Himeji Castle (Himeji/Hyogo)“Kodaman’s J-TRIP”

March 27, 2008 - 3:25 pm by kodaman in Culture  

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 [...]

Matsumoto Castle(Matsumoto) “Kodaman’s J-TRIP”

February 12, 2008 - 9:42 pm by kodaman in Others  

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 [...]

Gifu Castle (Gifu)“Kodaman’s J-TRIP”

February 1, 2008 - 3:04 pm by kodaman in Culture  

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 [...]

Yokoso! Japan Weeks 1: Free Guide Interpreting Service

January 10, 2008 - 10:42 am by akko@hakata in Culture, Food, Others, Travel  

Yokoso! Japan Weeks will start on Jan.20 (to Feb.29), to attract more visitors from overseas, with variety of events and services.
One of them is Free Guide Interpreting Service, in Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Hiroshima.
Please check the detail at this page.
Other than free guide interpreting service, there’re special service such as discount at hotels [...]

Nabe -Motsu Nabe”POPORO”(Nagoya)- “Kodaman’s J-TRIP”

December 31, 2007 - 12:29 pm by kodaman in Others  

When staying in Nagoya, we had an oppotunity to eat “Motsu Nabe” in “Poporo”. “Motsu nabe” is very popular in Japan and put some parts of pig’s or cow’s small intestine and a lot of vegitable in a big pot. There are many kinds of taste of Motsu nabe(Salty,Soy source or Miso) . The [...]

Nagoya Castle (Nagoya) “Kodaman’s J-TRIP”

December 26, 2007 - 6:47 pm by kodaman in Others  

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 [...]

Hitsumabushi (Nagoya) “Kodaman’s J-TRIP”

December 21, 2007 - 6:02 pm by kodaman in Others  

“Hitsumabushi” is actually a kind of “Unagi don(Eel rice bowl)” .However, because the way of grill is different from its in other city. Usually “unagi don” is 2 pieces of broiled eels on the top of rice, but “Hitsumabushi” is cut eels in 1cm each.

The way of eating is very interesting for [...]

Himeji Castle / World Heritage

August 21, 2007 - 9:53 pm by izumi in Culture, Others, Travel  

 
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, [...]

Who is spinning and drying @ Yobuko, port town in Kyushu

March 27, 2007 - 7:04 pm by akko@hakata in Travel  

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, [...]

Hiroshima

March 20, 2006 - 4:23 pm by Up and Down Japan in Travel  

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 [...]