2011/04/30

JAPANESE ANTI HAY FEVER PRODUCT♪

In the spring, Japanese people were suffering from hay fever….I felt very sorry for them:(

Today, let me introduce some anti-hay fever products in Japan.



#1 MASK

This is the most popular way to combat hay fever.

The foreign visitors would recognize how big the population who wear masks is.


This is cute!!



#2 Nasal tube

it is transparent gruthis is the product to put around nostrils and block the pollen dust.





#3   ha ha !Cool glasses!


This is new from this year, it covers around the eyes perfectly and if you put black one it will make you like the Matrix “Keanu Reeves”


If you have any funny product in your country, please send us its picture and share some fun with meJ

bye

2011/04/28

Events and Festivals During the Golden Week in Kyoto

Here is some information on events and festivals during the golden week.

By the way, did you book a place to stay? If not, we, Kyoto Hana Hostel, have a few rooms available.

+Kamogawa Noryo Yuka Biraki
Where: On the west bank of Kamogawa river between Nijo-dori and Gojo-dori
When: 5/1-9/30
Details: http://www.kyoto-yuka.com/ (Japanese only)
*Cafes and restaurants along Kamogawa river offer open-air dining areas concept on a traditional terrace deck during the summer months. The banks of Kamogawa river is also popular with people strolling, sitting and fishing, enjoying the scenery, water and birds in the vicinity.

+Kamogawa Odori
Where: Ponto-cho Kaburenjo
When: 5/1-24
Details: http://www1.odn.ne.jp/~adw58490/english7.html
*Kamogawa Odori is a traditional dance and drama, performed by geisha and maiko in Pontocho, a famous section of Kyoto's geisha district. Beginning in 1872, this performance has run for over a hundred years and is set within a stunningly decorated stage. Famous people such as Charles Chaplin and Jean Cocteau have watched the show.


+Kakeuma Shinji
Where: Fujinomori Shrine
When: 5/5
Details: http://www.fujinomorijinjya.or.jp/fujinomorisai.htm (Japanese only)
*This shrine is known as a birthplace of the festival "Shobu no Sekku" (Iris Festival). Kakeuma Shinji is a thrilling religious event. The spectator is surprised by horseback riders with spectacular stunts.

+Ashizoroe-Shiki
Where: Kamigamo Shrine
When: 5/1
Details: http://www.kamigamojinja.jp/english/index-e.html#04
*This ritual held to judge the order of Norijiri and horses for the coming horce racing ritual on May 5th. First riders on horse back line up in the order of province of origin and proceed in front of high officials concerned sitting at Baba-den (horse ground hall) and show them the teeth and the lie of hair of the horses. Then each rider performs the riding and the order is judged by the posture on horse back, way of pointing the whip and the running speed. After that, according to the judged order, races with two horses takes place to observe the horses and riders.

+Yabusame Shinji
Where: Shimogamo Shrine
When: 5/3 13:00-
Details: http://www.shimogamo-jinja.or.jp/pg217.html
*This very old ritual starting features a man riding on a fast running horse who shoots arrows at a target. A type of Japanese archery, one that is performed while riding a horse. The archer shoots a special "turnip-headed" arrow at a wooden target.

+Dainenbutsu Kyogen
Where: Senbon Enmado
When: 5/1-4
Details: http://www.geocities.jp/e_kyogen/
*This is one of the three greatest nenbutsu kyogen performances in Kyoto. The 3rd Ashikaga shogun, Yoshimitsu, was a great fan of a cherry tree in this temple; May 1st & 2nd: from 19:00; May 3rd & 4th: from 13:00, from 18:00; Admission: free.

+Dainenbutsu Kyogen
Where: Shinsen En
When: 5/1-4
Details: http://www.shinsenen.org/saiten.html (Japanese only)
*The kyogen plays performed at Shinsen-en Temple are based on the Mibu kyogen style. Different plays from around 30 plays in total will be performed on each day; May 1st & 2nd: from 13:30 to 18:00; May 3rd & 4th: from 13:30 to 18:00, from 19:00 to 21:30.

+Yambuki Festival
Where: Matsunoo Taisha Shrine
When: 4/10-5/5
Details: http://www.matsunoo.or.jp/index-1/index.html (Japanese only)
*About 3,000 yamabuki (kerria) trees along a stream that runs through the shrine precincts are resplendent.

+Secondhand Book Fair
Where: Miyakomesse
When: 5/1-5/5
Details: http://www.miyakomesse.jp/transportation/access.php
*More than 40 book shops from Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Okayama participate the fair. You may find antique books.

+Temple Lit Up
Shorenin Temple 4/23-5/8, 18:00-21:30
http://www.shorenin.com/english/index.html
Kodaiji Temple 3/15-5/8, 18:00-21:30
http://www.kodaiji.com/e_index.html

2011/04/25

Gangi TAXI in Hiroshima♪




Hi!This spring is a little colder then last year.
It's becoming more and more like Spring...

Today,I want to introduce one my favorites activities in Hiroshima GANGI TAXI .
There are about 300 Gangi along the rivers in Hiroshima, they are stone stairways giving access to the water and were often used in the past as freight depots. A Gangi River Boat runs up and down the rivers and to the sea, and uses the Gangi for passenger access.




-Popular cruises and fares (depending on time and distance travelled):
Cruising around Peace Memorial Park 10 minutes 500 yen
Cruising around Kyobashi/Shukkeien area 10 minutes 500 yen
Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park to Hiroshima Ekimae
(near Hiroshima Station) 30 minutes 1500 yen
Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park to Seaside area
(long distance, higher speed) 35 minutes 2500 yen



Those pictures were taken from the river side.. such a nice scenery!!


I never knew the water taxi could be so much fun!!
I absolutely recommend GANGI TAXI when you visit the Hiroshima peace park!

2011/04/23

Gracias!!

Hello everyone--!!
Have you appreciated beautiful sakura trees this year?
Looking at fallen sakura petals make me feel little sad because that tells me a ending of spring, but on the other hand, that tells people summer is coming soon.
I want a lot of people to visit and feel these beautiful Kyoto spring.





Beautiful and elegant sakura trees!!



Sakura petals are floating on the surface of kamo river.

There are a lot of great guests at Kyoto Hana Hostel.
They come to Kyoto, Japan, to see and enjoy these brilliant spring.

I have met a very friendly and nice Spanish family from Israel.
Since I was not able to speak Spanish, they thought me some Spanish words to help a guest.
They also gave me a bright happy first greeting in the morning each day.
Here a message for people who suffered 3.11 earthquake from them.



They wrote massages in Spanish and Hebrew.



Thank you very much for coming here and keeping us on smiling everyday!!
Also... Happy Birthday!!!!
I definitely will visit you guys in Israel!!

2011/04/15

Sakura Ride to The Kintai Bridge

I took a ride to The Kintai Bridge in Iwakuni last week to see cherry blossom.

I used to be a houseplant,but I am going out everyday now after finishing my job because I got a bike last week. Kawasaki Ninja250R

I still could see beautiful Sakura even it was said that sakura is overblown.


Sunset view


Iwakuni castle




I went to gas station for the first as a rider. It was much easier than I had expected because I thought I was gonna slip while I fill up gas with the worst case scenario.

Taking a ride along coastline made me so excited in Kure bay area. Also there is a express way from Hiroshima to Kure called "Kurea line", and express way fee is free for now due to pilot program. Of course I got on that express way, but... I passed the exit to be exempted from express fee, so finally I had to pay 300 yen at Ozu exit... yup now I know where exit to get off at for free of charge!
Make sure you get off at Niho exit!!

Running Distance at this Ride:100km
Fuel Consumption 27.5km/l
Total Running Distance 399km

I plan go home(Fukuoka) by bike which is 250km away from Hiroshima. seems not tough for experienced riders, but for me it feels like going abroad! I am in training now to ride further distance little by little.

2011/04/13

My Pianoforte

Pianoforte is there

The brief respite

Thoroughly engrossed

In the state of psychic apotheosis


Inexorably siphons the ardent love

Uncontrolled by the reason

Evilness excretes from one's pores

Resuscitating the free and wild spirit


The scale of love is lost and forgotten

Bygone values were expected yet remorselessly accepted by the progenies


The professor of psychology once told me

“Get creative! Or get crazy”

“You have middle child syndrome”

as we are coming back from a whiskey bar.

-

2011/04/12

Night viewing of illuminated trees in Hiroshima Botanical garden.

Hi there. Are you enjoying spring?

The cherry blossoms season is almost finished in Hiroshima.
I have been enjoying eating outside under the cherry blossom trees.
The weather is warm and sun is out....♪

Have you ever been to the night viewing of illuminated cherry trees? We call it "Yozakura". There are a lot of parks in town and they put lanterns for viewing cherry blossoms in the night.
I went to the Hiroshima Botanical garden in the evening a couple weeks ago.
Look at these beautiful cherry blossoms!!


I love these different colors.
Many kinds of flowers were in full bloom.


And we listened to Koto (Japanese harp)live music.
It sounded so beautiful in the quiet of night with lovely cherry blossoms.

It is lovely season to see all the beautiful flowers at the Hiroshima botanical garden too.
Why don't you visit there for a day!


Hiroshima Botanical garden Website → Click here!
It takes about 1 hour to the botanical garden from Hiroshima Hana Hostel by bus.

2011/04/08

SAKURA Journal

Hello!
Finally the Spring has come to Hiroshima!!




Every year I go to Yamaguchi prefecture to see the
Sakura in Kintai-kyo.




It wasn't fully bloomed yet but it was still beautiful.





Oh, and look what I found!!





Do you see something?
Maybe this way would be easier.




I found a heart on his body :)




Anyways, the Sakuras are blooming
all over Hiroshima.
Kintai-kyo is not actually in Hiroshima but it's
only about 45min by JR from Hiroshima sta.
and another 15min by Bus from JR Iwakuni sta.
It's very nice for a day trip!





2011/04/04

Surprise message from abroard on after-wedding party

On wedding day of Tom-san and Yuko-san, we made a message clip.

Some huge celebrities left message for them :)

I made this clip through iMovie.It was my first time to use, so it took very long time to edit , but I was happy to see many people laughing at our video on the party.

Some parts were deleted due to rights problem? from Youtube.



Again Tom-san, Yuko-san congratulations on your wedding!!