Osaka Daido Life Headquarters, Festival Hall

I would like to infom Daido Life Headquarters, Osaka Festival Hall in Higobashi Station North of Osaka Municipal Subway Yotsubashi Line.

Take the Yotsubashi subway line from Osaka, get off at Higobashi station, and heading north of the Yotsubashi bridge, you will see the Daido Life headquarters building on your right.

The head office building is a beautiful beige building whose lower part is arch-shaped.

When entering the entrance, the ceiling is a fine hall of stained glass marble and special exhibitions of "Origin of Kashimaya of Daido Life and Asako Hirooka" are held at the 2nd Floor Memorial Hall.

Please accept reception on the first floor and see the special exhibition on the second floor. Free.

Hirooka Asako is a founder of Daido Life and became widely known in 2015 as an NHK continuous TV novel "Morning came".


This special exhibition has been held since 2014 to celebrate the lifetime of Hirooka Asako and will be finished at the end of March this year.


Hirooka Asako is a Mitsui family from Kyoto, a women businessman representing Meiji.
Asako was married to Osaka's rush shop Kashimaya, after a turmoil in the Meiji Restoration, she participated in the coal mine business and expanded the business.



After that, she founded a bank and built the foundation of Daido Life.
In her later years, she was a great woman who focused on girls' education and founded Japan Women's University.

At the exhibition, It introduce the her history in detail.
Especially, I can admire the indomitable spirit of "nine falls wake up".

Next, cross the Tosabori River in the north, you can see the festival hall.

The festival hall is the hall where orchestras and concerts are held.

When entering the entrance of the west side, a red carpet is laid on the stairs to the second floor.
There is a fine hall on the 5th and 7th floors of this building.
You can feel yourself becoming great by walking on this red carpet.


Please take a stroll around the Daido Life Building and the Festival Hall in the vicinity of Higobashi Bridge near Osaka.

That’s it.

Minatogawa Shrine, Minatogawa Park trip in Kobe city

I would like to inform the trip that is walking the dead area for Masashige Kusunoki who was a Samurai at Kamakura period.

First I visit Minatogawa shrine.
This shrine is near Hankyu Kosoku-Kobe station.


This shrine's god is Masashige Kusunoki.
Masashige-Kusunoki's grave exists right side of this shrine.

Masashige-Kusunoki fighted Takauji-Ashikga, and died at this area at 1336.
Mitsukuni-Tokugawa established Masashige-Kusunoki's grave, and Meiji Tenno established this shrine at 1869.
The shrine was destroyed entirely in the Second World War and restored in reinforced concrete construction in 1952.


At the main shrine, Miko is dancing for pray.


Parking lot exists at the back of the left side of the precinct.
This shrine is a modern shrine.

Next I go to Minatogawa park, that is 10minutes walking distance.

At Meiji period, there was Minatogawa river at this area.
This river divided Kobe city.
Kobe broke this river, and make a Shinkaichi atea.
Minatogawa park was made at north end of Shinkaichi.

This park has Masashige-Kusunoki's riding horse statue.
Lots of people make Hanami around this statue.


Shinkaichi shopping district starts from south end of this park.

This shopping district is a gentle slope.

This shopping district area was a poor downtown entertainment district.
About 20 years ago, this district has changed to new street.



This year is 150 years from opening Kobe port.
Various events will be held in Kobe City.
Please visit Kobe city historical area.

That's it.

Walking Trip from Kusatsu-Jyuku to Ishibe-Jyuku of Old Tokaido street in Shiga prefecture

I would like to inform Walking trip from Kusatsu Inn to Ishibe Inn.


I get off at JR Kusatsu station, find Kusatsu gate at station park.

Kusatsu Inn was an important place where Tokaido and Nakasendo meet this place.
This trip is visiting 9 places. Please see the next map.


First I go to Kusatsu Inn Honjin.

Honjin was a hotel for VIP at Edo period.
Kusatsu Inn Honjin is a biggest in Shiga prefecture.


This Honjin shows Sekifuda and Daifuku note.

Next I go to Oiwake Douhyou that is a signal for Travelors.

I feel Edo period traveling.

I walk east 20minutes, see a Dengakuchaya tea restaurant "Hokkori".

Miso Dengaku is delicious.

Walking east 30minutes, arrive at Magari-No-Jin stone statue.

This place was Yoshinao-Ashikaga's war camping place at Muromachi period.

Walk east 5minutes, arrive at Inari shrine.

This shrine's left side is JR Tehara station.

Near this shrine Tehara, there is a soy sauce house that was built at Edo period.

From Tehara to Ishibe, lots of old houses are seen.

This area is recommending place for Edo Tokaido street.

Walk 20minutes, Tokaido Ichirizuka and Rokujijo-Oldpicture stone statue.


I take a rest here.

Going east, soon arrive at Old Wachusan Shop.


This house was a drugstore and hotel at Edo period.

Meiji Tenno took a rest this house 4times.
This house entering needs advance reservation.
This house shows important Fusuma picture of Kano, and Japanese garden.





Next I go to Hyugayama Ruin.


From this mountain you can see a overall view of Kusatsu and Ishibe.

Walk east 30minites, arrive at JR Ishjbe station.
Go south east 15minites, I arrive at Ishibe Kojima-Inn Honjin Ruin.

Current only stone statue exists.
This point is end of today's trip.

This trip makes you a feeling of period Travelors.
Especialy I recommend Old Wachusan Shop.

That's it.

Narai-Juku, Kiso-Fukushima-Juku walking Trip in winter

I would like to inform Narai-Juku, Kiso-Fukushima-Juku walking Trip in Nagano prefecture at winter.

Go to Narai station by JR express for 1.5hrs, by JR normal train for 2hrs.

Winter Narai-Juku has only some travelers.

First I go to south, soon Narai-Juku town starts.

This town has many Edo period houses.
Souvenir shops and guest houses are seen.

I arrive at Echigoya Soba noodle restaurant.

I eat Soba noodle set, that are 2 salmon soba + 2 wild side dishes + 2 Goheimochi rice cakes, are ¥ 1500.


I go through Yokomizu, arrive at Daihouji Temple&Shrine.

This temple has Maria Jizo, which dug the cross in the Jizo breasts where the hidden Christian prayers prayed for the Edo period.



Next is KamiDonya-Museum. Charge is ¥300.

This museum has 400 items such as ancient documents, ceramics, lacquerware, etc. are exhibited and it becomes an important cultural property of the country.

I go to Yama-no-Market.

This shop has ¥100 coffee.
It's a nice price.

Otherside, there is Kagi-no-hande water place.

Lots of clean water is poring.

I go to Nakamuraya museum.

This museum shows Edo period house and structure.
Charge is ¥300.


This house was producing luxury combs.
The clerk explain this house in detail.
At tourist season, the clerk explain to only groupe, but winter season she explain to each persons.
It is good for me.
This house shows old wooden house structure.
It is historical heritage.

Narai-Juku shows us lots of Edo-period houses.
About 80% houses are made at Edo-period.

Naraijuku may be the biggest town of having Edo-period houses.

Next I go south, then arrive at Chin shrine.

This shrine is at on the hill, so you can see a overall view of Narai town.

I go to Kiso Big Bridge.

This bridge is made of wood.

I go to Two hundreds Jizos shrine.

Two hundreds Jizos are stood near Hachimangoo shrine.


I finish to travel a Narai-Juku
I go to Kiso-Fukushima station by JRtrain．
Kiso-Fukushima is prosperous at Edo-period.

Current this town has many Meiji-period houses.

I walk to see the old wooden houses.


I go to Yamamura-Daikan-house. Charge is ¥300.

From this house garden, you can see overall view of Kiso-Fukushima town.


I visit prosperous Sake shops, with Sakagura.
First, I visit Nanawarai.

Nanawarai is popular sake for Kiso-Fukushima town.
It produce lots of Sake for Nagano/Gifu/Aichi prefectures.

Next, I go to Nakanori-San.

Nakanori-San has small Sakagura, and shop is only in Kiso-Fukushima.
I buy a Genkansui Sake, that is limited at winter season.

Seeing Sakagura is available.
When you would like to see Sakagura, you have to request this shp before visiting.

Please visit Narai-Juku and KisoFukushima-Juku in winter.
You can see Edo/Meiji hoses in detail.

That's it.

Bicycle trip at Echizen city in Fukui prefecture

I would like to inform Echizen city.

I ride JR Limited express from Osaka to Tsuruga, change train to Takefu station.
I rent a Bicycle.



I go to west few minutes, arrive at Kura-no-Tsuji.


This area has many white warehouse.
Kura-no-Tsuji was a merchandise warehouse area at Edo period.
Nowadays old warehouses and wooden houses are rebuilt for a new event space for Echizen city.
Cofee shops, restaurants, souvenir shops are existing.
Please relax and feel Edo period.

Next I go to Shogakuji Temple.


This temple was built at 1366 by Ryounyo shonin.
Gate is using New Zenkoji castle's gate.
It is wonderful.

Next I go to southwest to Murasakishikibu park.


This park has for Murasakishikibu, who is a writer of Genji Monogatari.
She was living at this city at Heian period for some years.

This park has a wide area and beautiful Japanese garden.
It is available to wear JyuniHitoe Kimono.
When you wear JyuniHitoe, you can feel Heian period.

Next I go to south to Echizen cutlery Hall.

This hall has many cutlerys and cutlery history.
When you reserve a seeing work house, you can see a how to make a cutlery.


Finaly I go to Washinosato-park.

At Papyrus house, I try to make a post card of Washi paper.
Makinig 4 postcards is 800yen.
Making post crads is nly 30minutes.
I can make a original postcards.



Please visit Echizen city, and feel Edo period.

That's it.