Mt.Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi etc.

lots of things changed this years
This year was one of the most changeable years of my life.
getting better? I hope so!!!

We wish all of you have happy new year!!!

btw, I went to Yamanashi to meet my friend/sightseeing. He left for Minnesota,U.S. recently so I wanted to see what he was going on since his father passed away in this August. He had to came back to Japan last year due to his father's health condition. He told me that his father was terminal cancer already in last December. May he rest in peace.

I went to Kofu Sta.,Yamanashi by Shinkansen NOZOMI from Hiroshima-Nagoya, Shinkansen HIKARI Nagoya-Shizuoka, and Exp. FUJIKAWA Shizuoka-Kofu.

I was surprised that I saw really spectacular view when I was on FUJIKAWA.
You can see Mt.Fuji from that train.



After arriving at Kofu, we met together and rent a car.
and went to Lake Kawaguchi

Joya-no-Kane in Kyoto

There are only a few days left before the end of the year.

In general, we Japanese visit temples to hear Joya-no-Kane, or midnight tolling of the temple bells on New Year's Eve. About an hour before the new year, temple bells across Japan begin to toll slowly 108 times. People welcome the new year by listening to the sound of temple bells. It is said that the temple bell tolls purify ourselves of our 108 desires.

At some temples, you can strike Joya-no-Kane though you might need to arrive early to participate in tolling the bells. However, I recommend to WATCH the bell of Chionin Temple which has one of three biggest bells in Japan. The bell is 3.3 meters high, 2.8-caliber and 70 tons (154300 lb)!! One main striker and 16 support strikers are necessary to hit this bell.

This video is taken when the monks have a rehearsal. 108 desires must be vanished if they're hit such a strong!

Start at 22:40 on 31st December

Chionin Temple is about 10 minute walk from Shijo-Higashioji intersection in Gion district.

Many foreigners are curious about this shop, and keep asking me what they sell.

.This is a lottery tickets shop. With the end of the year approaching, they start selling lottery tickets all around Japan.

The total amount of prizes of this “JAMBO annual lottery” is almost 300 million!!! (the biggest in Japan)









To tell you the truth, my father buys these tickets every year hoping to fullfil his dreams….LOL



........Could someone please stop him???


This is another picture of when we went to the TEMPRA restaurant,


The cook fried vegetables, mushrooms, or slice of fish or , beef in the way of Japanese cooking.

It was very nice to see him cook just in front of me and especially to be able to eat them while still hot.

There are 3 types of salt to put on it: green tea salt, rock salt and Chinese salt.

OISHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!! (Delicious!!)







Would someone please help me stop eating??

Interesting Vending Machine in Hiroshima!

I think you would be surprised with this vending machine which I found one in Hiroshima!
As you know there are so many kinds of vending machine all over the world.

We have a beer vending machine in the living room of Hiroshima Hana Hostel.

And there is a Hot snack vending machine at the service area as usual!


And I miss a small snacks vending machine abroad like this one....This snack machine was in the dining room at my work place in Canada.
I used to buy a chocolate bar and a crisps after work.
It was a kind of little treat for myself after I had a busy day.
Probably I was a bit addicted like a little girl who wants to eat sweets around 3pm. hehe


Then I have found this unique vending machine a few days ago.


Can you guess what it is??
I couldn't believe what it is when I saw it.

It is an Udon (Japanese noodle) Dashi (Soup stock) vending machine!!
Of cause it is located right in front of Udon store. lol

Do you want to know it is popular or not?
All the bottles are sold out on the day!!! Wow

Tell me if you know any interesting vending machines in your country :)

Good Bye Year Party

Hello everyone!!
How are you?
Haven't you caught a cold??

In Japanese culture, there is 'bo ne n ka i(good bye year party)' (means forget about the year)in the end of the year.
Also we have 'shi n ne n ka i(new year party)' (means celebrating the beginning of the year) at the begging of the year.
We, friends, classmates, co-workers, and family members, get together and have great times.
It might be just a excuse to have a party, but as long as there is a way to have fun, who cares!!hehe
The other day, we, all Kyoto Hana Hostel members, had a 'bo ne n ka i' at the kushikatsu izakaya restraint near by us.
It has been almost 8 months since Kyoto Hana Hostel opened.
A lot of water flowed under bridge this year, but also we had fantastic moments together.



Here we are.
Waiting for everybody to arrive at the place.
It was all you can drink for 100 minutes.
We also had kushikatu and nabe (Japanese hot pot).



We were eating, drinking, talking, laughing...



We all forget about bad things which had happened this year.
Just remembering fun part of this year, and making this year end happily.



oops, he fell a sleep!! He must have had a lot of things this year!! hehe



Time flied.
It has been more than 100 minutes!! It is almost the time for the last train!!

We had a second round at Kyoto Hana Hostel.
When 5 of us went back to Kyoto Hana, we bumped into guests from Australia and America.
They were about to go out for drinking, but we stopped them and let them try sake.
A while later, all of us were having fun together!!



Drinking is the best world wide communication way!!





Everybody says Cheese!!



Finally, he passed out!!



Thank you very much for everything everybody!!
It was a wonderful year for me!!
Wish for your great year of 2011!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMOKO





Today is our wonderful manager, Tomoko's birthday!!
We had a surprise cake for her 3 days ago.
This cake is made by J-Hoppers Hiroshima staff, Chika.
She's a great cook!

We hope Tomoko will have a wonderful day today!


We love you!!

The Fallacies

One drop of water slides down the edge of a cup.
To me, it looked like a base creature simply siphoned the liquid.
When the trumpet speaks up.
I shall focus the latter in a moment of lucid(ity).

Forgotten speech must be revived and uttered
Dear whoever,
Love the unlovable; comprehend
Myriad life forms ere one goes the nether

Sevas Tra
One confabulates
Sevas Tra
One hears

Yo escucho el viento. (I hear the wind.)
Yo soy como el viento. (I am like the wind.)

My buddy

Fall is over and it's getting colder and colder in Hiroshima.
I cannot work without a warm tea.

Today I'd like to introduce you my buddy who
always sits next to me while I'm working.

This is him.





He keeps my tea always warm and clean.





I got this from my friend I meet in Toronto.

This always reminds me of her :)
And I miss the snow in Toronto!!