Samurai Time Trip? Visit Tenryo Hita to see Edo merchants’ town

July 2, 2007 - 6:38 am by akko@hakata in Travel  

Not only hot spring town Beppu and Yufuin, but there’s a beautiful old town in Oita, with the name Hita.

Mameda town of Hita used to be directly governed by Edo (Tokyo) government in Edo period(Samurai Time, 17C-19C), and prospered as a merchants’ town.
(*Tenryo means a special district directly controlled by the central government of Japan. [...]

Internet Access in Japan

June 30, 2007 - 4:49 pm by kiokitok in Travel  

Today, Internet is an essential method in order to collect information. Usually, you can find more updated information in better quality than any other methods. Depending on the environment you are in, you can choose different options.
If you do not have any laptop computers, you should simply go to Manga Kissa or Internet [...]

Nagasaki, Christmas cake of Kyushu

June 29, 2007 - 11:38 am by akko@hakata in Travel  

About Nagasaki
Nagasaki is the only Christian city in Japan, the only International city opened during National Isolation (Samurai Period), the only city having so many `first Western things’, the only city where locals play fireworks in cemeteries, and is one of the two cities experienced a-bomb.
Today Nagasaki is a simbol of world peace, with its [...]

Lviv to London, via Napoli

June 27, 2007 - 5:52 am by there_and_back_again in Travel  

For those who enjoy travelogs:
Last summer I got my first taste of cycle touring. Lviv, Ukraine to Napoli, Italy, then north ’til London. The ride also gathered two and a half thousand dollars for an HIV orphanage in Ukraine.
http://www.englicious.com/__bike
Enjoy!

OKI-WOW-WA!

June 24, 2007 - 6:39 pm by mrmook in Travel  

Last Sunday took a cab to the train to the plane and jetted off to Okinawa for a much needed Holiday. My timing was less than perfect as rainy season was in the fullest of swings for my entire 3 day, 2 night stay. For the uninformed, there are only [...]

Okutama, Another Face of Tokyo

June 23, 2007 - 6:57 pm by kiokitok in Travel  

You do not believe it is a part of Tokyo. Okutama is located in the westernmost part of Tokyo. Unlike the central Tokyo, it is thoroughly surrounded by the nature. Taking a train for about two hours from Shinjuku, you will get to a good site to release your stress.
Okutama has nice [...]

Football/Soccer in Japan

June 16, 2007 - 1:23 pm by kiokitok in Travel  

Football has gained its popularity for 15 years. It had never been regarded as major sports like sumo, baseball or golf until the professional league was established. On May 15, 1993, J-League had a huge ceremony to inaugurate the professional league. The ceremony was televised, and instantly had a great impact especially [...]

Get together to see Hakata Gion Yamakasa!!!

June 10, 2007 - 6:06 am by luckymentai in Travel  

Now the very season has come to get guys in Hakata excited! That is Hakata Gion Yamakasa!
It is held from July 1st to July 15 every year at Hakata, Fukoka City’s old town area.
The climax of this festival will start at Kushida Shrine, Hakata at 4:59 am on July 15th, Sunday.
This year I will [...]

Ameyoko Market in Ueno

June 9, 2007 - 10:31 pm by kiokitok in Travel  

Tokyo is such a convenient city for shopping. On every single corner, you will find a convenience store. If you want to purchase branded clothes, department store is the one you should try. In Akihabara, you can buy computers and videogames cheap. Yet, for their convenience, all these modern stores have [...]

Food Paradice Nakasu on Friday; Tetsunabe Gyoza (Fukuoka/Kyushu)

June 8, 2007 - 9:00 pm by akko@hakata in Food, Travel  

Nakasu is not only the largest night spot in Western Japan, it’s also a food paradice!
It becomes especially busy on weekend nights.

This is `Tetsunabe Gyoza’, very popular food in here.
Tetsu = Iron
nabe = pan
Gyoza = pan-fried dumpling
And is delicious !!

This is Yakisoba, meaning, pan-fried noodles
There’re other dishes beside these, such as raw fish, grilled chikien, [...]