http://www.japan-hopper.com For all your Japan related needs - Hotels, Restaurants, Activities, and much more on the map of Japan Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:46:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 ja http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/03/27_151442.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/03/27_151442.php#comments Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:25:44 +0000 kodaman http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/03/27_151442.php Talking 30 min by train from Kobe(50 km west of Kobe),Himeji castle is there. It was designated one of four world heritages in 1993(now there are14 world heritages in Japan) and one of four castles which are national treasures.Because of white walls coverded with white plaster, this castle has been called “White heron castle”. The height is about 46m. Himeji castle stands about 92m above sea level in that this castle was built on the top of Himeyama hill. It’s said that this is one of the greatest wooden architectures in the world.

[History] Himeji castle have had some steps to become huge like a maze castle. It is said that Akamatsu clan, a rular of Harima(now Himeji) first constructed a fort here in 1333. Then, Hideyoshi Toyotomi built three-storied castle to defend against Mori clan. When Ieyasu Tokugawa was Shogun and started Tokugawa Shogunate in 17th century, Terumasa Ikeda was in charge of ruling Himeji area. He repaired this castle for 8 years. It is 1618 ,when Tadatoki Honda coming to Himeji with Princess Sen, built “Nishino maru” for her. Himeji castle,then, become the current shape.

[Address] No need to write a address because people can see Himeji castle from Himeji station!

[Access]・Himeji station - Himeji Castle 20min on foot・Going to Himeji station - 30min by Sanin honsen from Kobe. (Please take a “Shinkaisoku(新快速）” train) / About 4 hours by Shinkansen from Tokyo

[Time] 9:00- 17:00 ( Enter:~16:00)

[Fee] Adult ¥600 Child ¥200

[Tips] A tourist information center is right next to an exit of Himeji stationThere are some interesting shops on Miyukidori.





]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/03/27_151442.php/feed http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/02/12_211403.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/02/12_211403.php#comments Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:42:04 +0000 kodaman http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/02/12_211403.php My wife’s family lives in Chino city in Nagano prefecture. Therefore, we went back to Nagano to meet them on December 2007. Because I have been lots of castles in Japan, I wanted to go to Matsumoto Castle which is one of four castles designated as National Treasures of Japan. This castle was constructed from 1592. Because the roof of Matsumoto castle is black, this is sometimes called “the Crow Castle”. Why this castle is black is because this is the proof of loyalty to Hideyoshi Toyotomi whose castle in Osaka(called Osaka castle) is also black.



In 1872,Meiji era after Edo era , the orner put this castle on a auction. However Ryozou Ichikawa,who was an assembly member in Nagano prefecture later, tried to stop and finally bought this castle back. If one bought and demolished this castle , Japanese would loose one of the representative of our culture and a wonderful scene.



We can enter inside castle and go up to the top but step stairs are so steep. Please be careful. Looking inside need 40min or more,therefore I think one needs to go inside before 16:00.(Close 17:00)

The eastan gate has been rebuilt recently.

-Matsumoto Castle-

[Access] 15 min from Matsumoto station

[Price] Adult ¥600,ES/JHS ¥ 300

[Open] 8:30am – 4:30pm (doors close 5 pm) ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/02/12_211403.php/feed http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/02/01_151254.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/02/01_151254.php#comments Fri, 01 Feb 2008 06:04:00 +0000 kodaman http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/02/01_151254.php By using a train from Nagoya, taking 30min,there is the Gifu Castle in Gifu prefecture. This castle was first built in 1201. Why here has been so famous is that Oda Nobunaga used to live in this castle. Before Nobunaga used here, Gifu castle was called Inabayama castle and was used by Saito clan. Gifu castle . Because of the location(the top of the Kinka Mountain), this is difficult to be attacked.



It was winter when I wanted to go there and snowing. I arrived at Gifu station at around 16:00 and went to the bottom of the Kinka mountain by taxi then.However, a ropeway going to the top was closed already.



I tried to go there on next day. It was sunny day but so cold. A ropeway brought me to the top. From even a ropeway staiton, it was a long way to go to Gifu castle.(I saw many people going to the castle on foot from the bottom of this mountain).



There is a Tea room in which we can enjoy being served a green tea. The garden is also beautiful. Anyway, people want to go there need the schedule when one can go.

[Open Time]

3/16〜5/11　9：30〜17：30
5/12〜10/16　8：30〜17：30
10/17〜3/15　9：30〜16：30

[Access]

Taxi about ¥1500 from Gifu station

Bus (toward to Gifu park) Number 11(Nagara,Sagiyamamawari) 15min

After coming back to Gifu station, I went to a restaurant which served Hida Beef. It was yummy! ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/02/01_151254.php/feed http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/12/26_181251.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/12/26_181251.php#comments Wed, 26 Dec 2007 09:47:45 +0000 kodaman http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/12/26_181251.php Before going to eat Hitsumabushi(Unagi don), I went to Nagoya castle. It was the end of November, “kouyou”was very beautiful and colorful.　This castle is the one of the three greatest castles in Japan(others are Oosaka and Kumamoto castle).
[History]It’s said that this castle was built in 1525. Around this castle, there was used to be Nagoya castle(Same sound but different Kanji) where “Oda Nobunaga” was born. For tourists, two tiger-heads fishes on the top of the castle are good points to check out. There is much information on wikipedia .[Accsess]Pleass take “Higashiyama-Line( go to Fujigaoka)” then changed to “Meijyo-Line” form “Higashiyama-line” at Sakae station. Finally get off at “Shiyakusho station”. It must take less than 20 min from Nagoya station to Nagoya castle.
[Fee] ¥500
Because we had couple of time to spend before eating “Hitsumabushi” in “Horai ken”(most of time needing reservation ), we dicided to go to here. It took 20 min from “Hourai-ken” by car. There is a huge park a lot around Nagoya castle. The photo below was a  kind of joke but it’s the good memory for our family. (There are a lot of places in which we can take this kind of photo in JAPAN) Now, we are interested in collecting these kind of photos in trip. ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/12/26_181251.php/feed http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/08/21_211260.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/08/21_211260.php#comments Tue, 21 Aug 2007 12:53:37 +0000 izumi http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/08/21_211260.php  

I visited Himeji Castle yesterday, which is famous for being World Heritage. Since I’ve been to Himeji town dozens of times, I used to think Himeji Castle was always there to visit, but actually today was the very first I’ve ever seen it!

 

Now let me explain general information about Himeji Castle.

The present Himeji Castle is constructed by Terumasa Ikeda, the son-in-law of Ieyasu Tokugawa.  It took eight years to complete, and preserved for 400 years.

It reminds me of Kumamoto Castle, which is celebrating 400th anniversary this year. The reason Himeji Castle was kept so fine, is because it didn’t met any large war or disasters. So it was degignated as the first World Heritage in Japan, in 1993, the same time with Horyuji Temple.

Well, you might wonder if Himeji Castle today is really the same one as 400 years ago. It’s not that.  Around 1955, there was a large scale reconstruction, and first class carpenters from all over Japan were assembled to repair the castle, including main pilars. Still, main parts such as beams are still in function today, which is something amazing !

 

When we think about today’s huge construction, many of you might think of dams. Well, Dams also have long life, mostly between 80 to 100 years, which proves woods live longer than iron or concrete. 

What strikes us more is, 400 years ago when there was no crane, such a huge castle was build up only by human power, which we cannot hardly do today.

It seemed there were more visitors from overseas (mostly from Europe and US)  than Japanese, and the amazing Japanese building technology must have impressed them. It is the achievements of our predecessors we should cherish.

Image 1. Himeji Castle. (it’s nickname is Shirasagi-jo, which means Egret Castle)

Image 2. Castle Wall. Its line is like Egret.

Image 3. Looking down from the main castle. (which would have made lords think that they own the whold world!)

 *Official site of Himeji Castle ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/08/21_211260.php/feed http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/03/27_19976.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/03/27_19976.php#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2007 10:04:24 +0000 akko@hakata http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/03/27_19976.php

Who do you think they are, dancing and spinning more beautifully than figure skaters under the sky?!



They are squid, caught in Yobuko.
These are dried squid you can take as good souvenier, but the best way to enjoy squid is, to eat it raw!



Doesn’t this look delicious ?!
Yes, Yobuko is `squid town’, so popular with fresh, delicious squid.
They are not hard like usual frozen one.
They are so soft, and almost transparent !!



Karatsu castle and Yobuko Port town.



Kagamiyama shrine on Kagamiyama mountain.
This is the place where you can enjoy the beautiful scene of Karatsu town.
(Karatsu is just next to Yobuko, where the historical castle(above) is.)

There’s a tragic legend in Kagamiyama mountain;
Princess Sayo loved her boyfriend so much, and when he had to leave her, she couldn’t let him go.
So she crawled to the Kagamiyama mountain after him, weeped for 7 days and nights, and finally turned to a rock.

Beside that sad story, Kagamiyama mountain is the best driving course especially in spring, when you can enjoy cherry blossom in full bloom…this weekend will be the best season for that.
After that you can still enjoy Azeria flowers !! ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/03/27_19976.php/feed http://www.japan-hopper.com/2006/03/20_1696.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2006/03/20_1696.php#comments Mon, 20 Mar 2006 07:23:40 +0000 Up and Down Japan http://www.japan-hopper.com/2006/03/20_1696.php

Hiroshima. Entering the city by car, it seemed pretty much the same as any other big city in Japan. When Hiroshima-jo (Hiroshima Castle) came into view, we stopped to take a look. Like the handful of other castles we’ve seen on this trip, we didn’t enter it or even get close enough for a decent view. But perched up on its hill, the castle was impressive, and we decided to park there and head into central Hiroshima on foot. It was a nice walk and a pleasant enough city, but again, not terribly different from anywhere else in Japan.



When the dome came into sight, I nearly stopped in my tracks. I’d never seen it before, but there was no mistaking what it was. The ruined building seemed to command you to slow down and take your time looking at it, feeling it. I had to walk around it to view it from every angle, to take in all the sadness and horror it held in its ruined but still graceful form. As sad as it was, it was also beautiful- the late afternoon sunlight poured gently over it, and a nearby weeping willow with newly sprouting bright green leaves added a beautiful and poignant touch. Life does go on.



So does my group, so I hurried to catch up with them as we passed through the Hiroshima Peace Park and on to the Peace Memorial Museum, where we had thirty minutes to take in the exhibits. Not nearly long enough, so I had to carefully chose what to stop for and what to pass as I hurried through the place.

I remember reading about Dave Barry’s visit to Hiroshima in Dave Barry Does Japan. He was there for the 50th anniversary of the a-bomb, and found the museum, ceremonies and monuments to be rather victim-centric and biased. 16 years later, I didn’t get that impression at all. In fact, I was surprised to see that the events leading up to the bomb were honestly and thoroughly presented, including the capture and massacre of Nanking, an event that all too frequently goes unmentioned in Japan. Apparently this introduction is part of new wing of the museum, and before it was added the museum must indeed have presented a rather biased view.

There is also a strong message of peace throughout the museum. Most notable were the copies of the Peace Declarations issued by the mayor of Hiroshima every year on the anniversary of the dropping of the A-bomb on display, as well as the letters of protest issued every time a nuclear bomb is tested. It is moving to see the devotion that the mayors, and their citizens, have to the cause of peace.

At the old wing of the museum were models of the city before and after the bomb, along with photos and artifacts. Despite the fact that I’d seen nearly all of them before in books or online, many of the pictures were quite shocking and hard to look at. But the most moving exhibits were not the gory pictures, but the everyday objects that belonged to the victims. An aluminum lunch box carried by a schoolboy, its container intact but its contents scorched black. A pocket watch stopped at exactly 8:15. Children’s clothes, school bags shoes, and the like. All of whose owners were killed by the bomb.

The museum charges just 50 Yen for admission, I suppose to allow as many people as possible to get the message. And the message is loud and clear: that the people of Hiroshima wish for nuclear weapons to be abandoned forever, and for the world to join them in embracing peace.

We had such little time at the museum that I really didn’t get a chance to see much of it, and it wasn’t until later that I could even begin thinking about what I saw. One of the things that struck me over the next few days was the lack of contemporary photographs and testimony: many of the pictures, drawings, and personal accounts were dated from several years after the bomb dropped. In the years after the bomb, certainly the survivors must have been too busy to take pictures or write about what was happening, or in too much shock, or simply felt it was indecent to record such tragic events. But likely a bigger reason was the suppression and censorship practiced by the GHQ under MacAurthur, which lasted the entire occupation. Images, descriptions, and anything related to the bomb and its effects were strictly censored, and most Japanese (not to mention the entire rest of the world) knew little about the lasting pain and devastation caused by the bomb until years later. I can’t help but wonder how many images and documents were seized and lost forever, and how the world might be a different place now if people knew from the beginning what had really happened.

There was another, more terrible consequence of this censorship: research into the bomb’s effects was also suppressed, which prevented the victims from being treated for their mysterious ailments. The reasons for this are completely lost on me, but the results aren’t– it is likely that in the years between the dropping of the bomb and the end of the occupation thousands of people died or suffered needlessly.

No matter what one thinks about the dropping of the bomb (I happen to consider it a crime against humanity), I can’t imagine anyone who would disagree that this suppression was a tragic mistake.

Hiroshima was certainly one of the most moving places on this trip. But because of the short time we had there I don’t feel that I got as much out of the visit as I could have. This is high on my list of places to return to. ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2006/03/20_1696.php/feed