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6 things you should to do in Fukuoka

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Hi! How’s it going?
It got really cold the other day and snowed a bit but nice and warm these days in Japan.
This time, let me introduce Fukuoka prefecture.
It’s my first time to write about Kyushu area.

Fukuoka is a prefecture in Kyushu, which is located southwest of main island, or Honshu.
Kyushu is Japan’s third largest island.
Fukuoka city in Fukuoka prefecture is one of the largest cities in Japan, and Hakata area has been serving as an important port and commercial center.

Fukuoka is close to Korea and the airport is always busy with people traveling.
It is one of the most progressive cities in Japan and has a lot to offer!
Below are the popular things/places in Fukuoka prefecture.
Be sure to check them out!

    1. See Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival

      It is an annual festival held in July for 2 weeks and has the history of over 700 years.
      Two kinds of floats are used during the festival: Kazariyama floats and Kakiyama floats.
      Kazariyama floats are larger floats which are over 10 meters tall.
      During July 1st to 14th, 14 of them are displayed outside.
      Kakiyama floats are smaller and they are about 5 meters tall.
      In the morning of July 15th (at 4:59am, just before sunrise), the race of festival floats is held using them.
      There are 7 of them and each of them weights about 1 ton.
      Unlike floats in Takayama, they don’t have wheels and participants need to carry them in teams.
      It takes about 30 minutes to complete the course and floats run one by one in five minute intervals.
      Parades and practice runs for the race are held from July 10th to 14th and all floats are lined up in front of Kushida Shrine, where the start line is.
      Kushida Shrine is located about 15 to 20 minutes away from Hakata Station (five minutes walk away from Gion Subway station or Canal city Hakata).
      It gets really crowded during the event but it really is an exciting event!


      画像提供:ソザイング

    2. Eat at Yatai/Food Stalls

      If you want to eat out and try some local Japanese food, Nakasu is the place to go!
      There are a lot of Yatai/Food stalls along the Naka River.


      Hakata Ramen is a must-try Japanese food there.
      It has green onions and boiled or roasted pork (called Char Siu in Japanese) on top.
      Although the soup varies slightly from shop to shop, almost every soup of Hakata ramen is whitish and cloudy.
      Pork boned are boiled well until the soup gets white and cloudy and it is mixed with soy sauce.
      It tastes like milk, and goes well with thin noodles.
      If you are really hungry, leave the soup after finishing the first.
      You can order Kaedama, or extra noodle and put it in the same soup to keep enjoying the great taste of Hakata Ramen!
      As an option, you can add some toppings like half-boiled eggs, Takana( Pickled and mustard leaf with red peppers), or
      Beni Shoga (pickled ginger root).

      写真提供：福岡市

      Motsunabe is another popular food in Fukuoka.
      Motsu means offal or internal organs of cows and pigs, and Nabe means hot pot.
      So, Motsunabe is a hot pot with various offal and vegetables like leek, garlic, and cabbage.
      It might sound a little too exotic to people from western countries, but it really is tasty and people say it has good effects for beauty since it contains high amounts of collagen.

      Karashi Mentaiko(Pollock roe with red chili pepper spices) is also popular in Hakata area.

    3. Visit Kyushu National Museum

      Opened in 2005, it is Japan’s first new national museums in more than 100 years.
      The building is carefully designed, and contains large number of historically important artifacts including prehistoric relics that show the history of trading link among Japan, Korea, and China.

      Access: About 10 to 15 min walk away from Dazaifu Station.
      Hours: 9:30am to 5:00pm
      Price: 430yen to enter

    4. Relax at Sumiyoshi shrine

      It is one of the oldest shrines in Kyushu (about 1,800years old) and is surrounded by large Japanese cedars and camphor trees.
      The shrine is dedicated to safe travel by sea.
      Sailors would visit the shrine before leaving the port to pray for the safe trip.
      The main hall is rebuilt in 1623, but it still has the ancient architectural style.
      Inside, there is a Noh theater with a traditional style stage.

      Access: About 10 min walk away from JR Hakata station.
      Hours: 6:00am to 9:00pm
      Price: Free to enter

    5. Pray at Dazaifu Tenman-Gu

      It is a shine dedicated to the spirit of Sugawara Michizane, a scholar and politician of the Heian Period (750-1185), who is known as the god of learning.
      So, this shrine is busy with a lot of students praying for academic achievement and passing exams.
      About 6,000 plum trees are planted around and they bloom beautifully from early February to mid March.Hours: 6:30am to 7:00pm (closed from Dec 31st to Jan 3rd).


      Access: About 5 min walk away from Dazaifu station.

      Hours:
      6:00am to 7:00pm (April and May)
      6:00am to 7:30pm (June to August)
      6:00am to 7:00pm (Until mid September)
      6:30am to 7:00pm (late September to November)
      6:30am to 6:30pm (December to mid March)
      6:00am to 6:30pm (late March)
      ※Opens until 20:30 on Fridays and Saturdays
      Price: Free to enter

    6. Take pics at Fukuoka Castle

      It is a castle also known as Maizuru Castle or Seki Castle made in Edo period (1603 to 1868).
      The construction started in 1601 by the first lord of Fukuoka province, Kuroda Nagamasa, and it took 7 years to complete.
      There are more than 1,000 cherry blossoms around, and it is a very popular place for tourists visiting in Spring.
      Sadly, during the war period around 1873, most of it was destroyed in order to use the site for military and only ruined walls and a few turrets remain on the site now.
      Still, it is a great place to learn about history there and take great pictures!

      写真提供：福岡市

      Access: About 10 to 15 min walk away from Ohori Koen subway station.
      It is always open and the admission is free except during illumination events.

By the way, Fukuoka is known as the place where a lot of beautiful women are.
They are called “Hakata Bijin” (beautiful women in Hakata/around Fukuoka area).
Fukuoka has been an important place for import-export and many different kinds of races were mixed in the area.
It is believed that it contributed to the produce of somewhat exotic, beautiful look!

Access

From Tokyo

Take an airplane at Haneda Airport to Fukuoka Airport.
One way flight costs around 16,000yen to 41,390yen and it takes about 2 hours.

From Nagoya

Take an airplane at chubu centrair international airport to Fukuoka Airport.
One way flight costs around 6,000yen and it takes about 1 and a half hours.

From Osaka

You could either take Shinkansen (bullet train) or airplane.
By train, take Nozomi, Hikari, or Kodama train at Shin-Osaka station and it goes directly to Hakata station.
One way fare is 14,480yen for non-reserved seat and it takes about 2 and a half hours.

By airplane, take a flight at Osaka International Airport to Fukuoka Airport.
It takes about 1 hour and the fare ranges from 13,400 to 27,000yen.

As an alternative way, you could take Kansai International Airport to Fukuoka Airport.
They have LCC flights and the ticket price can be as low as 3,690yen for one way and it takes about 1 hour to get to Fukuoka.
However it has less daily flights so be sure to check the flight schedule!


Here’s today’s music!
This instrumental tune is called “Lotus”.

I came up with the main theme while I was walking through the garden in Kyoto (and also in Himeji).
Featuring Banjo by Ryosuke Toyomaki and Violin by Mori de Maigo (They are my friends).

I carefully constructed the beat for this tune.
If you listen carefully, you hear the hi-hats are beating slightly differently on left and right.
I did that purposely so that it would create more space and make the music alive.
And I played the bass, piano, synth, and guitar over it.
Hope you dig it!

See you next time!
Taka

 

※I’m a professional composer. My songs are available here: Skyhigh 
Or, you can click on the band camp link below to listen.

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

9 amazing places to visit in Nagano

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Nagano is located about 3 hours away from Tokyo and it is the fourth biggest prefecture in Japan.
It is rich in nature. Nine of the twelve highest mountains in Japan are in Nagano.
In 1998, Winter Olympics was held in this area.
Since then, Nagano has been a world-class winter sport destination.
Nagano is beautiful in other seasons as well: you can see beautiful flowers and Sakura in spring, enjoy hiking in the summer, and admire autumn leaves in fall.

  1. Zenkoji Temple

    Built in the 7th century and it is one of the most famous temples in Japan.
    The first Buddhist statue that was brought to Japan is stored here.
    The original statue is hidden but a replica is shown to the public every six years.
    Because the influence of the Buddhism was huge, Nagano grew up around this temple.
    There is Gokaidan meguri, or a pitch dark tunnel under the main hall of the temple.

    It is a place where there is no light and you walk through in it to find the hidden “Key to paradise”(Hidden lock of a door).

    You can experience how it is to be a Buddhist by going through the tunnel: try to reach the enlightenment just focusing on it.
    Like finding the lay of light inside of the darkness.

    There is also the Zenkoji History Museum where you can see hundreds of religious art works such as Buddhist statues and writings.

    Zenkoji Temple
    Price: 500yen per a person to enter the main hall.

  2. Togakushi Shrine

    Built about 2,000 years ago, Togakushi shrine is located in the northwest of the center of Nagano.
    This shrine consists of five shrines dedicated to different gods.
    The Hoko-Sea is to the goddess who protects maternity, sewing, and academic life.
    The Hino-miko-sha is to the god of fire and performing arts.
    The Chu-Sha is to the god of wisdom.
    The Oku-sha is to the god of fortune and harvest.
    The Kuzuryu-Sha is to the god of rain and good relationships.

    Going to Oku-Sha and then to Kuzuryu-Sha is a popular walking course.
    It is about 2 kilometer hike ,and along the way, you can enjoy watching beautiful cedar trees that are over 400 years old.

    Togakushi Shrine

  3. Matsumoto Castle

    It is one of the oldest Japanese castles in Matsumoto city, the place located in the center of Nagano prefecture.
    Among 12 castles existing from Edo period in Japan, only Matsumoto castle and Himeji castle are five floors (since there is a hidden floor, precisely speaking they have 6 floors though!).
    You can enjoy the view of the impressive landscape of this great, black and white castle with the Northern Alps behind.

    Inside of it, there are displays of weapons and armors from Sengoku period (Warring States Period. 15th to 16th century).
    In the moats just below the castle, koi carps and swans circle.

    Matsumoto Castle
    Time: 8:30 to 17:00
    (8:00 to 18:00 during Golden week holiday and Summer season and 10:00 to 15:30 from Jan 1st to 3rd)
    ※Closed on Dec 29th to 31st
    Price:610yen per a person to enter.

  4. Shiga Kogen

    It is a large ski resort that has 51 lifts and gondolas.
    The elevation range from 1,300 to 2,300meters above the sea level and it is the largest place for skiing.
    It has different kinds of terrain for any types of skiers and snowboarders.
    There are some hot springs and hotels in the area as well.

    Shiga Kogen

  5. Snow monkey park

    Also called Jigokutani Monkey Park.
    This park was made in 1964 to protect wild monkeys that faced threats because of the development of ski resorts.
    Around 160 monkeys are living in the area.
    Winter is the most popular time, but the park is open throughout the year and you can see monkeys everyday.
    There’s a pool around which the monkeys gather where you can observe the wild monkeys bathing in Onsen.
    It is prohibited to touch or feed the monkeys, so please follow the rules when you enter the park.

    Snow monkey park
    Time: 8:30 to 17:00 (From April to Oct)
    9:00 to 16:00 (From Nov to Mar)
    Price: 800yen per a person to enter

  6. Karuizawa

    It is a mountain resort just below the active volcano, Mt Asama.
    Karuizawa is famous as a summer resort as it offers pleasant escape from the heat of summer.
    It is a great place to enjoy outdoor activities like golfing, skiing, cycling, hiking, etc.
    So a lot of wealthy people buy a second home in the area.
    John Lennon stayed there with his family and Bill Gates rents holiday villas in Karuizawa.

    Karuizawa

  7. Kamikochi

    It is a narrow basin at 1,500 meters above sea level where you can enjoy great hiking!
    The area has amazing nature and is part of a national park in which private cars are not allowed to enter.
    Since it is surrounded by tall mountains, the temperature stays cool even in the summer (it rarely goes over 25 ℃).
    There are breathtaking lakes along the hiking course.
    The one I recommend that you go is Myoin Pond.
    It is a solemn pond in a virgin forest.
    You can never get bored watching photogenic view of it!


    Kamikochi
    Open from May until mid Nov every year

  8. Azumino

    Azumino is Located on the northern end of the Matsumoto and just below Hakuba, the place that had a lot of ski events during the 1998 Winter Olympic Games.
    There’s the largest wasabi farm in Japan called Daio Wasabi Farm with Water Mills.
    The quality of wasabi there is the highest in Japan and you will be amazed to taste it!
    You can not only try pasted wasabi, but also wasabi ice cream in Azumino (Surprisingly, it’s sweet and not spicy at all).
    I used to go to Azumino every year when I was an elementary school student for joining the training camp of a soccer team.
    I had so much wasabi ice cream with my teammates.
    Apples, grapes, pears, peaches, and buckwheat noodles are also made in the area and they are all great!

    Besides the wasabi farm, Hotaka Shrine, and Alps Azumino National Government Park are must-visit places!

    Daio Wasabi Farm
    Time: 9:00 to 17:20 (From Mar to Oct)
    9:00 to 16:30 (From Nov to Feb)

  9. Kiso

    It is located in the southeastern part of Nagano and 94% of its area is occupied by forest.
    It was a place where Yoshinaka Kiso, a warlord lived.
    Nakasendo, the road that connects Tokyo, Nagano, and Nagoya, runs in Kiso, so it is called Kiso-ji (Kiso road).
    The landscape of the past Edo era are preserved in Tsumago-juku and Narai-juku.
    Just walking Kiso-ji, you will get the feeling of Samurai period.
    Lacquer-ware, containers, and combs are popular products of Kiso.

    Kiso

There are also large lakes like Lake Suwa and Kizaki in Nagano, and a lot more great places for hiking.
If you are checking everything, you will need a few days of stay here but it really worth visiting the area!

Access

From Tokyo

Take JR Hokuriku Shinkansen bound for Nagano
(Time:About 2 hours   Price: 8,000 yen for oneway)

From Nagoya

Take Chuo Main Line Wideview Shinano bound for Nagano
(Time:About 3 hours  Price: 6,810 yen for oneway)

Where do people do winter/summer sports in your country?

Taka

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

See you next time!

5 things to do in a great Onsen area,Gero

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Japan has 10% of the world’s active volcanoes (over 100) and thanks to that,
we have a lot of high-quality Onsen, or hot springs.
Among a lot of great Onsen, Gero in Gifu, Arima in Hyogo,
and Kusatsu in Gunma are considered as 3 major Onsen areas.

This time I wrote about Gero, which is close to Takayama city where I live now.
The area has a lot of nature and a popular resort for both foreign and Japanese tourists.

Onsen has been used as a cure for disease and pain for over centuries in Japan.
It is said that various minerals penetrate the body and promote hormone selection resulting the restoration.

Gero’s Onsen is high in Alkaline (ph 9.2) and it makes your skin smooth and great for your relaxation and prevention of aging.

It is good for most people, but if you are a pregnant, have some kind of skin problem,
or heart disease, you should refrain from soaking.
Those who have sensitive body can still enjoy Ashiyu (foot bath) in Gero.
There are 8 free foot baths in the area.

It might be the best to use a car to get around in Gero because you need to walk up to visit some places, but Gero is a compact city and you can enjoy just by walking.
Here are 5 things to visit/try in Gero.

  1. Go to Onsen (Hot springs)

    Go to Onsen is of course the best thing to do in the area.
    There are a lot of places to enjoy Onsen.

    Funsen chi
    It is a free, open-air hot spring that is right next to the river.
    It is a gender mixed bath, and you need to wear bathing suits to enter the bath.

    Shirasagi no Yu
    You can enjoy the view of the river and mountains while enjoying the bath here.
    This place does not have an open-air bath, but one of the most visited and loved Onsen in the area.

    Hours: 10:00 to 22:00 (closed on Wed)
    Price: 370yen

    Ogawa Ya
    It is a popular Ryokan (Japanese Inn) with Onsen.
    It has a very nice atmosphere and what is unique about their bath is that there are tatami around the bath.

    Hours for visitors: 12:00 to 20:00 (13:00 to 20:00 on Wed and Thu)
    Price: 1,000yen

    Miyabitei
    It is a Ryokan that has an open air bath with a great view of the surrounding mountains.
    This place might be the best in terms of enjoying the view!

    Hours for visitors: 18:00 to 20:00
    Price: 1,000yen

    Yunoshima Kan
    This 4 star Ryokan has great open-air baths and the building itself is registered as an important cultural building of Japan.
    It is right behind Onsen ji and you need to walk up a bit to get there and a use of bath for a visitor is limited from 13:00 to 14:00 , but it really is worth visiting!

    Hours for visitors: 13:00 to 14:00
    Price: 1,000yen

    These are just major places and there are lot more Onsen to check!

    Gero Onsen Festival is held annually on August 1st to 4th.
    You can enjoy watching a sacred dragon dance performance called
    Ryujin-no-Mai during the festival.

    Yumeguri Tegata, or a wooden spa pass tablet is available at the tourist office, souvenir shops, convenience stores, and ryokan.
    It is 1,300 yen and can be used for 6 months.
    With it, you can visit any three of 30 participating ryokan.

  2. Pray at Onsen ji

    It is the most important temple for locals with a famous legend of a white heron.
    Up until 1265, Mt Yugamine(a mountain on the east of Gero) was active and people in Gero enjoyed Onsen.
    One day it suddenly stopped producing Onsen (probably due to the earthquake).
    People were very disappointed and lost what to do.
    Next year, a villager found a white heron came to the same place everyday.
    The villager wondered why.
    He went to see the bird and followed where it went.
    Then, the heron pointed out a place where new hot spring was.
    Villagers were very thankful and believed that Nyorai (a buddhist figure of the highest degree of respect) turned into the white heron to help villagers.
    Later, to worship Nyorai, Onsen ji Temple was built.

    Just in front of the temple, there is a statue called Yukake yakushi Nyorai.
    It is a statue of Nyorai, with hot spring around.
    It is believed that if you pour hot spring to the body of Nyorai where you (your body) need a healing, your pain and disease will go away.

    Near the Nyorai statue, there’s a small building where Saruya no ishi (Saruya’s stone) is enshrined.
    Saruya was a monkey that villagers petted to get mice away.
    When Saruya passed away, a round stone was found near its grave.
    People believe that still after its death, Saruya turned itself to a stone to protect the area.


    Onsen ji

  3. Learn at Gero Museum of Hot spring

    It is a museum near Onsen ji.
    You can learn about hot spring from the view of both science and history.
    It has a lot of information about Onsen in Gero and other hot springs in Japan.

    There are 5 sections inside: Welcome to Gero Onsen, Science of Hot spring, History of Hot spring, Libraly, and Onsen try out where you can try some experiments like checking the minerals inside of hot spring in a bottle.

    There’s a foot bath right in front of the museum where you can walk inside to relax.

    Gero Museum of Hot spring
    Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (closed on Thu)
    Price: 400yen

  4. Eat Onsen Tamago

    Onsen Tamago is a soft-boiled egg prepared in hot spring and it is a popular food in Gero Onsen area.
    There’s a store place called Ayumi-ya where you can try this egg while enjoying foot bath.
    They also sell Onsen Tamago ice cream and pudding!

  5. Visit Gero Onsen Gassho Mura

    This is an open-air museum of traditional style houses (called Gassho style. More about this, check Shirakawa-go).

    It also has a museum of Enku, a great carver who made more than ten thousand of wooden Buddhist statues.
    There are also souvenir stores as well as a place to try making potteries.

    Gero Onsen Gassho Mura
    Hours: 8:30 to 17:00
    Price: 800yen

In Gero, there are places called Onsen stands.
Just like a gas station, Gero citizens can bring their tanks and take Onsen from an Onsen stand for private use.
This city really is full of Onsen!

Access

From Tokyo

Take Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya, and then take Wide View Hida express to Gero.
(Time:About 3 to 4 hours   Price: 12,890 yen for oneway)

From Nagoya

Take Wide View Hida express to Gero
(Time:About 2 hours  Price: 4,100 yen for oneway)

What do people in your country do to relax/get rid of stress?

Taka

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

See you next time!

Top things to do in Osaka, energetic Kansai city

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Osaka is Japan’s second largets area after Tokyo.
It is a very lively, energetic place.
It is famous for delicious food and entertainment like comedy shows.
People living there are generally open to foreigners and you will feel that you are welcomed.
Local people are called Kansai people, (people living in the west part of Japan),
and they are generally more friendly and open compared to Kantou people (people in the east part of Japan).
While Kantou people respect personal spaces and tend to have certain distance from others, Kansai people like to interact with others and talk about business.

It is very interesting to see people behave differently in different parts of Japan.
If you are visiting Tokyo(which is in Kantou), I highly recommend that you visit Osaka(Kansai) as well to see the differences.
Here are some of the best things to do in Osaka.

Visit Osaka Castle

In 1583, Toyotomi Hideyoshi started building the castle to be the center of Japan under his rule.
It is one of the most famous castles and was the largest castle during the sixteenth century.
The castle grounds cover about 60,000 square meters.
The main central tower is 55 meters high.
There is a museum inside and garden around it.
You can enjoy the panoramic view of Osaka city.

Osaka Castle
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
600yen to enter

2.Eat at Dotonbori

Dotonbori is the center of food culture of Osaka(The culture is called Kuidaore, meaning to eat yourself into bankruptcy).
People in Osaka are very passionate about food,
and serve a lot of delicious food that make you spend a lot!
This area has been a busy district with entertainment and food stores since the Edo period.
Below are some of the must-try food and famous restaurants.

•Kushikatsu
(Deep fried meat,seafood, or vegetables on a stick)

Restaurant: Kushikatsu Daruma
Hours: 11:30 to 22:30
Price range:Around 2,000yen per a person

•Okonomiyaki
(It is a pancake like food with fluffy batter and lots of ingredients such as vegitables, noodles, siced pork, and eggs. The taste varies depending on the restaurant.)

Restaurant: Mizuno
Hours: 11:00 to 22:00
Price range: Around 1,500yen

•Takoyaki
(They are ball shaped dumplings with batter or eggs and flour with sliced octopus, onions, and ginger. Usually some sweet source and mayonnaise are put on top with green onions and bonito flakes. They are VERY hot inside so becareful when you eat!)

Restaurant:Kururu
Hours: 12:00 to 23:00(Mon to Fri), 11:00 to 22:00(Sat, Sun)
Price range:1,000yen to 2,000yen

•Yakiniku
(It is barbecued beef. Usually customers cook themselves on a grill on the table. Osaka has the most Korean influence in Japan, and it is believed that this style is brought from Korean culture)

Restaurant:Sora
Hours:17:00 to 23:30(Mon to Fri), 16:00 to 23:30(Sat, Sun)
Price range:3,000yen to 4,000yen

•Fugu
(Blowfish that is eaten raw. It is poisonous to eat blowfish without a careful preparation, but fugu chefs are trained three years to get a license to serve at a restaurant so you don’t need to worry. Enjoy the rare opportunity to try fugu in Osaka!)

Restaurant:Zuboraya Doutonbori
Hours:11:00 to 23:00
Price range:2,000yen to 8,000yen

3.Go sightseeing around Tsutenkaku

It is a tower known as the Eiffel Tower of Osaka.
It is a symbol of Osaka, and it is in the district called Shinsekai(New world).
In the area, there are a lot of stores and huge bath complex as well as large pools.
You can go in side of the tower and enjoy the view from the 5th floor!

Tsutenkaku
Hours:9:00 to 21:00
700yen to enter the tower

4.Take pictures at Shitennoji

It is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan(founded in 593),
built to save the souls of people and bring peace to Japan.
Gates at Shitennoji temple are guarded by wooden statues,
or Niou(Benevolent Kings).
There is the Gokuraku-jodo Garden(Pure Land Garden, or Buddhist paradise) and the Treature House (Buddhist statues, paintings, various documents, and national treasures are stored inside)
The area is great for taking pictures.
Enjoy seeing this historical building and beautiful garden!

Shitennoji
Open 24 hours
300yen to enter the garden, 500yen to enter the Treasure House

Osaka is a perfect place to enjoy Japanese cuisine and the lively atmosphere talking over drinks.
Osaka never sleeps like other big cities of Japan, and you will never get bored shopping and checking restaurants that serve delicious meals.
Be prepared to Kuidaore there!

Access

From Tokyo

•By train: Take Nozomi Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka and take JR train to Osaka
(Time: About 2 hours an 45 min　Price:13,780yen)

•By bus: There are various buses go to directly to Osaka.
Please refer to the link Kosokubus
(Time: About 9 hours, Price: 3,000yen ~)

From Kyoto

Take JR Tokaido Sanyo Main Line New Rapid Bound for Himeji
(Time: About 29 min, Price: 560yen)

From Nagoya

Take JR Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi Bound for Shin-Osaka and then take JR train to Osaka
(Time:About 1 hour, Price 5,830yen)

Where’s the best place to eat in your country?
Taka

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

4 places to check in Otaku’s paradise, Akihabara

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For Anime and manga lovers and computer geeks(We call them Otaku in Japanese),Akihabara is like a heaven.
The area is full of Japanese electronics, anime, and manga products.
I grew up in Tokyo but even now I still feel that I’m on a different planet in Akihabara area. It is that unique!
The lively music and lightings never stop all day, all night.
Tall buildings with colorful ads of so many anime characters welcome you right after exiting the station.
You can’t really see/experience everything there within a few days but here are 4 major place that you don’t want to miss in the area!

1.Maid Café (and other uniqueCafés)

Akihabara has many interesting (and very weird if you do not anything about our culture!) cafes that will surely make your visit memorable.Among them, maid café(a cosplay restaurant) is widely known even to a lot of foreigners.At the café, maid girls act as servants and serve customers as masters.Food and beverages are decorated with cute designs on the table.You will see some young girls dressed up and handing out coupons/flyers of their café on many streets of Akihabara.Note that they are just entertainers and maid cafe is not a place to hook up.Also, in most maid cafes, taking pictures of maids or interior is forbidden.Please pay respect to maids there.

Maidreamin
Hours: 11:30 to 23:00(Mon to Fri)
10:30 to 23:00(Sat, Sun, and holiday)

@home Café
Hours: 11:00 to 22:00

Gundam café is another popular café in the area.Gundam(giant robot, or mobile suit) is one of the most popular Si-Fi anime in Japan.Gundam café is an anime café for giant robot fans, and the interior and the design of menu are based on the characters/robots of the anime. Even if you don’t know about the anime, it is a good place to visit to enjoy the atmosphere.

Gundam Café
Hours: 10:00 to 22:30

There’s also AKB48 café. If you like Japanese idols, it is a nice café to stop by.
Though taking pictures is not allowed inside, you can enjoy colorful items and sweets. Stationery and other items are on sale as souvenirs.

AKB48 cafe
Hours:10:00 to 22:00 (Sun to Thu)
10:00 to 23:00 (Fri and Sat)

2.Anime Markets

dragon ball

There are a lot of anime shops in Akihabara as well as figure shops, video game stores, and arcade centers. In fact, it is so full of them that I can’t even tell how many there are…!You can find your favorite anime character goods and costumes for cosplay by just walking around, but here are some of the most popular places.

Animate Akihabara
Open: 10:00 to 21:00

K-BOOKS
Open: 11:00 to 20:00

Tokyo Anime Center in DNP plaza
Open: 11:00 to 20:00 (Closed on Tue)

3.Electronics stores

Akihabara has varieties of electronics stores from a big store like Yodobashi Camera(it has as 9 floors and each floor has full of latest gadgets, it is near the station) to small shops that sell niche products for computers.It is very easy to find good electronics there, and I would say there’s nothing you can’t find to build or customize your computers.Do you need a different type of LED light? They have it.Are you looking for a crazy colored buttons for a controller? They have it.Here are most visited electronics areas

Denkigai (Electric town)

Yodobashi camera
Hours: 9:30 to 22:00

4.Kanda Myojin shrine

It is a shrine located about 5 min walk away from Akihabara.Even a traditional shrine like this one has Otaku influence inside.You can buy good luck charm(Omamori) for IT workers.Most Omamoris that you can get at a shrine are made to protect the holder from having bad lucks, but this one is believed to protect the holder’s computer from virus attacks.You will also find a lot of anime/video game characters on Emas, wooden plates where people normally write wishes. It is also a popular spot as a place that was featured in the anime called “Love Live!”

Kanda Myojin shrine
（Open 24 hours）

If you like anime, manga, or electronics, Akihabara is a must-visit place.
Even if you are not too crazy about those things, you can still enjoy watching Otaku guys and cosplay girls in the area.
I remember going to a maid café with the bass player of my band a long time ago.
It was quite an interesting experience to be said “Welcome home, master!” and watch them dance and sing. My country really is a strange island!

Access

From Shibuya:Take JR Yamanote Line Bound for Shinagawa, Tokyo
(Time:28min Price:200yen)

From Tokyo: Take JR Yamanote Line Bound for Ueno, Ikebukuro
(Time:5min Price:140yen)

Where’s a strange/interesting spot in your country?
Send me a comment!
Taka

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

Modern side of Japan: 3 ares to visit in Roppongi, Tokyo

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Let me introduce Roppongi, where I used to live.It is one of the busiest business districts in Japan.I lived in Nogizaka area near the National Art Center.Back then, I had three kinds of jobs: English teacher, Web marketer, and Composer. I worked day and night till I pass out!Roppongi is known for nightlife and cosmopolitan atmosphere.People there never sleep and make a lot of money and party everyday.There are a lot of stores for fine clothes, so if you would like to enjoy shopping in the modern area, it is a great place to go. Here are 3 major areas to visit in Roppongi.

1.Tokyo Midtown and Roppongi Hills

Tokyo Midtown and Roppongi Hills are iconic towers of Roppongi.
A lot of people gather for shopping, eating, or joining events everyday.
Tokyo Midtown is a complex in the center of Roppongi area.
Inside, there are restaurants, shops, offices, museum, garden, etc. There’s one of the tallest buildings of Tokyo, Midtown Tower(248m) in the center. The Ritz Carlton Tokyo occupies the top floors.
Bars and cafes are open to anyone visiting the area.
There’s another tower called Roppongi Hills that is about 10 min walk away from Tokyo Midtown.
This place is also a nice place for shopping, and the view from the observation deck (on 52nd floor) is spectacular.
Best (yet the most expensive!) restaurants are around the tower and there is Toho Cinema Theater.
The headquarters of TV Asahi are located right next to it and they often hold events.

Tokyo Midtown (Open from 11:00 to 21:00)
Roppongi Hills(Open from 8:00 to 21:00)

2.Museums

There are a lot of museums in Roppongi. Some kind of event is usually taking place in each museum.The art works gathered in the area are very inspiring and the buildings of museums are carefully designed.Here are some of the best places that I recommend that you visit!

The National Art Center
(Open from 10:00 to 17:30. Closed on Tue)
Nezu Museum
(Open from 10:00 to 17:00. Closed on Mon)
Mori Art Museum
(Inside of Roppongi hills. Open from 10:00 to 22:00, until 17:00 on Tue)
Santory Museum of Art
(Open from 10:00 to 18:00, till 20:00 on Fri and Sat. Closed on Tue)
Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum
(Open from 10:00 to 18:00. Closed on Tue)


3.Night Clubs

If you like parties and music, Roppingi is one of the best places to go in Tokyo.
It has the best nightclubs and each of them is within walking distance. You can find the club that you like enjoying drinking and chatting.
Note that most clubs are very lively and loud.
If you want to spend a quiet night, you should go to Omotesandou area.

Maharaja (Open from 19:00 to 0:00, from 18:30 to 23:30 on Sun, from 19:00 to 5:00am on Fri and Sun)

MUSE (Open from 21:00 to 5:00am. Closed on Sun and Mon)

Esprit Tokyo (Open from 22:00 to 5:00am. Closed on Mon)

ODEON Tokyo (Sun: Midnight to 12:00, Mon: Closed, Tue and Wed: 20:00 to 8:00am, Thu: 20:00 to 10:00am, Fri: 20:00 to midnight, Sat: Midnight to 12:00 and 20:00 to Midnight)

V2 Tokyo (Open from 21:00 to 5:00am)


I personally think that a place like Roppongi is a really nice area to visit for tourist, especially for those who would like to enjoy the modern side of Japan, but it is not a great place for living.I mean, the rent is expensive (usually from around 200,000yen a month for a single room!), and it is kind of difficult to find real friends.People living there are mostly presidents or executives of Internet business related companies and they seem friendly but most of them are just thinking about making profits..It is the same for other big cities in the world I guess, but I prefer living with nature and good friends/people with less stress.Thanks to the advance of technology, we can get what we want wherever we are anyways, so!

Access

From Shibuya

Take Tokyo metro Ginza line bound for Asakusa and change train to Toei Oedo Line Bound for Roppongi at Aoyama-itchome.
(Time:11min  Price:280yen)

From Shinjuku

Take Toei Oedo Line Bound for Roppongi
(Time:9min Price:220yen)

From Tokyo station

Take Tokyo metro Marunouchi line bound for Shinjuku and change train to Tokyo metro Hibiya Line bound for Nakameguro at Kasumigaseki.
(Time:12min Price:170yen)

Do you prefer living in big cities or countryside?

Taka

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

See you next time!

What to do in Kyoto? Top 3 things to try

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A little away from Tokyo this time: Kyoto.
Like Tokyo, it is one of the most visited places by foreigners in the world.
You never get bored visiting the place, really!
It is full of historic buildings and entertainment.
It is some of the places where you feel, “Ah, I’m in Japan now!”
I remember going to Kyoto with my brother when I came back from the States.
That moment was like a re-discovery of Japan to me.
When I was in my country, everything I saw in Japan was so natural to me that I didn’t really pay attention or notice the uniqueness of our culture…!
I’m sure you will be amazed to see things there.
Here are 3 things I recommend that you try in Kyoto.

1.Visit Amazing Temples and Shrines

It is the best way to learn about history and culture of Japan.
You can enjoy Sakura in Spring, Green leaves in Summer, Autumn Leaves in Fall, and Snows (if you are lucky!) in Winter.
Every season is beautiful and Temples and Shrines give different impressions.
There are hundreds of historic buildings(more than 1,600), so you cannot see the whole things within a few days but if you have enough time, you should definitely try to visit as many as possible.
Here are some of the major places.

Kinkakuji Temple (A zen temple covered in gold leaf)
Ginkakuji Temple (A zen temple with sand and moss garden)
Kiyomizu Temple (A temple with wooden stage)
Fushimi Inari Shrine (A shrine with thousands of torie/holy gates)
Shimogamo Shrine (One of the oldest shrines)
Yasaka Shrine(A temple between Gion and Higashiyama district)
And I recommend that you visit these places if you have more time!

Tetsugaku no Michi/Philosopher’s path
(Stone path along a canal. There are a lot of Sakura trees)
Nanzen-ji Temple
(One of the most important Zen temples in Japan)
Sanjyu Sangendou
(A temple where thousands of Kannon Statues)
Honen-in Temple
(A temple with beautiful gardens)
Chion-in Temple
(The head temple of Jodo sect of Buddhism)

2.Try traditional Japanese food and Drinks

You can try some refined and delicate taste of traditional Japanese food in Kyoto. They are carefully made and decorated beautifully.
Along with food, Japanese green tea is also very popular there.
Here are some of the popular kinds of food that you should try.
Tofu
(I personally recommend this restaurant named Nanzenji junsei. They have amazing Tofu set!)
Kaiseki dish
(Traditional Japanese multi-course dinner)Shojin ryori (Japanese Buddhist vegetarian dish)
Wagashi
(Traditional sweets)
Matcha
(Japanese green tea)

3.Join Experience programs

Kyoto is a perfect place to learn about Japanese culture.
Joining some culture experience programs will surely make your visit memorable!
Here are some of the experiences that I recommend that you try.

Kimono wearing (You should care more about the quality than the price!Some of the cheap Kimono wearing experiences fake Kimono with wrong way of dressing that looks very embarrassing)

Tea ceremony (If you are not used to sitting on the floor for a long time, your legs will go to sleep so be prepared!)

Zen meditation program(Just like tea ceremony, it really improves your focus and help you get rid of stress. You must be quiet during the session so if you can’t stay still for a while, you should refrain from trying…!)
More about Zen, check this link: https://hidanotaka.com/zen/

Access

From Tokyo

Take Nozomi Shinkansen(the fastest bullet train)
(Time:2 hours and 15 min Price:14,110yen for one way, unreserved seat.
*The price is for the peak season.)

From Nagoya

Take Nozomi Shinkansen
(Time:35 min Price:5,070yen for one way, unreserved seat)

From Osaka

Take JR Kyoto line
(Time:About 28 min Price:560yen for one way)

See you next time!
Taka

※I’m a professional composer. My songs are available here: Skyhigh 
Or, you can click on the band camp link below to listen.

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

3 places you should visit in my hometown, Kichijoji in Tokyo

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This is my first post! Let me start by introducing my hometown, Kichijoji.
It is in Tokyo, and about 30 min away from Shibuya.
It is one of the most desirable places for young people in Japan because there are a beautiful park(Inokashira park), a lot of stores(especially secondhand clothes stores), and nice bars and restaurants.
It is also known for the place where artists gather.
There are a lot of concert halls and some famous manga artists/writers live in the area.
I love my hometown. Everyone there has their own style and people are energetic and creative. As a kid, I grew up playing music with my band wearing used clothes, trying to find my style. Me and my friends often spent time talking about art, films, and manga.

Although the trains are super crowded every day(Especially Inokashira line which connects Shibuya. The trains are usually packed around 8:00 and from around 18:00), Kichijoji is really worth going. Here are the areas that you don’t want to miss.

1.Inokashira Park

It is a popular spot to enjoy sakura in Spring and Autumn leaves in fall. Many people jog in the park in the morning and you often see street performers entertaining people. Inside of this large park, there’s a lake where you can rent swan pedal boats. There’s a zoo and a shrine as well(in the shrine, Benzaiten, a god of water and music is enshrined. It is open from 7:00 till 16:00). The Inokashira Park Zoo is especially popular for families. There are many kinds of birds, fishes, and other animals inside. The Zoo is open from 9:30 to 5:00, and closed on Mondays.Admission fee is 400yen for adults, 150yen for kids.

Inokashira Park(About 8 min walk away from Kichijoji Station)

2.Harmonica-Yokocho

On the north side of Kichijoji, there’s this area called Harmonica-Yokocho. Many small ,but excellent restaurants are inside.You can try different kinds of Japanese food from sushi to yakitori(skewered chicken). Most of the restaurants are open until late at night and it is a perfect place to enjoy local food and meet locals.

Harmonica-Yokocho(About 1 min walk from Kichijoji Station)

3.Secondhand stores

Kichijoji has a lot of secondhand stores.
It is really fun looking for the clothes that fit your style hopping these kinds of stores. You can find many different kinds of clothes gathered from everywhere in Tokyo. The most popular area is the street that goes to Inokashira park. Below are the places that I recommend that you take a look.

Ragtag Kichijoji (Open from 11:00 to 20:00)

Mode Off Kichijoji (Open from 11:00 to 21:00)

Besides those places above, there are many animal cafes like cat café, owl café, rabbit café, and more.

Cat Cafe Temari no Ouchi (Open from 10:00 to 21:00)
Owl Village in Kichijoji (Open from 12:00 to 18:00)
Rabbit Cafe, Cafe Mignon (Open from 11:30 to 19:00)

Kichijoji is close to the Famous Ghibli museum, which is located in Mitaka(just one station away). Come visit my hometown!

Access

  • From Mitaka Take Chuo train line bound for Nishi Funabashi.
    (Time:3 min Price: 140 yen)
  • From Shibuya Take Inokashira line bound for Kichijoji
    (Time:31 min Price: 200 yen)
  • From Shinjuku Take Chuo train line Rapid bound for Musashi Koganei
    (Time:15 min Price: 220 yen)

Where is your hometown btw?
Send me some messages!

Taka

※I’m a professional composer. My songs are available here: Skyhigh 
Or, you can click on the band camp link below to listen.

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]