Sapporo Snow Festival

I would like to inform Sapporo Snow Festival.
This festival is from Feb.5 to 11, and snow and ice festival.
Big and small snow statues are displayed at Odoriferous park, ice statues are at Susukino.
This festival is biggest festival in Hokkaido.
About 2million people are gathered in this festival.

Japanese Self-Defense Forces and Volunte citizens are making big snoe statues, from last year's autumn.

Festival place is divided three places, Odori park, Tsudome, Susukino.
Sapporo subway is convenient.
Going to Main festival, ride subway, and get off at Odori station.

1.Odori venue
This venue is held at Odori park, about 1.5km area.
Arts made by white snow and ice are produced elaborately.
There are big snow statues, and small snow statues by Sapporo citizens or foreign people.
Big snow statue
Sochi Olympic player, Horse zodiac, famous architecture
Light up statues are beautiful at night.
Skating and walking ski are available in this area.

2.Tsudome venue
Tsudome is north side of Sapporo station.
Slide and snow raft are set, adults and children are enjoying this area.
Restaulant and rest place are existing.

Tube slider
People from children to adults are available to enjoy.
Snow Slider height 10m, length 100m.

Ice slider
Height 5m, length 12m
This is a slider of young children.

Exciting Slider
Slide the slope by putting the sled in the ass.
Slider has two types.
One is height 6m, length 50m, 2nd is height 4m, length 20m.

3.Susukino venue
This is Ice statues venue.
Big and small ice status are displayed.
Illumination street is fantastic.
Ice bar are availble to drink hot drinks.existing.

Going to this festival by travel tour is economy.
Starting Feb.6, 7 tour is full booking, after Feb.9 tour is not full booking.

Please visit and enjoy Sapporo Snow Festival.

That's it.

Shinshu 'Kisoji Ice & Snow Lighing Festival'

I would like to inform Shinshu 'Kisoji Ice & Snow Lighing Festival'
This festival will be held from end of January to Early of February.

Nojiri-Juku Ice & Snow Lighing Festival
1/25 17:30 start.
Nojiri-Juku has a bending road.
Lots of ice candles are set along the road.
Maple in the ice is beautiful.
At snow falling, you see a Landscape with emotion.

Narai-Juku Ice & Snow Lighing Festival
2/3 18:00 start.
This festival is from Narai-juku station to Shidume shrine.
Ice candles are over 2000, are set along old towns road about 1km.
There is also a warm services such as Sake and miso soup with pork and vegetables, you can enjoy the interaction with people in the community.

KisoFukushima Ice & Snow Lighing Festival
2/7 & 8 after sunset start
This festival is from Kisofukushima station to Yazawa, old Nakasendo, honnmachi, uemachi.
Ice candle decorate winter old town.
You can walk enjoy this festival about 2 hours.
There are sweet Sake and warm foods on shops.
Beauty of candles reflected in the river water is fantastic.

Magome-Juku Ice & Snow Lighing Festival
2/8 18:00 start.
This festival is held around Magome-Juku.
Snow lighs and Ice candles are covering old town with friendly ligh.
Snow ligh in front of tourist information center is fantastic.
3000 Ice candles are set along old town.
Sweet Sake and miso soup with pork and vegetables are available.

When you stay before this festival at Kisofukushima, please eat Toji Soba noodle.
Toji Soba noodle is throw a basket with buckwheat in the soup.
It is a famous winter cuisine in this area.
Please enjoy the local taste.

At the daytime, try to go to Sakagura.
Sakagura is Japanese Liquor factory.
At Kisofukushima Nanawarai Sakagura is recommended.
This Sakagura is 10 minutes walking distance from Kisofukushima station.
You can see Sake factory and drink Sake.

Kisoji Ice & Snow Lighing Festival is a winter night festival, so very cold about minus 5 degree.
Please prepare the clothes of protection against the cold.

Let's enjoy this winter festival.

Ehime Pref. Trip No.2

Ehime Pref. Trip No.2
I would like to inform Uwajima, Ozu, Imabari, Shimanami-SeaRoad Trip of Ehime Pref.

From Matsuyama to Uwajima by JR.
Between Takanogawa to Iyo-Nagahama, JR go along near sea.
Wide view of the sea is seen, it is majestic.

It is unexpectedly that Ehime Pref. people don't like Udon noodle like Kagawa people.
Ehime does not have many Udon noodle shops.
Ehime people like Sea bream rice and Jyako-Ten.
Sea bream rice is a Rice covered with Sea bream.
Jyako-Ten is that grinding small blue fishes, and make a long flat shape, then fried.

I stay at Uwajima.
I drink 'Iyo no Koigokoro' Sake.
This Sake is clean and mild taste, it is easy to drink.

Next morning, I go to Uwajima Bullring.
From Uwajima station, it is 2km east.
Bullring shows Bullfighting, 4 or 5 times per year.
This year, January 2nd, it was held.
Without Bullfighting, we can see video of Bullfighting.
See Bullfighting is necessary to confirm Bullfighting schedule.

Next is Uwajima Castle.
From Uwajima station, 1.5km South east.
Uwajima castle is one of 12original wooden castle in Japanese.
Near castle gate, stone steps start.
The pitch of stone steps is not equal, I am tired to climb this steps.

About 10 minutes climbing, you arrive at castle garden.
Tenshukaku has 4 floors, and is not big.
At top floor, we can see Uwajima Harbour.

This castle structure is simple and without decoration.

I go to Kadoya restaurant for eating Sea bream rice.
Sea bream of Uwajima sea bream rice is raw fish, except south Iyo use sea bream is steamed fish.
Uwajima sea bream rice is more delicious than Matsuyama one.
Uwajima's sea bream is famous in Japan, please enjoy sea bream cuisine.
Sea bream rice

Put the raw sea bream in sauce which seasoned soy sauce, mirin, egg, sesame, are mixed. Put raw sea bream with sauce on the rice.

Next visit is Uwajima history museum, and Cannon battery site.
From Uwajima station, go to north west 25minutes walk.
Uwajima history museum is a modern western house.
It was high technical architecture.
Cannon battery site is also fine structure.


I ride JR train, go to Oz Castle.
From 20minutes walking, you arrive at Oz Castle gate.
Climb gradual slope, reach Tenshukaku.

This castle structure is Tenshukaku and 2 Yaguras.
This castle was established at 1331 by Mr.Utsunomiya clan.
It was broken at Meiji period.
It is restructured at 2004.
This castle is new, medium size, 4 floors Castle.

I buy combined ticket that are Oz castle ticket and Garyu mountain villa.
Garyu mountain villa is 1.5km distances from Tenshukaku.
This villa was made by Mr.Kawauchi, he is a Wealthy merchant, at 1907.
Main house is Garyuin, Tea house is Chishian, Away house is Huroan.
Main house is a Sukiyaki house.
Chishian is closed.
Away house is over the cliff.
Garden has many moss and keep clean the Gardena.

Oz castle town has many old houses.


Next visit is Imabari.
I buy Sake 'Yamatan'.
Yamatan is a sake in pursuit of drinkability and exhilaration, It tastes light and sharp.

Next morning I go to Imabari castle.
From Imabari station, go to east about 20 minutes walk.
Imabari castle is a sea castle, and has a big sea moat.
This castle was established at 1608 by Mr.Takatora Todo.
Current Tenshukaku is made by Reinforced concrete.

Top floor of Tenshukaku, you can see Imabari sea and Shimanami Sea road.
Tenshukaku display lots of Samurai goods, Katana, Yoroi, Kabuto.
Near Tenshukaku, Mr.Todo statue is existing, don't forget to take a picture.

Next I go to bus stop, I ride Highway Bus and go to Shimanami Sea road.

Shimanami Sea road connects Imabari to Onomichi 59.4km about 1.5 hours throgh lots of islands.
This road has a bicycle and pedestrian road.
It is popular to go this road by bicycle.
I can see a beautiful view of Setonaikai sea and white bridge, many islands.


That is a Ehime Pref. Trip 2nd information.

That's it.

Ehime Pref. Trip No.1

Ehime Pref. Trip No.1
I would like to inform Ehime Pref. Trip.

First information is Spa Dogo, Matsuyama Castle.

Through Seto bridge, from Sakaide to Matsuyama.
I arrive at Matsuyama at night.
I stay at near Matsuyama Castle.

Next morning, I go to Spa. Dogo by Tram.
Tram is only 150yen.　1 day free ticket is 400yen.
Matsuyama main tram route is Matsuyama JR station - Okaido - Spa Dogo.

I ride a tram and get off at Spa Dogo.
Bocchan train is famous and has recieved lots of photo shoot.

Bocchan train is a steam train at Meiji period.
Mr. Soseki Natsume wite Bocchan train.
Bocchan train has been operated after it is restored as a diesel locomotive by Iyo Matsuyama train from 2001.
For riding a diesel locomotive, you have to make a reserve.
In front of Spa Dogo, Small rotary and Automaton clock are existing.

At time signal, this Automaton clock is opened, some figures come out.
Please see this clock.
About 5 minutes walk, you arrive at Spa Dogo.

Spa Dogo has 4 type Cource.
Please select suitable cource.

I select 2nd grade cource 1200yen.
This Cource available to enter 2 spas, and Bocchan room.
Spa Tamanoyu is small but clean spa.
Spa Kaminoyu is big and famous spa.
Please enter this Spa Kaminoyu.

Next is Yuchiku Castle.
From Spa Dogo, 300mm walking you arrive at Yuchiku Castle.
This castle site has only small hill and observatory.
From observatory, you can see over Dogo area.

Next visit is Shiki Aniversary Museum near Yuchiku Castle.
Shiki Masaoka is Japanese haiku poet who was born in Matsuyama.
This museum shows Matsuyama Dogo history, Shiki period, Shiki World Aimed.
Shiki Masaoka's Stone monument of Birth House is near Matsuyama City station of Iyo train.

I ride Bocchan train, and get off at Okaido station.

I go to Station of ropeway.
This station has ropeway and lift.

Ropeway is 10minutes pitch, I select lift.
About 5minutes riding lift, you arrive at Matsuyama castle park.
After climbing stone steps, you arrive at Tenshukaku.
This castle is a Woden Original Castle.Entance charge is 500yen.
Mr.Yoshiaki Kato establish this castle at 1603.
Matsuyama Castle has two Yaguras, small Tenshukaku, main Tenshukaku.
So, you have to climb steps 4 times.
Final steps is main Tenshukaku.
From Tenshukaku, you can see a wonderful sky view around Matsuyamacastle citywide.

Marsuyama famous sweet is Taruto.
Taruto is a roll cake, that is winding bean paste in cloth by sponge cake.
Taruto has many types, please enjoy this Taruto.

Next information is Uwajima, Imabari, Shimanami Sea Highway.

That's it.

Kagawa : Takamatsu Castle, Ritsurin Park, Marugame Castle Trip

I would like to inform Takamatsu Castle, Ritsurin Paark, Marugame Castle Trip.

From Okayama, through Seto-Ohashi-Bridge, I trip to Kagawa prefecture.

First visit is Takamatsu Castle.
Takamatsu Castle is in front of Takamatsu station, only 5 minutes walking.

This castle is built near the sea at 1587.
Current this castle does not have Tenshukaku, but has Yagura, stone wall, garden.
Yagura is weapon house, and gate.

Moat is connected to sea, and use sea water.
Sea bream and red sea bream, sea bass are swimming in this moak.
It is amazing.
Yagura is available to enter.
Please enter this yagura.
From Tako bridge, go to Tenshukaku site.
Under this bridge, sea breams are swimming.
Tenshukaku site stone wall is repairing.
You can not enter this site.

I buy fish bait, only 100yen, I sow fish baits to moak.
Sea breams are gathering and jumping around fish baits.
You can see sea bream that has a light blue eyes.

This garden has a lot of pine trees that are cut beautifully.

Next is Yashima.
Ride a Kotohira Dentetsu, and get off at Kotoden Yashima station.
Then ride a bus to Top of mount Yashima.

Yashima is a battle field of Genji and Heishi Samurai.
Small gulf under the Yashima is a sea battle field.
Current Yashima is not island, connected to Shikoku, but at old days, it is island.

Next is Historical Heike Story museum.
This is between Takamatsu station and Yashima.
Entrance fee is expensive 1200yen, but this museum has many Heike story scenes using dolls.


I stay at hotel near Ritsurin Park.
Next day, early in the morning, I go to Ritsurin Park.
This park opening time is according to sun rising.
This park is a national japanese garden.
This park area is 75ha, very big.
Many Chestnut trees are existing before making this park, so this park is called Ritsurin Park.

Famous point of this park is Engetsu bridge.
This bridge picture is used for calender.
From south side hill of this bridge, you see a wonderful bridge view, this is the vest view of this park.
Please take a picture.
Sightseeing this park needs one hour.

Next is Marugame Castle.
From Marugame station, after 10minutes walking, you arrive at this Castle.

This castle charge is only 200yen.
This castle has a highest stone wall in Japan, and has 400years history.
Original wooden castles in Japan are only 12 castles.
12castles are Himeji, Hikone, Inuyama, Matsumoto, Kochi, Matsue, Uwajima, Bicchu-Matsuyama, Matsuyama, Hirosaki, Marugame, Maruoka castles.

Enter this castle, sloping road starts.
Slope angle is big, walking this road makes you tired.
Stone wall shape is steep.
Stone wall is 4 overlapping, total height is 60m, it is highest in Japan.
About 15minutes walking, you arrive at Tenshukaku.
This Tenshukaku is small.

In the Tenshukaku, climb steep stairs 3 times, you reach top floor.
Top floor, you can see a wonderful view of Setonaikai sea.
Near Tenshukaku, observatory is existing, please take a picture.
360 angles view is available.

Marugame is famous for producing Uchiwa, that is hand fan.
Uchiwa museum is near the harbour.
This museum shows many kinds of Uchiwa.
You can produce Uchiwa at this museum.
I buy small oldish Uchiwa.

Shikoku has 4 famous castles, please visit these castles.

That's it.