of the station.

However, at that time it was kind of cloudy.
First it was okay but...

It hid in the cloud just as I thought...

But still, it was really nice.

Kumi's recommendation

Today I'd like to recommend a sweets from Miyajima called
"Age Momiji".　Which means "Fried Momiji".


Momiji Manju is our local sweets from Miyajima. (top picture)


If you fry this, it's called Age Momiji.
It's really delicious!!

You can get these in Miyajima Island or near the ferry terminal.
I often go to the one in the Island.

Once you eat it, you'll never forget this taste!

YUKATA FESTIVAL is over!

Even though it rained so hard on the 2nd day, still many people were in this festival.

We put on yukata on the last day of Yukata Festival.

I hope our guests enjoyed it!









This is the back side of yukata.

There are many ways to tie Obi.







Yukata is summer Kimono.
You can buy it really cheap.
Maybe from \2000 !!

Let's go to the new baseball studium!

Hi ! how are you?

It has been humid recently which is too bad...
But this means,Sammar is coming soon;) I can't wait!




A couple of days ado," 2 of our staff went to the new baseball studium with one of our regular guest (Tada san) and his friend .
It was my first time going there.
We watched the game from `COCA COLA seats' We had some food and drinks that we could bring to the table like a party.


(Tada san & Hiromi chan)


(COCA COLA seats)





We bougt some carp doughnuts , but they didn't taste great .
It was fun to eat anyway.




The day was sooo fun.
The carps (Hiroshima) defeated the Lions (Saitama) by a score of 7 to 4 .
It was a good game!!

YUKATA FESTIVAL is coming this weekend!!

Why don't you vist to hiroshima??

Yukata de kinsai main events

Friday June 5

• Shareo 13:00-20:00
  Have a go at making maccha green tea and learn about yukata. Get your hair and make up done too.

• Hon-dori parade
  Yukata parade down the shopping arcade with a giant lantern

• Chuo-dori 19:30-21:15 Yukata de odorinsai
  Japanese dances from around the prefecture and a chance for everyone to get involved (Send a fax (082-245-1899) or call (082-245-1448) Yukata de kinsai Office ahead of time (before May 31) and get a free gift

• Shintenchi-koen 19:00-21:30
  The classic japanese songs crackling out of the PA on the central tower and street stalls in Shintenchi-koen make this feel much more like a local festival of days gone by than the maddness just a few meters away on Chuo-dori. The local groups dancing welcome anyone to join in. Great fun and our recommendation if you are heading down to the festival with kids.

Saturday June 6

• Shareo 13:00-20:00
  Have a go at making maccha green tea and learn about yukata. Get your hair and make up done too.

• Fukuromachi-koen 16:00-16:40
  Family friendly yukata fashion contest

• Chuo-dori 19:30-21:15 Yukata de odorinsai
  Japanese dances from around the prefecture and a chance for everyone to get involved (Send a fax (082-245-1899) or call (082-245-1448) Yukata de kinsai Office ahead of time (before May 31) and get a free gift.

• Shintenchi-koen 19:00-21:30
  The classic japanese songs crackling out of the PA on the central tower and street stalls in Shintenchi-koen make this feel much more like a local festival of days gone by than the maddness just a few meters away on Chuo-dori. The local groups dancing welcome anyone to join in. Great fun and our recommendation if you are heading down to the festival with kids.
  

Sunday June 7

• Chuo-dori 19:30-21:15 Yukata de odorinsai
  Japanese dances from around the prefecture and a chance for everyone to get involved (Send a fax (082-245-1899) or call (082-245-1448) Yukata de kinsai Office ahead of time (before May 31) and get a free gift.

• Shintenchi-koen 19:00-21:30
  The classic japanese songs crackling out of the PA on the central tower and street stalls in Shintenchi-koen make this feel much more like a local festival of days gone by than the maddness just a few meters away on Chuo-dori. The local groups dancing welcome anyone to join in. Great fun and our recommendation if you are heading down to the festival with kids.

SAKE tasting every SUNDAY!!

SAKE which is called NIHONSHU in Japanese are made from rice.

SAKE tastings are held every Sunday at the reception.

We have 3 kinds of SAKE. 2 of them are from Hiroshima.

Try our local SAKE!!

Hiroshima CARP!!

Hi this is Kumi.

New baseball stadium just opened last month near our hostel.
It's about 5 minutes on foot.

I got to see the baseball game every year and this was my first time
this year and in the new stadium.

Before the half bottom of the 7th inning, everyone starts to blow up their
red balloons. And then start singing the CARP song and let go their
balloons after singing. This is my favorite moment!

Baseball season has just started so you'd better go!!

A Happy New Year !!

Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu. (A happy new year.)





Do you know Hatsuhinode "the first sunrise of the year"?


Some Japanese go to see the first sunrise of the year on the new year's day.


You get up really early morning and try to get the best place to see the sunrise!


I think this is one of very traditional Japanese event.





I went to see it on the new year's day with my parents.


It was snowing but I went to the mountain where near my house.


And I waited for the special moment for a while in the cold....then finally I could see a beautiful sunrise!

I prayed our health and happiness for this year.

May I wish you your pleasant travel in 2009 ;)

We have new tools

Recently we have had some of new items.
Name cards, standing name board and Neighbourhood map.

The last one will help guests walk around Hana Hostel.
The hostel staff ourselves walked and found what is near the hostel and put some of the useful places like money exchange, ATMs for foreign currencies, good local restaurants or market places on a hand-writing map.

When you arrive in Hana Hostel, please ask for this.
And if you find something interesting that is not on the map, please let us know. We think about using the information!

Colored leaves :)

What a beautiful season!!

I took my parents to Hikimi gorge in Shimane prefecture yesterday.
It takes about two hours from Hiroshima city to get there by car.

It was great weather!! No cloud, no wind, just warm sunshine pours in my face!



We dropped at a big ginkgo tree place in Tsutsuga town in Hiroshima.
Girth of the tree trunk is 8.5m, 48m high and it is 1100 years old tree!!


I am impressed the atmosphere of the tree.
It has been here for years and years...


I was trying to take a picture of the whole tree but I couldn't.
Because it is too high and wide.








Then we drove to Hikimi gorge to see colored mountains.

Actually the color was almost brown...

It was a bit late to visit there but we took a spa and got a creamy skin by the benefits of a hot spring bath ;)

There is a nice walking course so I am sure that I will go there in the summer for a ramble through the woods.