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/2007/07/24_191072.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/07/24_191072.php#comments Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:31:23 +0000 akko@hakata http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/07/24_191072.php On July 11(Seven Eleven!), the ATM machines of Seven Eleven Banks started to deal with foreign credit cards, master, visa, American Express, JCB. Now you can draw Japanese Yen with your credit cards anytime at nearest Seven Eleven.







Throughout Japan there’re more than 12,000 Seven Eleven Banks in each Seven Eleven Shops, the most popular convinience stores.

Also Narita AIrport now got the same ATM machies (check where they’re)
]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/07/24_191072.php/feed http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/07/22_111068.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/07/22_111068.php#comments Sun, 22 Jul 2007 02:24:40 +0000 akko@hakata http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/07/22_111068.php Japan has a bad reputation for not having enough money exchange machine, but situation is changing.



Akihabara, the mecca of cult culture (maid kissa, manga, and of course electrics), has a Foreign Money Exchange center in front of Yodobashi Camera Shop, attached to Akihabara Station.

Beside this, you can try Daikokuya’s money exchange servicea discount ticket shop. (Daikokuya Website offers realtime information on exchange rate). Or try city bank.

General information about money exchange is on JNTO website (here!). ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/07/22_111068.php/feed http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/03/12_23963.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/03/12_23963.php#comments Mon, 12 Mar 2007 14:19:42 +0000 Yuk http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/03/12_23963.php
Kobe is a good place where I who live in Kyoto can go by the day trip. That day was Chinese New Year. So I went to Kobe by the Hankyu train. It took 2 hours from Karasuma (Kyoto) to Sannomiya (Kobe), fare was 600 yen (if you buy a ticket in Kinken shop which is broker that specialized in railroad ticket, book token, coupon, etc., fare is 400 yen!). Let’s enjoy the feel different from Kyoto there.


At Nankin-machi
Nankin-machi in Kobe is one of the three major Chinatowns in Japan. Kobe has the history that was the foreign settlement. And it is said that Chinese people who had gathered there had started business in Nankin-machi, and had prospered. Nankin-machi had been damaged by Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, but it has revived and has recovered lively. In about 200 meter of street to east and west, there are Chinese restaurants, Chinese foods shops, Chinese variety shops, and souvenir shops.


The variety shops where a panda doll who dance and a dummy Bruce Lee were displayed were interesting simply in seeing.


Because in the restaurants front stands of snack and light meals lined, and the price was reasonable, I came to want to eat this and that.


These stands have begun just after Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. It has continued because it gained public favor, after Nankin-machi had revived also, then it became the popular attraction in the Nankin-machi.


That day was Chinese New Year, but firecrackers were not exploding there. It was crowded with people who see the Chinese lion dance.


Moreover the noctilucence dragon danced at the night, and feeling over the Chinese New Year ran high.



Isn’t there delicious Chinese cuisine in Nankin-machi?
I want to eat a delicious Chinese cuisine if having come to the Nankin-machi with great pains.


It seems that the restaurant where a really delicious dish is served is few though Chinese restaurants line up in the Nankin-machi. It is famous that “Kobe-Motomachi-bekkan-Botanen” in two blocks north from Nankin-machi serves good Chinese cuisines. The dishes of that restaurant are expensive, but my recommended Gomoku-soba (fried noodle with vegetables, fish, and meat) is 1,200 yen. If you want to eat buta-man (niku-man; baozi), I recommend “Shikohroh” in front of JR Motomachi Station.


You can take it out. The price per piece is 180 yen. You will be able to consent as it is large and delicious after you eat it though you might feel it is a little expensive.

At Motoko
When I go to Kobe, I always drop in at a shopping arcade of peculiar atmosphere. It is called Motoko. Motoko which stands for “Moto-machi Koka-shita (under the elevated railroad)” is a shopping arcade that exists under the elevated railroad. It reaches about 2km from JR Motomachi station to Kobe Station, and ranges from “1-ban-gai (the 1st street)” to “7-ban-gai (the 7th street)”.


There are secondhand book shop, secondhand clothing store, variety shop, odds and ends, toy shop, pet shop, used word processors, used personal computers, café, and so on. It is a place that I feel as if to stray into a nostalgic age. Because I always think that I may hit pay dirt, I come to want to drop into there. I recommend Motoko shopping arcade to person who is fond of a odd goods.


However, nowadays the store that shutter keeps closed is increasing, I’m sad that Motoko seems to be declining.

The sign of damage caused by Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake which occurred on 17^th January 1995 caused extensive damage to Kobe. You can see a part of earthquake mark in the Kobe port which has been preserved in “Port of Kobe earthquake memorial park” in “Meriken park“.



And also you can see photographs and videos which give description of the revival in there.



If you want to know in fuller detail about Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, please visit “Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution” which exists a little far from “Meriken park” and Nankin-Machi.



If you are in Kobe till night, you can enjoy night view. There is the Arima-onsen where close to Kobe, and you can stay in there. ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/03/12_23963.php/feed http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/03/02_09958.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/03/02_09958.php#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:08:19 +0000 akko@hakata http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/03/02_09958.php

Hita is a place which flourished in Edo period (Samurai Time), about 200-300 years ago.
It was actually the center of Kyushu, culturally, economically and politically,
and still protects and cherishes its tradition, just the way it was.


Hinamatsuri (Hina Doll Festival) i(Feb.15-Mar.31) is the event you can enjoy the most beautiful season of Hita, by seeing traditional hina dolls.







If you would like to take photoes with Hina Dolls, Tenryo Hina Jinya (0973-22-2456) is the best place, with about 2,000 traditional and modern Hina Dolls.



There are other places you can enjoy Hina Dolls displayed in old merchant houses, though photo taking is usually not allowed.



and having special Hina Lunch at Shimaya (0973-24-0851)



and shopping !!







With my friends, in front of her shop, `Iwashi Club’, which deals with beautiful Japanese hand-made crafts.



About Hinamatsuri (Hina Doll Festival)

It is called Hina Matsuri in Japanese, and is a traditional event held on March 3rd, wishing for girls’ health and happy marriage. We display Hina Dolls and have a family party. Kyushu is called `a land of Hina’, and is the best place to enjoy Hina Doll Festival.

*Hita is only an hour from Fukuoka airport by express bus.

]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/03/02_09958.php/feed http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/02/23_11951.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/02/23_11951.php#comments Fri, 23 Feb 2007 02:54:30 +0000 akko@hakata http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/02/23_11951.php AKIBA, the town used to be the largest electronic town, is today the mecca of Japanese sub culture, representing COOL JAPAN !



Maid Kissa, is a cafe where young and pretty maids with their unique costume serve tea for you. Most Maid Kissa do not allow photo taking, but you can get its full image visiting AKIBA ANGELS SITE.



Japanimation (Japanese Animation) shop.



Video game shop. There are so many !!

AKIBA TOUR COM, to the New Discovery of Akihabara(Yokoso Japan) ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/02/23_11951.php/feed http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/02/23_11949.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/02/23_11949.php#comments Fri, 23 Feb 2007 02:28:39 +0000 akko@hakata http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/02/23_11949.php

This is Harajuku station, the starting point of fashionable tour in Tokyo. If you’re in need of Harajuku Tour Information, why not refer to Harajuku Digital World?

Also if you’re looking for some Japanese cool toys, KIDDY LAND is the place!



SoftBank flagship shop opend on Harajuku Street on Feb.10.



Harajuku has many fashionable cafes as well, where you can enjoy not only your foods and drinks, but also people. This day, I watched six young people sitting on the next table were having beer in the middle of the day !!

]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/02/23_11949.php/feed http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/02/23_11948.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/02/23_11948.php#comments Fri, 23 Feb 2007 02:08:21 +0000 akko@hakata http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/02/23_11948.php

Feb.3 is the day we celebrate the coming of spring.

Many shrines and temples hold soybean-throwing ceremonies around Japan every year, and Kushida Shrine, the most popular local shrine in Hakata, is no exception !



People are having exciting time, trying to catch as many sweets as possible. This year, they threw not only sweets but also balls given by famous baseball players, which attract many people’s attention.



So many people…!! ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/02/23_11948.php/feed http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/02/16_18617.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/02/16_18617.php#comments Fri, 16 Feb 2007 09:55:19 +0000 Yuk http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/02/16_18617.php
Kobo-san, Tenjin-san, Garakuta-ichi and Tedukuri-ichi are typical flea market of Kyoto city, but these are not same. In Kobo-san at To-ji Temple (Flea Market) and Tenjin-san at Kitano-tenmangu Shrine (Flea Market), there stand more than 1000 stalls hoping that it would attract the ennichi (a shrine or temple fair) crowd (people who pay homage at a shrine or temple). These look like each other, but there is a big difference between the two flea markets; one takes place in a temple (namely Buddhism) and the other does in a shrine (namely Shintoism).


Garakuta-ichi at To-ji Temple (the place which holds the Kobo-san) is Antique Market. Tedukuri-ichi means Open-air Craft Market at Chion-ji Temple. Two men have started it since 1986 as place for publishing the amateur’s works (handmade goods and crafts). This flea market always is bubbling with many ideas. There are stalls of various; accessory, pottery, earthenware, spice, bread, coffee, etc.. As mentioned above, each flea market history and goods that they deal in are different.

Kyoto “Maeda no baby-kasutera”

Because Hatsu-Kobo (the 21st January) which means the first Kobo-san of the year fell on Sunday, many people crowded there. So sometimes I couldn’t move where I want to go. Even though I was under such situation, I was lured to buy “Maeda no baby-kasutera” by a good smell.


In Kyoto, we associate the name of an ennichi or festival with “Maeda no baby-kasutera”. It is a hot and small pancake (the shape like a cocoon). I walked eating fresh-baked those. Of course it was soft and light, delicious.

Would you like some “Maeda no baby-kasutera”? You can buy it at Kobo-san and Tenjin-san.

Kobo-san and Tenjin-san are Flea Market!

It is said that Kobo-san’s start was few stalls of tea and light meal for people that visit to a memorial service of Kobo-taishi on the 21th every month at To-ji Temple and it has been held since Edo period. The 21th March is the anniversary of his death.


It seems that the beginning of Tenjin-san was stalls which hoped that it would attract the audience of artistic accomplishments which had been dedicated, and sideshows and the worshipers on the 25th which is the anniversary of Sugawara Michizane’s birth and death every month at Kitano-tenmangu Shrine.


Neither the kind nor the number of stalls change into Kobo-san and Tenjin-san too much. There stand stalls of food, daily necessaries, tool, antique, and just about anything else you can imagine; okonomi-yaki (like a pancake with cabbage), tai-yaki (sweets that the shape is bream), mochi (rice cake), red pepper, incense, old kimono and obi, and pottery, etc.. There are things of the seasonal limited sale also.




There are indeed various stalls and I can enjoy, but I always lose my way because To-ji Temple is too wide. When I want to go to same stall again later I can not find it. In this respect, I think that Tenjin-san is more comprehensible than Kobo-san. Because the condition is the following; in the approach to the main shrine there line stalls of food, there queue stalls of plant and bonsai in the west side of the approach, and there stand stalls of daily necessaries and antique in the east side of the approach.



Many people go to Kobo-san and Tenjin-san. However, these days, people go there for visiting to flea market, but not for paying homage at a shrine or temple. Then new kinds of stalls like a massage are increasing. Some people complain that this situation is the outcome of putting the cart before the horse. On the other, some people have hope that it becomes trigger for which young people come to a temple.

Merits (blessings) of Tenjin-san

It is said that there are many merits (blessings) of Sugawara Michizane at Kitano-tenmangu Shrine. People who have various wishs visited to Hatsu-Tenjin (25th Jan) which means the first Tenjin-san of the year, and were praying to God. Women were surrounding “Oushi-san (the statue of cow)” saying “I pat this part, and I have another bad part, so I pat this part, too.”. Because it is believed that it cures when the part of the same “Oushi-san” as the part of oneself which is bad is patted. And, the examinee wrote ema (a votive picture tablet of a horse), and was praying to pass the examination.


Many ume (Japanese apricot) have been planted there as Sugawara Michizane loved it, and Baika-sai (Festival of ume blossoms) take place on 25th February every year. Because it was warm this winter, the bud of ume (Japanese apricot) in precincts already were swelling.


I am going to go to Garakuta-ichi and Tedukuri-ichi next!

To be continued on next article; Flea Market of Kyoto (2).

Information

• Kobo-san (To-ji Temple); the 21^st every month, 5:00-16:30
• Tenjin-san (Kitano-tenmangu Shrine); the 25^th every month, 6:30-21:00

Other small-scale flea markets

• Ichimoku tedukuri-ichi at Umekoji-koen park; the first Thursday every month
• Flea market at Myoren-ji Temple; the 12nd every month
• Saezuri-ichi at Kamigoryo-jinjya Shrine; the 18^th every month (except May), 9:00-16:00
• Omoshiro-ichi at Toyokuni-jinjya Shrine; the 8^th and 18^th every month
• Omoshiro-ichi at Rokusonno-jinjya Shrine; the 28^th every month
• Omoshiro-ichi at Gosyo-yahata-gu shrine; every Friday

Maybe there is plenty more of it.

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