Kyoto by the sea

Last week, we conducted a 2 days 1 night tour for a family group from Malaysia 

and US in Kyoto Tango which is located at the northern part of Kyoto.  

It is a valuable chance for us to enjoy the spectacular view of Amanohashidate

Ine Fish Village and Miyama village, tasting traditional Japanease cuisine and 

at the same time visiting local seafood markets. 

It is the raining season in Japan now but we are lucky to have a super sunny day 

for the first day.  Our restaurant is next to the famous rotation bridge of Amanohashidate. 

Right before our lunch, two large boats passed through the rotation bridge and we could 

see the bridge rotated twice!  Everyone was so excited!!!  We then enjoyed a fresh sashimi 

and tempura set at the restaurant by the side.  We went up by taking the chairlift in order to

capture the panoramic view of Amanohashidate and the ‘bridge to heaven’.  On the way, 

we could also see pretty blossom of hydrangea as well. After that, we visited Ine fish village

and also the popular sake brewery in Ine.  We enjoyed tasting the special sake and

non-alcohoic ice ceam in summer!!  While filling up our stomach with yummy sushi as dinner,

we stayed in an onsen hotel that night while some guests tried their first hotspring in Japan!! 

The next morning we visited Maizuru Tore Tore Center which is a seafood market and

 the oysters are enormous and fresh!!!  Our last destination is Miyama, the rural village 

of north Kyoto.  After having a nice soba (buckwheat noodles), we had free time walking

 around the village and luckily we tried the gelato which is made by fresh milk from Miyama 

on the way back to Osaka.  Everyone was satisfied with the expereince of countryside in 

Kyoto and also the fresh seafood+ice cream in Japan.  It is sad to say goodbye but hope

 to see them in Japan very soon!!    

Jazz dream outlet + Nabana no sato

In early May, I have visited Nagashima resort as a day trip from Nagoya.  Nagashima resort is highly recommended for family and couples as it involves amusement park, outlet, spa land and garden with plenty of flowers. 

Combo tickets are sold in the Nagoya bus center where you can first stop in Jazz Dream outlet for half day and then from outlet, you can take another bus to visit the garden.  I have been looking forward to see the winter illumination of ‘Heidi, Girl of the Alps’ for a long time.  Therefore, I bought the tickets and head to the garden after visiting the outlet. 

My friend and I are amazed with the colorful flowers in the garden and greenhouse.  The flowers in the greenhouse are presented in a special way that I have never seen it in my life.  There are also a café inside and would like chill out there if we had more time that day.  The outdoor garden is also stunning with pretty flowers in all season.  Now, it is the time of Rose!!!

After visiting the garden, we passed through a blue and green light tunnels and arrived the place of the illumination.  This year, the theme is Heidi in Alps and it presented 4 seasons in Switzerland even with Sakura in spring!! J  Although the winter illumination is only till early May, it is the time of firefly now!! Flyerflies come out around 20:30 every day and if you are planning to visit it by 26 June, you maybe able to see the flyerflies like the picture shown below.

Fore more information, please check the link below:

http://www.nagashima-onsen.co.jp/resort/download.html/

Takayama Festival

To deepen the understandings in Japan, the best way is to experience the local festival.  Do you know there is at least one festival held in Japan every day?  The city that I live is called Takayama where is embedded with rich Japanese culture.  I have been looking forward to this year Spring Takayama festival as it was cancelled last year due to heavy rain.  At that time, I realized that weather is so important for festival as the floats do not come out in order to protect the colour and good shape. 

Then, the good weather came on 14 –15 April this year.  What’s more?  The global warming brings the cherry blossom earlier this year.  In the day time, we saw beautiful floats and at night, we waited for night parade for 1 hour as the floats were decorated with lanterns lit by candles.  It is said that the traditions of this festival started 300 years ago.  Unlike the festival in big cities in Tokyo and Osaka, Takayam festival is one of the festival that we can see closely and enjoy the beauty of the floats.

Don’t wait! 　Please join us next year!

For more information, please check the website below:

http://www.hida.jp/english/

When tour meets Sakura (cherry) blossom

Due to global warming, Japan is warmer than last year.  This year, the sakura season comes a little bit earlier than before.  In March, our tour visited Kansai area where we could see pretty sakura in Kyoto, Nara and Yoshiyoyama.  Every April, the influx of tourists comes to Japan to enjoy the Sakura blossom.  Many customers are surprised that the sakura is not pink while it is pale pink instead.  In fact, there are over 600 varieties of sakura in Japan.  The most common sakura is called Yoshino sakura and it is a pale pink while Shidarezakura is also pale pink and all around Japan. 

Would you like to visit the best places for pretty cherry blossom? I recommend you to check the blossom schedule in the below link:

http://sakura.weathermap.jp/

The most memorable moment for me to see the pretty sakura is to see the sakura at night.  In every city of Japan, it has some light up events during the week of cherry blossom.  The pictures shown here are all taken in Nijo Castle, Kyoto light up event. If you have a chance to visit Kyoto, please do not miss it.

Okuhida Onsen Winter Festival

Do you fancy going to winter festival in Japan?  In Okuhida onsen, there are quite a number of illumination events at night. 

Okuhida onsen is about 1 hour 30 minutes by bus and it would be a lovely night to drink a nice sake in igloo and go for a sleigh ride.  To attend the event, it is necessary to stay 1 night in Okuhida onsen area, e.g. Hirayu onsen, Shin-Hirayu onsen, Shin-hotaka onsen etc.  And there is a free shuttle bus that guests can travel around easily. Last year, I had a wonderful experience over there.  It is never too late to purchase a flight ticket to have a fantastic winter journey.

Shin-hirayu onsen light up event

Date: 22 January, 2016 to 29 February, 2016

http://www.okuhida.or.jp/event/detail?id=2945

Igloo festival

Date: 1 February, 2016 to 14 February, 2016

http://www.okuhida.or.jp/event/detail?id=3033

Hirayu waterfall festival

Date: 15 February, 2016 to 25 February, 2016

http://www.okuhida.or.jp/event/detail?id=3131

 

Japanease Soba

Before coming to Japan, I am not interested in eating Soba (Japanese buckwheat noodle) as the texture of the Soba seems not so tasty when compared with udon or ramen.  However, this autumn, I tried the Shinsoba made by 100% soba powder in Kiso, Nagano prefecture.  I found it very tasty which is different from the soba that I have eaten elsewhere in Japan.  The Shinsoba is made by the newly harvested buckwheat and thus the taste is richer and sweeter.  My doctor also recommended soba to me as the nutrient that it contains can improve digestion and has good impact on the skin as well!!! Takayama has a long cold winter and Kamonanban 鴨南蛮 soba (duck soba) is my favourite dish in winter which the restaurant put the ginger and leek on top of the soba.  If you have a chance to come to Takayma, please do not forget to try this winter specialty!!!

Today is the new year eve of Japan, one of the Japanese culture is to have soba noodles with family at night.  We are going to share this culture with our guests tonight.  It seems that tonight will be snowing too!! Wish you all have a happy new year with your beloved one and family!!

Bus Tour of Doburoku Festival(Sake Drinking festival) in Shirakawago

Doburoku festival is a Shinto event held in Shirakawa-go every Autumn. Doburoku is a milky white, unrefined sake made by rice, rice malt, and water.  It is brewed from January through to October; the festival is the first day that we can drink the NEW doburoku!! Once you buy the sake cup from the festival, you can drink as much as you want!!!  Except drinking, there are also traditional dance such as lion dance, folk song performance and local food stalls.  The tour will also bring you to the observation point of Shirakawa-go to capture the excellent view of village (Ogimachi). No matter whether you are a sake lover or not, it is a valuable chance to experience a traditional Japanese sake festival by drinking, tasting the Japanese snacks and enjoying the cultural performances. Let's join us to enjoy the memorable sake festival in a world-heritage village- Shirakawag Bus tour will be organized for the festival, details are as follows:

Date: 14th –15th October, 2015(Wednesday and Thursday)

Departure time: 13:20 p.m.

Meeting point: bus stop in front of JR Takayama Station

http://tour.j-hoppers.com/touroverview/#meeting-point

(NOT Nohi public Bus Terminal)

Tour Fee: 4,400 yen per person / 3,900 yen per person(J-hopper Takayama Guesthouse Guests only)

Fee includes:  - Round-trip bus tickets between Takayama and Shirakawago (50 mintues by bus)

                        - English-speaking tour guide

Schedule:

Itinerary at a glance(Times may be subject to change)
13:20	Depart Takayama station
14:10	Arrive Shirakawa-go
14:10-14:30	Observation point
14:30-17:00	Walk around the village Duburoku Festival
17:00	Depart Shirakawa-go
18:00	Arrive Takayama station

Enrollment and inquiries: email to tour@j-hoppers.com or call 0577-62-9545.