Nagano

Hi ! It has been a long time since our last updated blog. Now this report in Nagano is retroactive to September... Do you know NAGANO in Japan ? If you do not know, perhaps this time you might begin to think of a stay there during next travel in Japan !

 First you get off at Nagano station and proceed to Zenko-ji Temple.

  

 

 

 Wow ! Zenko-ji daaaa   

   

Nagano is really easy to get by JR Shinkansen from Tokyo !

 

 

Restaurant in Lake Chuzenji

Good evening

It is very very hot in Tokyo every day  

I went to Nikko, especially Lake Chuzenji area, which is more confortable rather than weather of Tokyo

I had lunch at nice restaurant around Lake Chuzenji ''Chez  Hoshino''

  Very nice and cute ourside of restaurant

I enjoyed B course of lunch menu

             

<Main dish: Trout with butter source>         <Dessert>

It was so superb

A lot of foreign tourists also enjoyed their meal

When you have a chance to go to Nikko, I do recommend to have lunch at 'Chez Hoshino'  

Access:

40 min by local bus from JR Nikko Station to Chuzenji Onsen

7 min walk from Chuzenji Onsen Bus Terminal

 

 

 

 

Climbing season is coming!!

Mt. Fuji

Mt Fuji is the highest mountain with a beautiful cone shape in Japan at a total of 3776 meters ( 12388 feet ), located approximately 100 kms south-west of Tokyo.

The official climbing season is from 1 July to the end of  August.
Approximately 300,000 people attempt the climb annually.

 There are a total of 4 routes for climbing up Mt. Fuji and it takes average of 5 or 6 hours to climb up to the summit of Mt. Fuji.


It's very tight on the way but you'll be filled with a sense of achievement when you stand on the top.

Why don't you try to climb Mt. Fuji

Nikko Edo Wonderland

Good evening

Rainy season has just started in Tokyo... I hope sunny summer day is coming soon

Last weekend, I visited Nikko Edo Wonderland

We call it ''NINJA VILLAGE''

It is so popular with a lot of tourists from not only Japan, but also all over the world.

 

     

We can feel old town of Edo period, in walking in this park, seeing the people who wear Kimoto, Japanese life style and eating  Japanese typical food.

Also, there are several shows during a day, please pay attention to show schedule on that day

Especially, Ninja Show is amazing  You cannot go home without watching this special show

 

It takes about 2 hours by train from Tokyo to Nikko.

I do recommend you to visit Edo Wonderland, when you have any chance to go to Nikko (In addition to visiting Toshogu Shrine...)

Edo Wonderland http://www.edowonderland.net/main.html

 

 

 

Hikone - part II & Omi Hachiman

Golden week in May ! It was so beautifull weather but very hot in this year 2010.Let's see little more about this central-eastern part of Shiga Hikone & Omi-Hachiman !Both cities are not so big and you will quite enough to have half day each.If you take JR express, it takes only 30 min by train

Near the JR Hikone & Omi-Hachiman station, there is very economic rental bicycle. It is very convenient to visit there !

Hikone castle entrance                            

Yume (dream) Kyobashi Castle road !

   

Genkyu-en just under the Hikone castle

 If you like Japanese history of samurai in the 16th & 17th century, his prefecture of Shiga must be really interesting area and it is located just next to Kyoto.

Here is Omi-Hachiman which was known as town for Omi merchants.

Hachiman-bori (moat) devided the town into residential area & merchants & craftsmen's area ! You can still feel this nostalgic atomosphere !