Homecoming Ride

I took a ride to my hometown(Fukuoka). It was for the first time in almost a year.

It took me about 5 hours to get to Kokura from Hiroshima. I was exhausted already in Kokura and it began to rain, so I had a rest and went to Unagi(fresh water eel) restaurant.



I ordered "Seiro mushi". Its similar to Ugagi donburi, but the difference is that Unagi and rice are steamed before served. so I can taste the flavor and aroma of Unagi even I ate only rice. That's really delicious. Definitely recommended! I had that in Kokura, but "Yanagawa" is famous for Ugani in Fukuoka.

I had really relaxing time in my hometown. I met and talked with my family and relatives. I had really profitable time.











On the way back to Hiroshima, I took a express way.

Every 50km, express way set SA(service area) and PA(parking area) .
SA have restaurants and they serve local food by the region.
That's also nice to search local menu @SA and go to try!

Running distance at this ride: 618km
Total Running distance: 2419km

Fuel consumption: not yet calculated
Transit fee(Moji-Hiroshima): 4350 yen


Shoyu-ramen and mentaiko rice @ Mito SA

food tour in Osaka

On 24th, this guy　on the picture (He is stayin at Hana Hostel for months) took us to the Osaka food tour:) It was really hot day.

As we get to the JR Osaka station, is 35minutes from Kyoto, we ran to the IKAYAKI store. 140yen per slice. Ther was a long queue but we could not miss it!

we waited..... We finally got it♪♪

Our next plan was eating TAKOYAKI(Octopus ball ) 420yen

On the way to the area, we stopped by Free YAKINIKU event(grilled beef)

Osaka is interesting...

TAKOYAKI lovin' it!!!

Our maindish was KUSHIKATU(fried pork) at DRUMA it is near by the Tutenkaku tower, and i believe it was the most popular Kushikatsu restaurant;)

Of course there was queue again.

inside of the reataurant..there were a loooot of signature of famous japanese stars.

I was happy with the kushikatu with a big glass of beer♪♪♪ This is the excuse i forgot to take pictures of us eating.

Osaka is very unique, we saw this guy on the street. fantastic..

Afterwards we headed to the Tenjin Festival in Osaka, and found very very strange dance.
It was a fun day in Osaka:) I definately want to go back there again! fin♪

DOMO ARIGATOU

Hello, it's Kumi from Hiroshima Hana Hostel.

I'm going to quit at the end of this month.
It's been 2 and a half years since I started working here.
Wow, time went by so quick!!
That's because I had so much fun here and
I meet thousands of people here.
Every single encounter was very precious to me.

I really hope that everyone had a memorable stay
in Hiroshima and at Hana Hostel :)

I want to thank all the staffs at J-Hoppers and Hana Hostel,
and everyone who stayed here at
Hiroshima Hana Hostel, and also to
the people who are planning to stay here.



Domo Arigatou!!!

Fireworks display @ Hiroshima port

I went to a fire works display in Hiroshima last Saturday.

I like taking pictures, so I brought my camera LUMIX and beer, obento (lunch box) for dinner.

The weather was perfect for enjoying a grand display of fireworks. We got the best place to have our seats as well :)

I was so busy taking pictures, drinking beer and having dinner for an hour!

Here is some of my pictures!

This one actually looks like a large flower, doesn't it.
This is the end of a firework display. HUGE!!　　　　　　　This guy　↑ 　must had been impressed by the huge fireworks! :D

SAGANO SIGHT-SEEING TRAM

To get out from heat and humidity, I rode on the SAGANO SIGHT-SEEING TRAM on the other day.

The train brings you from Saga station to Kameoka station taking about 23 minutes. (JR train takes only 10 minutes so most people use JR for return.)

The tram makes a few minutes stop for passengers to enjoy the breathtaking scene of Hozu river gorge, which formerly was the 'main street' for sending timber down from the mountains.


The fifth car named " The Rich" is a windowless aiming a satisfaction of nature scene of Sagano.


Needless to say, the spectacle at spring and autumn is silent beauty.

In summer, it's good for refreshing and cooling.


Here is the English site: http://www.sagano-kanko.co.jp/eng/index.htm




Bonus

A gigantic chandelier in 19th Century Hall (SL & Piano Museum) in Saga station. You would see some famous composers too....

My Favorite place in Hiroshima (Bisyamonten)♪

HI! The summer season has come,it has been very hot and humid recently....
But we have many summer events now,let's enjoy this season!!

the other day ,I went to my　favorite place in Hiroshima (Bisyamonten) nearby my Family's apartment with my friends and ..... Jumped!!

It's about 30 min's walk to this place form the nearest JR station (MIDORII Sta),I totally recommend BISYAMONTEN!

From here , You can see the best view of Hiroshima!!!
If you interested in ,please feel free to ask at reception!!

Nagashi Somen Party at Kyoto Hana Hostel

Hello everyone!
Aren't you dying from this crazy humid hot weather?
Now we should feel the cool Japanese summer!
Do you know Nagashi Somen?

NAGASHI SOMEN↓↓
http://hanahostel.blogspot.com/2011/06/no-somen-no-summer.html

We are having Nagashi Somen party at Kyoto Hana Hostel on the 12th of July.
Some of our staff are planning to wear YUKATA.
All of our guests are welcome to Join us!
Let's have fun together!!

Date:July 12th, 2011
Place:Kyoto Hana Hostel
Time:18:30～
Price:100 yen

NO SOMEN NO SUMMER

Can't you handle the crazy hot summer in Kyoto!?
Why not having NAGASHI SOMEN!?

I recommend you to go to the restaurant "Hirobun" in Kibune, where is much cooler than Kyoto city.
It takes about 40min from the Kyoto Hana hostel by train.

NAGASHI SOMEN are thin noodles served cold.
The interesting part, when eating these noodles is. They flow along a half cut piece of bamboo, which you have to catch with chop sticks. If you are successful in doing so, you dip them into the broth and eat!

Kyoto Hana Hostel will have a NAGASHI SOMEN party soon!
Come to join us!

Garakuta Ichi at Toji Temple

There are many flea markets are held in Kyoto every month.

Koubou-san (21st of every month at Toji Temple) and Tenjin-san (25th of every month at Kitanotenmangu) would be come to mind of people in Kyoto as they heard "flea market".

Or some recall Tedukuri ichi (15th of every month at Chionji Temple).

In June, I went to Garakuta ichi for the first time. Garakuta ichi is held on the first Sunday of every month. The place is the same as Koubou-san, but stalls participate the market are far less. The less stalls the less people. This was good for me because I went with 15th month old daughter.

There are various kinds of Japanese antiques such as kimonos, yukatas, pots and plates. And also you will see tons of garakuta (junk).　They must be precious things for some people though.

Here are my favorite things. These carvings called Netsuke that are miniature sculptures. Netsuke were invented in 17th-century Japan to serve a practical function.... for further info..

Seems that my daughter likes playing the drum.

I recommend Garakuta Ichi for those who have kids and are not good with the crowd. This flea market is loungy.

classmate in high school

Oh my god!

I recently have experienced the very unbelievable episode.

here is the picture of it.　↓↓






Guess what, when i checked him in, I noticed that he was from Canada then we had a little conversation about the country where i was too.
Well.. i meet a lot of Canadian at the hostel, but he was a little bit special case. As we talk we found out that we were in the same city and lived in the same area..more than that,
amazingly we were from the same high school!!!

We didn't know each other at the school but we had some common friends. It was very nice to hear about the friends because i haven't been back to Canada since i graduated and i wasn't able to contact with the most of friends i knew.

I brought the year book next day, then we shared the memory about the high school days:)
Again, i was surprised that we were on the same page of 200pages in the year book

♪♪♪