Guinness World Record `Torii (Shinto Shrine Gate)’ is in New Year fashion @ Chijiwa, Nagasaki

December 27, 2007 - 6:38 pm by akko@hakata in Culture, Others, Travel  

This is the world largest Torii (Shinto Shrine Gate), in Chijiwa of Nagasaki prefecture, East end of Kyushu, where Onsen (hot spring ), food, and nature is all so wonderful !

Torii gate is decorated in New Year celebration style.

This is the normal style :>

More information here (Japanese, but with many images)

Access

From Hakata Station (Fukuoka) , [...]

Gomar’s The Beautiful JAPAN MOMIJIGARI（Viewing the autumn leaves)

November 30, 2007 - 10:47 am by Gomar in Others, Travel  

I introduce colored leaves of Kyoto and Tokyo this time.

Giouji(祇王寺,Giouji Temple)　at Saga Kyoto

The scenery which I look at 360 degrees where, and is bright red.

Jojakkoji(常寂光寺,Jojakkoji Temple)　at Saga Kyoto
It is the noted place of colored leaves eminent in Kyoto here.

Showa Kinen Park(昭和記念公園) at Tachikawa City Tokyo

There were such a beautiful colored leaves in Tokyo.

The park was [...]

Gomar’s The Beautiful JAPAN Shakotan Peninsula,Hokkaidō

November 28, 2007 - 11:17 am by Gomar in Others, Travel  

This is Shakotan Peninsula (積丹半島, Shakotan hantō).
Shakotan Peninsula is located in the northwest of Sapporo,Hokkaidō.

Though it was the sea of Hokkaido, The transparency of the sea was like the sea of Okinawa.
Shimamui Shore(島武意海岸,Shimamui kaigan). Here is chosen as “100 selections of Japanese beaches”.

Kamui Cape(神威岬,Kamui misaki)

Scenic Masterpiece of Kyushu 2, Mt. Aso (National Park)

August 27, 2007 - 11:58 pm by izumi in Others, Travel  

This is my most favorite scenery. My own image of Kyushu is green of mountains, and navy blue of the sea, and this is certainly the one.

I visit Aso 7 to 8 times a year, to enjoy this beautiful nature. Aso is famous for its world largest caldera, with active volcano. Another popular thing about Aso [...]

Scenic Masterpiece of Kyushu 1, Itsukishima, Hirado

August 23, 2007 - 6:05 pm by izumi in Others, Travel  

Itsukishima is part of Hirato city, Nagasaki, and is placed in the west end of Kyushu island.  It takes four hours from Fukuoka city, but is absolutely beautiful. The reason why the sea is so blue and transparent is because this is not the place to swim. 

Visit Okinawa’s mangrove forest

April 13, 2007 - 9:25 am by marsh in Travel  

Northern area of Okinawa Honto (main island=big island) welcomes visitors with double colors: emeraldgreen ocean and deep green mangrove forest.

Gesashi’s mangrove forest lies on the eastern coast of the big island. From Naha city, it takes 2.5 hours by car (via route 58 and Okinawa express way); but it’s worth visiting.

The area is designated as [...]

Utaki - the sacred site in Okinawa

February 7, 2007 - 7:10 pm by marsh in Travel  

Is it “god”, “kamisama”, “hotokesama” or “noro”? –How different is Okinawa’s religion?

Okinawan people believe in the spiritual world and honor various “gods” in the nature. For example “god of the hearth” or “god of the well”; they also worship their ancestors’ sprits; and of course there is Shinto, Buddhism and Christianity.

Hinukan or [...]

March 11th: The monkeys of Jigokudani

May 7, 2006 - 3:48 pm by Up and Down Japan in Food, Travel  

Our minshuku in Jigokudani Yaen Koen was not just a regular family-run inn: Korakukan is one of the few places in Japan (and the world) where people can share a rotemburo (outdoor hotspring bath) with wild monkeys. This is a rather recent development– it was only about 40 years ago that the first monkey ventured [...]