Kairakuen garden Plum blossom's Festival in Ibaraki pref.

I would like to inform Kairakuen garden Plum blossom's Festival.

From Tokyo, one station before to JR Mito station, I get off at Kairakuen station.


Go to north gate, 3 minutes walking, I arrive at East gate of Kairakuen.
No charge for entering this garden.

This garden was made by Nariaki Tokugawa at 1842.
This garden is the seconde largest garden in the world.

This garden has 3000plum woods.
Plum blossom's Festival is held from Feb 20 to March 31.
At Sunday, Tea festival and Komon-Mito festival are held.
At night, Lighing up festival is also held.

I enter from East gate, go to West.
I arrive at Miharashi park, and see a wonderful view.


Next is Virtue Monument.
Then I arrive at Kobuntei.


Kobuntei is 3 floors wooden house.
Entrance charge is 200yen.
Fusuma pictures are seen.

At seconde floor, I can see the overall view of this garden.
And Senba lake is also seen.




I go to Northwest from Kobuntei, walk bamboo trees.

Taro cedar tree, that is 700years old, is seen.

Walk north bamboo trees, arrive at Omotemon gate.
This gate is called Kuromon.


From Omotemon, I go to south.
I see many plum blossoms.
Current they are 50% opening.

Some old tortuous trees are seen.


Walk southwest, arrive at Onarimon gate.

Go to south, I see lots of plum blossoms.

I get out this park from East gate.
I enter Resthouse near East gate.
I eate lunch.

I recommend Natto cuisine, Rakujyuzen.

I cross Kairaku bridge, arrive at Mito-Komon, Kunimitsu Tokugawa, statue.

I go to Mito station, find Mito-Komon, Suke, Kaku 3 statues are seen at the station.
Next go to Mito-Komon shrine, that is 5 minutes walking from Mito station.
This is the end of trip.


Early of March is best season for plum blossoms.

That's it.

Ezaki Memorial Museum in Osaka

I would like to inform Glico company Ezaki Memorial Museum.
This museum exsists near JR Tsukato station.
I get off at Tsukamoto station, walk northeast about 15 minutes, arrive at this museum.



I enter from Head Office, about 50m distance, this museum is existing.
This museum is second floor building.


Museum is only second floor, first floor is an assembly hall.
No charge for entering.


Founder is Toshiichi Ezaki, he was born at Saga prefecture at 1882, he died at 97 ly ears old.
At 1921, he found Glycogen at oyster.
He use Glycogen to caramel 'Glico'.
This caramel is hit product.
This museum shows founders history, company's history, hit products, famos advertising, and bonus.

I climb second floor, big runner goaling statue is seen.

First I see the founder's video for 12 minutes.
Next is company's history, and company's trademark history.

Current trademark is 7th mark.
Neon at Shinsaibashi is changed to 6th generation from last October.


But 6th Neon is not shown in this museum.
Next is factory history.
Horie factory, Toyosaki factory's models are seen.

Next is delivering car.

Next is founder making caramel photo.

Vending machine with movie is seen.

10 sen coin is necessary for this machine.
When enter 10sen coin to this machine, machine shows movie for 2 minutes.
Glico caramel is dropped in bottom, and change is returned.
This is a pioneer of vending machine at 1933.

Next is famouse TV-CM.

Momoe Yamaguchi, Seiko Matsuda, Yoko Minamino, Manami Honjyo are seen.

Turn next corner, Founders room is seen.
This room has many goods of founder's.

Final is Glico bonus.
Lots of bonus are seen.

Museum floor is not large, field trip needs 1 or 1.5 hours.

Finishing this field trip, I receive Glico with bonus.


Memorial goods are selling.
I buy the runner with bonus at 500yen.



If you are Glico fun, please visit this museum.

That's it.

Kyoto Marathon

Kyoto Marathon
I would like to inform Kyoto Marathon.

Kyoto Marathon is held from 1969 to 1982.
After 1983, it was changed to Women's Marathon.
Kyoto Marathon is restored from 2012.

Cource
Nishikyogoku stadium→Gojyo street→Katsura river→Hirosawa pond→Ninnnaji temple→Kitaoji street→Kamigamo shrine→Kitayama street→Takaragaike park→Rakuhoku high school→Kyoto Botanical garden→Kyoto Gyoen→Kyoto city hall→Shirakawa Imadegawa →Heian shrine : total 42.195km.


Participation fee is \12000. It is expensive.
This Marathon is held February 15, 9:00 to 15:00.

This year entry was finished.

When you would like to have a strong will of running at Kyoto city, \12000 is available.
Total runners are 16 thousands.

Good points
-Cheerleading and drum bashing are seen.
-Getting cheers make runners to achieve good running time record.
-Runner can see lots of Kyoto sightseeing points.

Painful points
-Winter Kyoto is very cold.
-Difficult to keep runners running space for many runners.







Closing time is set at 8 Gates.
But closing time span is over 7.5minutes, it is not so difficulty.
Please care the closing time.

I attend this marathon 2years ago.
Start point Nishikyogoku stadium had very many people.
Difficult to run at starting point.

Asphalt road makes runner a big shock to the knee.
Please serect good cushion shoes.

Enjoy Kyoto Marathon.

That's it.